The international spotlight invariably falls on every Manchester United versus Liverpool showdown, but this upcoming Sunday, the enthusiasm in the Netherlands is expected to reach new heights. The source of this unusual amount of interest lies in the dugouts of Old Trafford – Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot. Both these individuals are Dutch managers who are helming two of the globe’s most prominent football teams, much to the joy and pride of their homeland.
The sentiment echoes across the Netherlands, and as Marco van Basten expressed this past week, the upcoming match is particularly intriguing following Ten Hag’s recent defeat to Brighton in the final moments of the match. What remains to be seen is if Slot, who is off to a victorious start with two wins in two games at Liverpool, can outdo the accomplishment of Jürgen Klopp by defeating a Ten Hag-managed team at Old Trafford.
The Premier League featured four Dutch managers, including Guus Hiddink (Chelsea), Dick Advocaat (Sunderland), Louis van Gaal (Manchester United), and Ronald Koeman (Southampton) in 2015. However, there was a keen desire for a new, revitalised breed of Dutch managers who could match up to their German, Argentinian, and Spanish contemporaries.
46-year-old Slot and 54-year-old Ten Hag are leading the charge for this fresh era of Dutch leadership. Presently, in the Netherlands, Slot enjoys a higher esteem and shouldered with greater expectations, despite the fact that Ten Hag possesses a heftier collection of trophies.
Ten Hag’s debut two seasons in England has been a rollercoaster of victories – a Carabao Cup, an FA Cup, and surviving a complete overhaul in ownership, but he’s also experienced serious lows with league finishes in the third and eighth place respectively. The fact that he remains knee-deep into United’s team development and staffing situation is bewildering to his compatriots.
Trophies and successes at Ajax, Utrecht, and Go Ahead Eagles aside, Ten Hag seems to be struggling to maintain consistency or replicate the similar high-quality performance at Manchester United. Rafael van der Vaart, a former footballer for Tottenham and now a pundit, voiced his concerns regarding excessive spendings last season.
The decisions of Ten Hag to bring in people from his homeland and connections this summer has not been well received. It brings back memories of Van Gaal’s ill-received similar stance at Barcelona towards the turn of the millennium. Although his triumphant run at Ajax, where his squad made a mockery of football giants Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League of 2019, tends to cast a shadow over these recent blunders.
Co Adriaanse, the previous Dutch manager, once pointed out that coaches in Holland are seen much like vehicles. Any sort of flaw or blemish is highly frowned upon, even if that imperfection might bring about crucial learning opportunities for the coach in order to prevent similar instances in the future. The Dutch audience craves for pristine, contemporary coaches who shine bright in their roles.
And Arne Slot fits perfectly into the mould of the impeccably polished coach. Under his guidance, teams like Cambuur, AZ and Feyenoord have not only noticed significant improvements but also witnessed a surge in the quality of football being played, making it appealing and energetic. This aligns perfectly with what the ardent Dutch football followers desire.
Being a coach didn’t come without its trials. Upon taking the leadership of Feyenoord in 2021, Slot found the club in a dismal state, both financially and sportingly, in the shadows of a thriving Ajax under Erik Ten Hag. However, under Slot’s watchful guidance, Feyenoord were able to put a robust challenge against their age-old opponents in virtually every aspect over a span of three years.
Interestingly, Ten Hag now finds himself in a place where Slot was just a few years ago. Another notable point of contrast between the duo is their relationship with the media. Ten Hag has often appeared unsure and tense while being in front of the camera on Dutch soil, tending to falter in his words and swiftly adopting a defensive stance. Furthermore, his English language skills do require improvements.
On the other hand, Slot exudes comfort and ease in England as though he had been coaching there his entire career. He articulates his ideas and insights fluently in English and enjoys a friendly rapport not only with journalists but also with analysts like Jamie Carragher, often indulging in humorous exchanges as if they had a long-shared history on the Anfield turf.
Aided by a teacher father and a spouse who is also a teacher, Slot is a smooth communicator, being vigilant to avoid offending anyone. He has a knack for subtlety while underscoring his successes, often referring to Feyenoord’s inability to procure veteran players much like Ajax and PSV did.
Despite growing up in the quieter eastern parts of Holland, where flamboyant characters aren’t commonplace, Ten Hag has lately become more candid while dealing with the media, a trait that Slot also possesses.
Justifying his journey, Ten Hag claimed, post his FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, “If they no longer require my services, I can always pursue my trophy conquest elsewhere as I have been doing throughout my career.” In conversation with Voetbal International, he did infer that the praise showered on Slot’s Feyenoord last season was excessively adulatory according to Dutch standards. However, it is important to note that there is no friction or rivalry between the two.
According to ex-Heerenveen coach Kees van Wonderen, both Erik Ten Hag and Arne Slot are usually composed prior to a game as they have their strategies set. However, they remain vigilant of potential game-changing situations. Erik is currently seen as more adaptable, cheek his team depending on the opposition. Arne gravitates towards an aggressive, stylish style of play, following the techniques of [Pep] Guardiola but still being open to fresh ideas. Last season saw the infusion of more [Roberto] De Zerbi strategies in his tactics.
Ramon Leeuwin, who has been trained by both Ten Hag and Slot at Utrecht and AZ respectively, expresses admiration for them, both as trainers and individuals. He notes that Arne has an innate ability of making a good impression and quickly winning over the players, staff, and media with his perspicuity and wit. He found Erik’s training approach initially challenging owing to its highly tactical focus. However, over time he noticed significant individual and team progress, coupled with a sense of meticulousness towards the game, compelling him to believe in Erik. He also highlights Erik’s loyalty and good humour.
Ex-Feyenoord and Netherlands trainer Bert van Marwijk, vocalising his views in his De Telegraaf column, recognised Slot’s imprint on Liverpool’s style of play. Dismissing the widespread assumption that trainers lack enough time to implement their playing style, he noted that he didn’t see much of Ten Hag’s characteristic style in United’s game against Brighton. According to van Marwijk, Ten Hag’s current phase at United is predominantly about luck, lacking a firm foundation.
Echoing similar sentiments, former forward Wim Kieft, in the same newspaper, deemed Slot’s vision superior to Ten Hag’s. Even though he warned of the higher pressure Slot would face in England compared to Netherlands, he admitted that Slot has proven to enhance players’ performance. Sunday might find Ten Hag sharing his experiences of the heightened pressure in England with his countryman, Slot.