Football coach Erik ten Hag will make his return to FC Twente on Feb. 1 after signing a deal to become the Enschede club’s new technical director. The 55-year-old made his professional debut as a player with the club, and started his training and management career at FC Twente after retiring as a player.
As the manager of Ajax, he brought the club to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018-2019 season, winning both the Dutch Cup, and the national title the same season. He went on to lead Manchester United starting in April 2022, but was dismissed with a full season left on his three-year deal. He was then picked up by Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year contract, but was sacked after just two league manages, the fastest dismissal in Bundesliga history.
Ten Hag was tapped by FC Twente for a contract lasting up to the summer of 2028, the club wrote in a statement. He will take over for Jan Streuer, who enters retirement at the end of the season after more than five years on the job.
“I think it’s wonderful and special to return to FC Twente, where I’ve been a supporter at Het Diekman since I was a young boy. My football and coaching careers began here,” Ten Hag said in a statement.
“With my experience in youth development, team building, and elite sports culture, I want to strengthen FC Twente’s technical foundation together with the Supervisory Board, management, and staff, so the club can sustainably realize its potential as a regional flagship.”
“Erik has an incredible track record in football, and his bond with FC Twente has always remained very strong,” said FC Twente General Manager Dominique Scholten. “We’ve been in regular contact over the past few months, and our conversations quickly revealed a strong ambition to further develop FC Twente. This ambition aligns with the strategy we recently presented.”
