Erik ten Hag envisioned a ten-year tenure as manager of Manchester United before his dismissal last October.
According to Benni McCarthy, former Manchester United first-team coach, Ten Hag had a long-term vision for the club at Old Trafford.
McCarthy, 47, worked under Erik ten Hag for two years at Old Trafford before departing during a coaching reshuffle last summer.
Shortly after McCarthy’s exit, Ten Hag was also sacked following a poor run of form that left the Red Devils in 14th position.
McCarthy, recently appointed as Kenya manager, spoke to BBC Africa about his experience working with the Dutchman at United, disclosing Ten Hag’s aspirations for a prolonged stay.
He stated, “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 immense professionalism because the manager I worked with was not only a disciplinarian but also one of the most outstanding professionals I have encountered in the game.”
“Extremely hardworking, very dedicated, very passionate, he aimed to be the Manchester United coach for the next 10 years. That was his vision.”
Fans online responded to the revelation of Ten Hag’s long-term plans for the club.
One fan commented, “He certainly didn’t plan effectively.”
Another joked about Ten Hag’s ambition to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year tenure, saying, “Bro thought he was Fergie.”
Manchester United’s performance has not improved significantly since new manager Ruben Amroim took over, currently sitting in 15th place before their match against Arsenal.
Even McCarthy is puzzled by the issues at Old Trafford.
He added, “Everyone talks about how bad and terrible Manchester United is.”
“We still managed to win the FA Cup, we still managed to win the Carabao Cup. I was proud to be part of that setup.”
McCarthy admitted, “Honestly, I don’t know what the issue is.”
“It’s such a massive football club, and the problems seem to persist, and I’m unsure how they will resolve them.”
Even new boss Amorim has suggested that it will take years to turn things around, mentioning “deep scars” at Man Utd.
He told Sky Sports, “To be honest, I sometimes sense scars in our team, in our players.”
“They are talented players, but these scars are so deep and have been here for so long that it’s challenging to change things instantly.”
“Imagine this for anyone, in any profession. Imagine being a player, with all the media and social media attention. It’s really difficult to turn things around just like that.”
