Erik ten Hag has been given a boost ahead of his arrival at Manchester United after a new stat revealed that United have handed out more minutes to their youngsters than any other Premier League team this year.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, United became synonymous with success - but the legendary Scot's teams were often spearheaded by young, homegrown talent. The club's infamous 'Class of 92' - which included the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - even formed the foundations of the United team that enjoy a sustained spell of success during the late 90s.
While United's powers have waned significantly since Ferguson made the decision to step down from his role at Old Trafford almost a decade ago, the club have at least remained consistent with their commitment to giving academy graduates a clear path to the first-team.
A new study from the CIES Football Observatory has revealed that homegrown talent have been exposed to more than a quarter (27.6%) of all first-team minutes played this season - more than any other team in England. Chelsea come in narrowly behind United, with Brighton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham the only other Premier League teams on the list.
And United's continued commitment to youth aligns perfectly with Ten Hag's Ajax philosophy. The 52-year-old - who was appointed as United's new manager last week - has forged a reputation for nurturing young talent during his time in Amsterdam. A number of exciting Dutch prospects have come through under Ten Hag at the Johan Cruyff Arena, including Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong.
The Dutchman has managed to achieve sustained success in the Eredivisie with his vibrant, young squad. Ten Hag has already won the domestic double twice during his four-year stint at the club, with Ajax currently in pole position to clinch their third league title in four years.
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And United football director, John Murtough, highlighted just how important Ten Hag's "commitment to youth" was last week when discussing United's new boss. Murtough said: “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.
“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.
“We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.”
