Football
Exclusive: Erik ten Hag Set for Sensational Ajax Return After Turning Down Wolves Job
Former Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is set to make a sensational return to Ajax, rejecting interest from Wolves. The Dutchman led Ajax to domestic success and a Champions League semi-final before his short-lived stint at Old Trafford. Ajax sacked Heitinga and look to Ten Hag for revival.
SV Werder Bremen v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Bundesliga by Christof Koepsel | Getty Images
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is set for a sensational return to his former club Ajax, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The Dutchman has been heavily linked with the vacant manager’s position at Wolves, but our sources are led to believe that a return to Ajax is his preferred next move.
Ten Hag famously guided the de Godenzonen to a hat-trick of Eredivisie league titles, as well as two KNVC Cup crowns.
And he also guided the club to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in his first season in charge of the club.
That sweet period of success at the Johan Cruyff Arena saw Ten Hag appointed Man Utd boss in May 2022.
But, despite an impressive 54.69 win percentage at the club, and winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup in his time at Old Trafford, he was sacked in October 2024 after just short of 18 months in charge of the 13-time Premier League champions.
Ajax sacked head coach Johnny Heitinga last week after a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray.
The 41-year-old only left his role as assistant coach to Arne Slot at Liverpool to take up the position on a two-year-deal at the start of this season.
DISPENSED
However, despite having only lost once in 11 league games so far this season, the club dispensed with Heitinga’s services with the team fourth in the standings after five draws from those league fixtures.
The club are also rooted to the bottom of the Champions League qualifying table after four defeats in a row, to Inter Milan, Marseille, Chelsea and Turkish outfit Galatasaray last week.
“The head coach’s contract was due to run until June 30, 2027, but will now be terminated,” an Ajax statement read last Thursday.
“The same applies to assistant coach Marcel Keizer. Ajax is looking for a new head coach; in the meantime, Fred Grim will take over Heitinga’s duties.”
Wolves are believed to have approached Ten Hag about taking over at Molineux after they sacked Vitor Pereira, but have now turned to former Luton Town, Watford and current Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards as their preferred choice after the Dutchman turned them down.
The West Midlands outfit had also been linked with former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou for the vacancy.
Ten Hag has been out of management after being sacked by German side Bayern Leverkusen in September last year after just three fames in charge.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.