Erik ten Hag has taken the “right” path as a coach. Started as a youth coach at Twente, then assistant coach at PSV, then head coach of Bayern Munich’s second team. After this, the Dutchman was ready as head coach at the top level. The big step came with Ajax, after which Ten Hag has established himself as one of the coaches on the list of candidates at several big clubs. Now the former Manchester United coach is competing with an unconventional coach for a job with title contender Bayer Leverkusen.
Xabi Alonso is moving to Real Madrid and leaves behind a Leverkusen in “good condition”, the season after the historic league gold. According to Kicker, there are now two candidates who are relevant to replace Alonso: Erik ten Hag and Cesc Fabregas.
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The Dutchman with the sensible and traditional career path. Football legend Fabregas, who barely managed to start as an assistant coach for Como in the Italian second division, before the club was promoted to Serie A and he was promoted to head coach. With great success for the small club.
Erik ten Hag’s track record as a manager is impressive, even with his hasty exit as Manchester United manager. A few years ago, Ten Hag would have happily got the Leverkusen job, but the Bundesliga club itself has shown merits as a coach is not the decisive factor. Xabi Alonso was brought to the club as coach of Real Sociedad’s second team. A year and a half later, he had led Leverkusen to the historic league title.
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The German media reports that Ten Hag is demanding a significantly higher salary than Fabregas, while the Spaniard has to be bought free from Como, which means that the cost will be more or less the same for Leverkusen.
Then we will see what counts most for Leverkusen. Ten Hag’s background, or Fagregas’ charisma and ability to create enthusiasm and collective effort.
