Ten Hag 'turns down return to management' after informal talks with Ajax

Erik ten Hag has reportedly turned down the prospect of making an emotional return to Ajax after holding informal talks with his former club.

The ex-Man United boss has been linked with a return to the dugout in recent weeks, having initially been tipped to take charge of Wolves before the Premier League's bottom club moved for Rob Edwards.

Ten Hag was then linked with a return to Ajax after the Dutch giants sacked John Heitinga less than six months after he took charge.

Ajax are currently fourth in the table after 12 matches, 11 points adrift of league leaders PSV. The club are also bottom of the 36-team Champions League table after losing all four of their matches to date.

Dutch outlets NOS and AD have reported that Ten Hag has now declined the chance to take charge of Ajax.

The 55-year-old had reportedly held informal talks with technical director Alex Kroes over the prospect.

According to AD, Ten Hag expressed concern over the uncertain nature of the club's hierarchy.

This followed Kroes announcing he would be resigning from his position following the dismissal of Heitinga.

Last month it was confirmed that Danny Blind would also be stepping down from his role as technical commissioner.

Ten Hag had coached Ajax between 2018 and 2022, leading the club to three domestic titles.

He famously led the club on a run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, dramatically missing out on a place in the final after a dramatic Tottenham fightback.

Ten Hag would ultimately leave the club to take charge of Man United in 2022, winning the EFL Cup and FA Cup with the Red Devils.

He was ultimately sacked in October 2024 as the Red Devils continued to struggle in the league under his management.

Ten Hag was appointed as Bayer Leverkusen head coach in the summer, but was sacked just three games into the season.

The former Ajax boss had been tipped to return to the Dutch giants alongside Marc Overmars, who previously served as technical director during his successful spell in charge.

Overmars had been linked with a return to replace Kroes.

He had been suspended from football activities in the Netherlands for one year back in November, 2023.

Overmars had left the club in February 2022 following the inappropriate messages which took place over an extended period of time and were sent to several female colleagues.

As well as sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues, Overmars also sent pictures of his genitals.

At the time of his messaging scandal, Overmars who had played for Ajax, Arsenal, Barcelona and the Netherlands during his legendary playing career, said he was 'ashamed' of his 'unacceptable behaviour'.

When leaving Ajax, he released a statement saying: 'Unfortunately, I didn't realise that I was crossing the line with this, but that was made clear to me in recent days. I suddenly felt enormous pressure. I apologise.

'Certainly, for someone in my position, this behaviour is unacceptable. I now see that too. But it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax.'

Overmars, who is now working for Royal Antwerp in Belgium, confirmed on Monday that he would not be returning to the Dutch champions despite an approach.

'I have a soft spot for Ajax and Amsterdam, but it's a thing of the past for me,' he told De Telegraaf.

'That's true, because I really enjoy my work at Antwerp and I still have a year and a half left on my contract. I want to see out that contract.

'Our goal was to make the club financially sound. The stadium is ready, and now it's time to get back to building a sporting team.'

Overmars also confirmed the approach from Ajax, adding: 'That's happened once before, and now again, and by several people. By whom? Yes, they're people in important positions, but I'm not going to say who, because then it would just become another political game internally. For me, it's over.

'The current situation at the club is very painful for me. I find it difficult to talk about it.

'I worked there for ten years, minus two months, and we built something wonderful together. Seeing how things are going now, and everyone just killing each other, is heartbreaking. The respect I get from the supporters is great, and I find it truly wonderful. It's true that I couldn't have imagined it would go this way.'