Ten Hag won three Dutch titles with Ajax (Picture: Getty)
Former Ajax forward Kenneth Perez has suggested the Dutch giants attempt to bring the increasingly under fire Erik ten Hag back to the club should he be sacked by Manchester United.
Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles during his five-year spell in charge in Amsterdam, also masterminding the club’s thrilling run to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
In May 2022, he left the club for Old Trafford, winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third in his first season in charge but the Dutchman attempting to navigate the club through their worst start to a season in 37 years.
United have lost six of their 10 games in all competitions, booed off the pitch following home defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in the space of four days.
Ten Hag is understood to have retained the full backing of the United board with the playing squad also remaining in support of their manager.
But former Ajax player Perez has pondered the possibility of ten Hag returning to Ajax, who have struggled since his departure.
‘Imagine if Erik ten Hag were fired, would it be very crazy for Ajax to ask him back?” Perez told ESPN’s Voetbalpraat.
United have endured their worst ever start to a Premier League season (Picture: Getty)
‘Manchester United is known for the fact that things can get difficult if things don’t go well. Then it’s not a crazy idea, is it?’
Dutch journalist Willem Vissers also agreed ten Hag could be on borrowed time in Manchester. ‘I think that in the end it just won’t work, that whole project of his there. I don’t think he will be a coach there for much longer.’
Ajax appointed ten Hag’s former assistant Alfred Schreuder as their new head coach last year but he left the role in January after a disappointing start to the season. Former defender John Heitinga took the reins until the end of the season where Ajax failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2009.
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Maurice Steijn was appointed on a three-year deal in June. Ajax have won just won of their seven league games this season, sat in 15th place and 16 points adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven.
United meanwhile have lost four of their seven Premier League games this season, a controversial late win against Wolves on the opening day, a comeback at home to Nottingham Forest and a narrow victory over newly promoted Burnley.
They already face an uphill task in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League after defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
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