ERIK TEN HAG has finally been announced as Manchester United manager, after months of speculation.
The Ajax boss has signed a three-year deal with the club, and will start his role in the summer when Ralf Rangnick will step down.
Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as new Man Utd bossCredit: https://www.instagram.com/manchesterunited/
The club will reportedly hand the Dutchman, 52, a £200million war chest to rebuild the side.
However, Holland legend Marco Van Basten has questioned whether ten Hag should take on the Old Trafford hotseat, which appears to be a poisoned chalice for managers, including fellow countryman Louis Van Gaal.
Before ten Hag, eight Dutch managers have tried their hands to coaching on our shores with varied success.
Here’s how they have fared – and who’s been a hit or miss.
A season later, with the club in second place, he was sacked controversially by chairman Ken who called him “arrogant”.
However, at Newcastle his reign was a disaster. He fell out with his best players, including Alan Shearer and was forced to resign after a home defeat to rivals Sunderland.
Verdict: Miss
Ruud Gullit was decent at Chelsea, but flopped as Newcastle boss after rows with starsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Martin Jol
Tottenham 2004-07, Fulham 2011-13
P202: W75, D51, L76. Win rate: 37 per cent
At Spurs, Jol looked like a bright choice when he won manager of the month in only his second month in charge.
Two fifth-placed finishes later, including the famous lasagne-gate when they lost a Champions League place to Arsenal on the final day of the season followed.
Jol was given his marching orders during the 2007-08 season, after a poor start.
He surfaced at Fulham four years later, and led them to a top-half finish and then 12th the following season.
Verdict: Miss
Martin Jol had spells at Tottenham and Fulham our shores with mixed resultsCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Guus Hiddink
Chelsea (interim) 2009 and 2015-16
P34: W18, D12, L4. Win rate: 53 per cent
Not many get two bites at the cherry.
But Roman Abramovich would turn to Gus Hiddink twice after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2009 and then Jose Mourinho in 2015.
In his first season, he finished third, was unlucky to exit the Champions League to Barcelona, but lifted the FA Cup – losing just once all season.
In his second, he alerted the slump under the Special One and rescued a dismal season by helping the club finish mid-table – six places above where they were when he took over.
Verdict: Hit
Guus Hiddink had two spells at Chelsea, both a success
Rene Meulensteen
Fulham 2013-14
P13: W3, D1, L9. Win rate: 23 per cent
After starring as a first team assistant coach at Man Utd, Meulensteen wanted a job of his own.
When he was assistant at Fulham, he replaced his fellow countryman Jol in the job in 2013.
However, he didn’t even last the season – as they fell to the bottom of the league.
The Cottagers would eventually get relegated with Felix Magath, their third boss of the campaign, in charge.
Verdict: Miss
Rene Meulensteen proved to be a disaster at FulhamCredit: AFP – Getty
Ronald Koeman
Southampton 2014-16, Everton 2016-17
P123: W55, D27, L41. Win rate: 45 per cent
The Barcelona legend appeared to be perfect for our shores, when he bossed the Saints from 2014-16.
Despite a player exodus, they finished seventh and sixth during his reign.
It would earn Koeman the Everton job, where he spent a fortune on flops including Davy Klaassen for £24million.
His first season at the Toffees secured Europa League qualification, but he was sacked the following season with the team in the relegation zone.
For his next trick, he will take over the reigns of the Netherlands job from Louis van Gaal after the World Cup in Qatar.
Verdict: Miss
Ronald Koeman looked promising at Southampton, but was sacked by Everton following a dismal job at Goodison ParkCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Louis van Gaal
Manchester United 2014-16
P76: W39, D19, L18. Win rate: 51 per cent
Van Gaal was United’s first ever Dutch manager, and he brought with him some hilarious moments – from forgetting defender Chris Smalling’s name in a press conference to singing “Louis van Gaal’s army”.
He achieved fourth and fifth placed finishes, as well as winning the FA Cup.
However, his brand of football never really won over the United fans.
Interestingly, van Gaal urged ten Hag to snub the United job, saying, “choose a football club and not a commercial club.”
Verdict: Miss
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal failed to win over the fans at Old TraffordCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Dick Advocaat
Sunderland, 2015
P17: W3, D6, L8. Win rate: 18 per cent
In fairness to Advocaat and his 18 per cent win rate, he did manage to keep Sunderland up in 2015.
Appointed as interim boss, in his first game in charge he earned a point against Newcastle.
Then, he orchestrated wins over Everton and Chelsea and held Arsenal to a point.
But he blotted his copybook the following season, going back on his retirement plans to lead the Black Cats once more.
He resigned after a poor start, probably wishing he never bothered.
Verdict: Miss
Dick Advocaat managed to avoid the drop with Sunderland but resigned the following season after a bad runCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Frank de Boer
Crystal Palace 2017
P4: W0, D0, L4. Win rate: 0 per cent
Brilliant footballer, no question. But, as Premier League managers go, de Boer’s reign at Crystal Palace was the shortest and worst ever.
He had signed a contract to be at Selhurst Park for three years, but lasted just 10 weeks and four league games.
In that time, the Eagles failed to score or earn any points.
He did win a League Cup tie against Ipswich, but that wasn’t enough.
Verdict: Miss
With a 0 per cent win rate, Frank de Boer is the worst Dutch manager in Premier League historyCredit: Reuters
