Erik ten Hag has officially taken a new direction in his football career. On Wednesday (7), FC Twente announced the appointment of the 55-year-old as the club’s new technical director, marking his return to the Dutch side where his professional journey began.
Ten Hag will assume his new role on February 1, replacing Jan Streuer, who recently announced his retirement. According to the club, the contract is valid until mid-2028, confirming a long-term project focused on structural and sporting development.
Ten Hag Returns to His Roots at Twente
Speaking to the club’s official channels, Ten Hag highlighted the emotional significance of returning to Twente and explained his motivation for accepting the role.
“I think it’s wonderful and special to return to Twente, where I’ve been a fan since I was a child. My football career began here,” said Ten Hag.
“With my experience developing players, shaping teams and fostering an elite sporting culture, I want to strengthen Twente’s technical foundation together with the board and directors.”
Ten Hag previously worked at Twente as a youth coach, assistant manager, and head coach, building a deep connection with the club across different stages of his career.
Club Leadership Praises Appointment
FC Twente’s general manager, Dominique Scholten, welcomed Ten Hag’s arrival and emphasized how quickly negotiations progressed.
“He has an incredible career in football and his connection with Twente has always been very strong,” Scholten said.
“The conversations showed a clear ambition to further develop the club, fully aligned with the strategy we recently presented.”
According to Scholten, the club aims to raise competitive standards and further professionalize its football structure under Ten Hag’s leadership.
New Role After Sudden Leverkusen Exit
This appointment marks Ten Hag’s first official role since his sudden dismissal from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this season. His stint in Germany was brief, with the Dutchman managing just three matches before being released.
Local reports indicated internal issues and a lack of alignment with the squad contributed to his early exit.
🔴⚽ 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐤 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐠 𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐟 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐂 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞
Erik ten Hag treedt per 1 februari in dienst van FC Twente en is met ingang van het seizoen 2026-2027 de technisch directeur.
➡️ https://t.co/rjIPcEx46K… pic.twitter.com/TYQI7YDSch
— FC Twente (@fctwente) January 6, 2026
A Trophy-Laden Coaching Career
Despite stepping away from coaching, Ten Hag leaves behind a decorated managerial career. According to data from Ogol, he won nine major titles, including:
- Three Eredivisie titles with Ajax
- Two Dutch Cups
- One Dutch Super Cup
- Two domestic cup titles with Manchester United
- One regional league title with Bayern Munich’s reserve team
Now, as a football executive, Ten Hag begins a new chapter focused on long-term planning, player development, and institutional growth at FC Twente.
