Erik ten Hag intended to be the next 10 years prior to his looting of Manchester United, for his resignation last October, former first team coach Benni McCarthy claimed.
The Dutchman was relieved of his duties after a gloomy form of form, with United Songishing in 13th place in the Premier League table prior to his resignation.
The decision of Manchester United Co-owners Ineos brought an end to the two-year enchantment of ten Hag at Old Trafford, in which he led the club to success in both The FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
McCarthy, 47, who was appointed this week as the new head coach of Kenya, worked under ten Hag for two years, but left last June before the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
The former Blackburn star admitted that he is grateful for the time he spent under ten hag and greeted the former United manager as 'dedicated' and 'passionate' when he revealed that the former Ajax boss was planning to stay in Old Trafford the next decade.
“I had an incredible opportunity to work together with one of the biggest and best clubs in the world led by Erik ten Hag,” McCarthy told BBC Sport Africa.
'I learned the extreme professionalism because the manager I worked under was not only a disciplinary, but he was the best and one of the most incredible professionals I have ever seen in the game.
'Extremely hard -working, very dedicated, very passionate, he was planning to be the Coach of Manchester United for the next 10 years. That was his vision. '
McCarthy, the best goal scorer in South Africa, gave a glass half full judgment about his two-year enchantment at United with Ten Hag.
Despite the fact that United their worst finish in the Premier League history in 2023-24, McCarthy insisted that he was proud to be part of the coaching setup to bring the Red Devils the first pieces of silverware since 2017.
He added: 'Everyone is talking about how bad, how terribly Manchester United is. We have still succeeded in winning the FA Cup, we have still succeeded in winning the Carabao Cup. I was proud that I was part of that regime. '
Although he maintains warm memories of his time at United, McCarthy also confesses that he has no explanation why countless big name coaches have not dismissed the downward spiral of the club since the departure of Sir Alex Fergus in 2013.
“Honestly for God, I don't know what the issue is,” the former Ajax striker admitted.
“It's just such a huge football club and the problems just seem to continue – and I don't know how they will solve it.”
Since he packs his office in Old Trafford, Ten Hag has decided to stay closer to home when it came to stay busy. He recently revealed that his next career step can be in a different role in the football world, or even completely gone.
“There are so many other things that I could do,” Ten Hag said in a podcast appearance with SEG stories.
'Maybe in football, in a new position as a manager. That is an option. And maybe something completely different.
'I have worked with my brothers lately. We have our own company. Or rather: they have their own company.
'But we also run a company together with our father. That is also something I like to do, I can now give that more attention and it is also very nice. '
The ten Hag family is one of the rich most in the Netherlands because of their successful real estate company. That was founded by the father of Ten Hag, Hennie, in 1967 and still goes strong.
The family also owns various financing companies, with ten Hag's brothers Michel and Rico who run them.
But since his exit from United, who came after the defeat of West Ham, Ten Hag has gotten stuck to help his father and brothers.
Comments