Erik ten Hag is driven by a desire to prove the haters wrong.
According to two of the friends who know him best, the Manchester United manager’s laid-back demeanour disguises a burning ambition to prove he was born to win. Clemens Zwijnenberg, once a right-back at Bristol City, has known Ten Hag since they came through the youth system together at FC Twente almost 40 years ago.
He still has holiday photographs from back in the day, one showing Ten Hag with a full head of dark hair wearing budgie-smuggler swimming trunks. Former Brighton midfielder Hans Kraay is another close confidante. He played alongside the 51-year-old at De Graafschap and is now a highly-respected broadcaster in his homeland.
Now the pair have lifted the lid on how the mate who guided United to their first trophy in six years by winning the Carabao Cup last weekend, was ridiculed mercilessly about the agricultural accent that reveals his rural upbringing.
They recall how Ten Hag resisted Louis van Gaal’s advice to turn United down because they were a club that was unfit for purpose. And they reveal how the Dutchman went into Old Trafford knowing that there was a huge problem brewing with fallen superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kraay, who played alongside Ten Hag at De Graafschap, said: “Erik deserves this success at United. People do not realise that he had to walk through minefields at United in his first five months.
“It was chaos at the club for a start - and there were the mines laid by Cristiano Ronaldo. Erik went to United because he saw the potential and the challenge. You know what Van Gaal said to Ten Hag, don’t you? ‘Erik, it is one big mess at United, don’t go there’.
“But Erik did, he did not mind sorting it all out and didn’t mind walking around Cristiano’s landmines. What is great about Erik is that he is down to earth and never wants to be a flash manager like some managers. He is not like Jose Mourinho. When he went into his first day of training, he wanted to go in a van with his own cones in the back. That sums him up.”
Kraay added: “Erik has always had to fight and work hard for everything he has achieved. Before he won his first league titles at Ajax he was ridiculed for his strong countryside accent. They used to imitate him in satire shows on TV.
“In Holland, everyone said a coach with such an accent could not work at a big flash club like Ajax. When Ajax started to win trophies everyone said that was all the work of technical director Marc Overmars.
“Only when he started to beat European giants like Real Madrid and Juventus did he finally get the credit. This is why I say, ‘don’t laugh at Ten Hag and never underestimate him.’ Erik will always rise above all the expectations.”
Zwijnenberg became Ten Hag’s best friend when they became team-mates at the age of 13. He will never forget some of the criticism his pal faced - but revealed how Ten Hag prefers to let his achievements do his talking.
Zwijnenberg said: “I used to explode in front of the telly because of all the things that were said about Erik. So many people have been prejudiced about him. Even before he went to United, some of the comments were absolutely scandalous.
“But the great thing about Erik is that he never shows any emotion towards his haters. I do think that deep inside it pushes him to prove everyone wrong. He has shut them all up in the past - and he is doing the same now.”
Zwijnenberg added: “Erik went to United absolutely convinced he was going to bring trophies to Old Trafford. I know him, I know what he had in mind, and I also know what he has in mind for the next few years at the club.
“I did not get emotional when he lifted the Carabao Cup at Wembley. I did not even ring him or send him a text. I left him alone for three days because I knew the whole world wanted him and he had all kinds of important people around him. Me and him prefer to talk when he has a bit of breathing space.”
Both Zwijnenberg and Kraay admit that Ten Hag’s decision to join his players on an eight-and-a-half-mile punishment run after the 4-0 defeat at Brentford in August showed the United squad that their manager can also walk the walk.
Zwijnenberg said: “I told Erik he was crackers, that he didn’t have to do that and that he should not have done that. But Erik’s loyalty is absolutely massive.
“I have felt that loyalty as his friend - and I see that very same loyalty when he is managing a team, like he is doing now at Manchester United.” Kraay added: “Erik probably didn’t know whether he could actually run 13.8 kilometres. I know for a fact he could hardly walk for three weeks afterwards!”
