Erik ten Hag could be in line to return to Ajax after the club’s technical director said he was on the shortlist to replace Francesco Farioli.
Farioli resigned yesterday after the Amsterdammers’ dramatic late-season collapse that saw the Eredivisie title go to rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Ten Hag is out of work after being sacked by Manchester United in October and Ajax’s Alex Kroes hinted he could be the perfect fit to take over once again at the ArenA.
“Erik ten Hag has been on the list for a long time,” Kroes told Dutch television station NOS. “He is well-known, he did a fantastic job when he was here.
“I spoke to him briefly on Sunday. He was in the ArenA as a spectator.”
Ten Hag enjoyed huge success in first stint at Ajax
Ten Hag’s previous spell, between 2018 and 2022, saw him win three Eredivisie crowns and take the club to the last four of the Champions League in 2019 when they beaten late on by Tottenham.
That record saw him get a crack at the United job but, after a promising start, it went wrong at Old Trafford.
He did manage to win two trophies – the 2023 EFL Cup and the 2024 FA Cup – but struggled to prove he was the right man for the job and was dismissed with United 14th in the Premier League table.
Should he return to Ajax, he will take over an upwardly mobile squad stunned by their failure to claim the domestic title.
One final goodbye from Francesco Farioli 🤍❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/r1BLjHyUE4
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 19, 2025
Farioli deprture not linked to title collapse
Farioli’s side held a nine-point lead at the top of the table with just five games to go only to suffer a four-game winless streak that opened the door for PSV to stride through.
The Italian claimed that failure did not influence his decision, however, and that he had already decided to walk after determining his timeline for future success did not align with that of the board’s.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “My decision has nothing to do with the title fight. But I feel that this is the best choice, especially for the club.
“I informed the players this morning. It was a very emotional day. I did not expect to cry for seven to eight hours in a row. With everyone, with all the players, with the technical staff, the medical staff, the chefs in the kitchen.
“The path that Ajax is taking now would also fit my career perfectly, with Champions League football next season and great expectations regarding the championship.
“I wanted to tackle those goals, but I also have to be honest with myself. I believe that some steps need to be taken very quickly. We differ in opinion on that and I didn’t feel that those differences could be bridged.”
