Manchester United 's incoming manager Erik ten Hag didn't make the same mistakes from his Tottenham interview when the opportunity came to impress the Red Devils' decision-makers.
United confirmed the arrival of Ten Hag on Thursday, with the Dutchman due to take over in time for the 2022-23 season. The Ajax boss had held discussions with United higher-ups as early as March, and will aim to join as a league champion with his current team sitting top of the Eredivisie.
It's not the first time he has held talks over a Premier League job, though. Tottenham were interested last summer, speaking to Ten Hag before eventually opting for Nuno Espirito Santo, but the London club were reportedly put off by elements of his interview.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag won over football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher to claim the job over fellow candidates including Mauricio Pochettino. United's chiefs are said to have been won over by the 52-year-old's "passion, energy and enthusiasm for a momentous challenge".
This is in stark contrast to what was reported when the manager lost out to Nuno for the Spurs job. On that occasion, according to The Mail, Ten Hag's level of English was seen as a concern and his preference to only bring one coach with him was considered "odd".
Ten Hag is due to bring his Ajax right-hand man Mitchell van der Gaag with him to Old Trafford. However, he is thought to have been forceful in his aim to also add former United coach Steve McClaren to his ranks, after the pair previously worked together at FC Twente.
Will Ten Hag make Man Utd title contenders? Have your say in the comments section
"During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth," Murtough said in a statement published on the Man Utd website. “In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that."
The Dutchman will be United's fifth permanent manager in less than a decade since Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of his final game. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all been given an opportunity, along with current interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
“It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead," Ten Hag said. "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."
