Ajax have been crowned champions of the Netherlands with a rousing 5-0 victory over Heerenveen in Erik ten Hag's final home game as their manager before leaving to join Manchester United.
Goals from Nicolas Tagliafico, Steven Berghuis and Sebastien Haller had Ajax 3-0 up by half-time and young striker Brian Brobbey and midfielder Edson Alvarez completed the rout for Ten Hag's side. The 51-year-old has lifted the Eredivisie trophy for the third time in four completed seasons with the Amsterdam club, having previously won the title in 2019 and 2021.
With the title wrapped up, his sixth trophy as a manager, Ten Hag began to say his goodbyes at the Johan Cruyff Arena ahead his move to Old Trafford. Having been announced as the Red Devils' new boss last month, the Dutch tactician vowed to focus on finishing his four-and-a-half-year spell at Ajax in style and even reportedly limited when Old Trafford officials could contact him.
After Sunday's trip to Vitesse and his last hurrah, Ten Hag will sit down with United's interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, and discuss rebuilding the 20-time English champions' rudderless squad in his total-football image.
"It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead," Ten Hag declared via the Red Devils' website upon his announcement on Thursday, April 21. "I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.
"It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United." Meanwhile, the ex- Utrecht and Bayern Munich reserves boss committed his concentration on Ajax by affirming: "I'm happy that it has been finalized and that it has been officially announced.
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"That clarity is important. But I only have one interest now and that's these last five games. I want to finish my time here on a positive note, by winning the league. By doing so, we'll qualify directly for the Champions League. Ajax belongs there."
Ajax chief executive and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar added: "Four and a half years is a good amount of time, but we would have liked to have kept Erik at Ajax for longer. He is going to make the step to one of the biggest clubs in the world, in a fantastic league.
"We owe Erik a lot of thanks for what he has achieved with Ajax so far, but we are not done yet. At the end of the season, I will look back more extensively on his departure. For now, what matters is the final games of the season in which we all want to bring home the league title."
