The ’nerdy’ guy who’s swapped EastEnders for Coronation Street

IT IS almost 100 miles from Amsterdam to Haaksbergen in the east Netherlands.

But it was in his hometown where Erik ten Hag first carved the beginnings of a career which has led him all the way to Old Trafford.

He might have been beaten in the Dutch Cup final last Sunday, but a third league title will be some parting gift in the next few weeks. Ajax’s loss is Manchester United’s gain. But just what sort of manager will be arriving as the fifth successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, tasked with bridging an almighty gap? Respected Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink was a fellow pupil of Ten Hag’s at De Bouwmeester school in Haaksbergen. And when he moved to Ajax as boss in 2017 from Utrecht, scepticism was in abundance.

“Erik is a guy from the east Netherlands,” said Elfrink. “He has had to overcome some resistance in Amsterdam because the west of the Netherlands is different. “But he is a very determined and serious guy. “Sometimes he seems a bit nerdy maybe, but it is not easy to stay coach of Ajax for over four years after coming in as an outsider. “At school, he was the best player and normally the players of our school went to FC Twente. He was one of them and he was at a good level.

“Erik was then, with respect, an average player in the Eredivisie, but a smart, clever player in midfield.

He was always busy with tactics.” Ten Hag began his managerial career at Go Ahead Eagles (below, in 2012), an Eredivisie side from the Dutch city of Deventer.

Another Dutch journalist, Marco Timmer, watched him there before he moved to take charge of Bayern Munich’s reserve team.

Timmer expects Ten Hag to play 4-3-3 at United – deploying wingers and young players – such was his style at his previous clubs.

He will arrive as the second Dutchman in charge at Old Trafford since Fergie, following Louis van Gaal, who won the FA Cup before being sacked in 2016 after two years at the helm.

Timmer said: “Go Ahead Eagles was his first job as a coach.

“I support the team and saw him every day. He is a little bit of a workaholic and also a bit of a control freak.

“He has knowledge of tactics, techniques and sports science after he went to Germany to research which is the best way to prepare the team in a physical way. He is a top coach, who will do well.

“He wants to win and plays dominant, attacking football with the door closed.

“He reminds me of Van Gaal – as coaches, they are similar, but, as people, they differ. Van Gaal is like a teacher and Erik is more easygoing and humble.”

And as for the fans? Speaking in the shadow of Johan Cruyff ’s statue at the Ajax Arena, Jason Saynor said: “At Manchester United with the players they have, he should be able to get a good structure in the team and improve the chemistry that is missing.

“We would have liked to have won the Champions League, too – but maybe he can do it with Manchester United.”