- How the Dutch manager helped Manchester United
- His two and a bit seasons explained
- Focus on the youth
Erik ten Hag will not go down in the stratosphere of the greatest managers to lead Manchester United. While he delivered notable moments, lifting both the FA Cup and League Cup during his tenure, he does not sit anywhere near the same pedestal as Matt Busby or Alex Ferguson.
In truth, he does not even share a table with Ernest Mangnall, the man credited with building the club’s early foundations, frameworks the institution still leans on today.
A pragmatic operator who split the fanbase over his tactical approach, Ten Hag spent 921 days in charge of the Red Devils—though a sizeable portion came before he even stepped foot inside Old Trafford.
And while his long-term vision never fully materialised, the Dutchman left behind something tangible, something many before and after him failed to provide. A genuine pathway from youth to first team.
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Ten Hag’s Trust in Youth
Over his two-and-a-bit years at the helm, Ten Hag handed debuts to seven academy players, with Kobbie Mainoo the standout.
Yet his work with Alejandro Garnacho proved just as significant. Of those seven, only Dan Gore, Ethan Wheatley, Toby Collyer, and Mainoo remain in the squad, but it was Mainoo and Garnacho who truly broke through.
Under Ten Hag’s guidance, both transitioned rapidly from prospects into first-team regulars.
During his tenure, Garnacho made 98 appearances under Ten Hag, bringing up his 100th overall in the Dutchman’s final match in charge; across that period, he scored 21 goals and registered 16 assists.
Mainoo, meanwhile, featured 44 times, scoring seven and providing five assists.
Their defining moment arrived in the FA Cup final, where both found the net in what stands as one of ten Hag’s clearest statements of intent—a youth-led core delivering silverware, as United secured their second trophy in as many seasons.
After the match, Garnacho and Mainoo posed alongside Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund with the FA Cup trophy placed before them—a photograph that quickly went viral.
Erik ten Hag’s influence
Although Garnacho has since departed and Hojlund looks set to join Napoli following a successful loan, ten Hag’s imprint still lingers.
At the 2024 European Championship, Mainoo and Hojlund faced one another as they lined up for their respective nations.
Ahead of that meeting, Mainoo spoke with clear appreciation for the manager who accelerated his rise.
Asked about his breakthrough season and injury, Mainoo said: “Yeah I mean I didn’t know what the season would look like when I came back from, I mean, when I did come back into training I played a few games with the under-21s, I’m just glad he had the belief in me, I’m grateful he had the belief in me to put me in against Everton.”
That Everton fixture marked Mainoo’s first start after injury—a commanding 3-0 win in which he claimed man of the match, though Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning overhead kick ultimately stole the spotlight.
“Obviously happy to be building with him,” Mainoo continued when asked about ten Hag remaining in charge during the summer of 2024. “He’s already got two trophies, hopefully there’s more to come, and, yeah it’s nice to have that peace of mind that we know what manager we’re going back to in the new season.
“I’m so grateful for him that he put so much trust in me and believed in me to play in the team, and yeah, can’t thank him enough.”
While not every youth-focused decision paid dividends, ten Hag’s work with Mainoo stands as a clear success.
With a new contract announced on 29 April, Mainoo will remain at Old Trafford until at least 2031, firmly positioned as a central figure in the club’s long-term project—a side increasingly shaped around him.
Read: Kobbie Mainoo Explains Why he Signed New Deal with Manchester United
