ERIK TEN HAG had planned for a ten-year reign as manager at Manchester United prior to his sacking last October.
That’s according to former Man Utd first-team coach Benni McCarthy, who has claimed Ten Hag had a vision for the future at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag was planning on staying at Man Utd for 10 years[/caption]
Former coach Benni McCarthy had revealed the Dutchman’s plans[/caption]
McCarthy, 47, worked under Erik ten Hag for two years at Old Trafford before leaving the club during a coaching shakeup last summer.
But shortly after his departure, Ten Hag was sacked himself following a shocking run of form that had the Red Devils in languishing in 14th place
McCarthy, who has just been named as Kenya manager, spoke to BBC Africa about what it was like to work at United alongside the Dutchman, revealing his plans for a lengthy stay.
He said: “I was given an incredible opportunity to work with one of the biggest and best clubs in the world under the guidance of Erik ten Hag.
“I learned utmost professionalism because the manager I worked under was not just a disciplinarian, but he was the best and one of the most unbelievable professionals I’ve ever seen in the game.
“Extremely hard-working, very dedicated, very passionate, he planned on being the Manchester United coach for the next 10 years. That was his vision.”
Fans online reacted to the news that Ten Hag was planning on a long-term stint with the club.
One wrote: “He sure didn’t plan right”.
Benni McCarthy’s career
A brief look into Benni McCarthy’s career so far…
Playing Career
1996 – 1997: Seven Stars
1996 – 1997: Cape Town Spurs (loan)
1997 – 1999: Ajax
1999 – 2003: Celta Vigo
2003 – 2006: Porto
2006 – 2010: Blackburn Rovers
2010 – 2011: West Ham
2011 – 2013: Orlando Pirates
Coaching Career
2015 – 2016: Sint-Truiden (Assistant Manager)
2017 – 2019: Cape Town City (Manager)
2020 – 2022: AmaZulu FC (Manager)
2022 – 2024: Manchester United (Forward Coach)
2025 – present: Kenya National Team (Manager)
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While another joked that Ten Hag was hoping to follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s 26-year spell in charge, writing: “Bro thought he was Fergie”.
United have failed to move the needle since new manager Ruben Amroim has come into the frame, now sitting in 15th place ahead of their clash against Arsenal.
However, even McCarthy can’t put his finger on what’s going wrong at the Theatre of Dreams.
He added: “Everyone is talking about how bad, how terrible Manchester United is.
“We still managed to win the FA Cup, we still managed to win the Carabao Cup. I was proud that I was part of that regime.”
Adding: “Honest to god, I don’t know what the issue is,’ the former Ajax striker admitted.
“It is just such a huge football club and the problems just seem to go on and on – and I don’t know how they’re going to resolve it.”
And even new boss Amorim has hinted that he is going to need years to turn things around, citing “deep scars” at Man Utd.
He told Sky Sports: “To tell you the truth, I feel sometimes there are scars in our team, in our players.
“They are good players, but they (scars) are so deep, they are so long here that it is hard to change things in one moment.
“Some players had one coach and then comes a new coach, new hope, new momentum and then we go to the same place.
“Imagine this for any person, in any job. Imagine this as a player, with all the media and social media. So it’s really hard to turn things around just like that.”
Ruben Amorim has claimed that United have ‘deep scars’[/caption]
