Valentijn Driessen expects Erik ten Hag to leave Ajax after this season. In the podcast Kick-Off by The Telegraph the journalist states that the addition of Marc Overmars, director of football affairs, has changed the situation at the Amsterdam club.
“I think that signing Overmars is actually a signal that Ten Hag is going to leave,” Driessen begins. “I expect that the Overmars-Ten Hag link will be over after this season. Overmars has re-signed until 2026, but Ten Hag will not stay that long. Ten Hag is ready for a foreign challenge, he thinks so too. I think he would like to take on a challenge at Manchester United,” said Driessen, who is supported by Mike Verweij.
“I asked Ten Hag whether the red carpet was out to sign and there was such an evasive answer. It was like: no, I’ll be stuck for another year and a half, it gives peace of mind, it’s nice. No, there was no need to even talk about a contract extension. Erik ten Hag’s just cashing his status after this season and I would find quite mad if he does not. “
Verweij himself is of the opinion that Ten Hag should remain Ajax’s trainer for ‘years’. “If you can sit here for another ten years with Overmars, then you can become champion eight times. You can make yourself immortal in Amsterdam.” Driessen: “Yes, but as a trainer you also want to reach the European top. You are also there with Ajax, but you want to go to European top clubs where much more is possible. That is a challenge for such a trainer. The link between Overmars and Ten Hag has now been released,” Driessen concludes.