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Man Utd news: Charting the Ajax managers who went on to taste title glory elsewhere

Erik ten Hag Ajax Aug19

Erik ten Hag is set to join Manchester United on the back of a glittering CV at Ajax but does Eredivisie glory lay the platform for further success down the line?

Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as Manchester United's new manager but is appointing an Ajax coach a good idea?
Planet Sport has gone back through the records to assess how managers fare after Ajax.
For this exercise we only deep dive into full-time coaches who won the title with Dutch giants.

Jack Reynolds (1915-25, 1928-40, 1945-47)

The Lancashire-born journeyman winger began coaching in Switzerland with St Gallen before taking on the Ajax role in 1915. He would go on to have three different spells in Amsterdam and is considered one of the founding fathers of the Total Football that Ajax became famed for. During his three spells he would deliver Ajax's first eight league titles, a record that is still unsurpassed.

His managerial career was almost exclusively with Ajax and he did not go on to taste success elsewhere.

Success after Ajax: No

Karl Humenberger (1954-59)

Austrian Humemberger was the first manager other than Reynolds to deliver a title for Ajax. He won the Dutch league in 1956 - the first year the league was professional.
He moved on to manage in Austria and Belgium, but no more titles arrived.

Success after Ajax: No

Vic Buckingham (1959-61, 1964-65)

Ajax's next title arrived with legendary Englishman Buckingham at the helm. After his first spell at Ajax he spent three seasons at Sheffield Wednesday before returning to the Netherlands capital. He left before the end of the 1964/65 season and went on to take on some huge jobs in the shape of Barcelona, Sevilla and Olympiakos.
No more titles arrived, with Barca pipped for the 1970/71 La Liga title by Valencia on head to head results after the sides finished tied on points. He did, however, win the Spanish Cup thanks to an extra-time win over Valencia.

Success after Ajax: Nearly

Rinus Michels (1965-71)

One of the greatest managers in Dutch football history and the first manager to achieve success post Ajax.

Four Eredivisie titles arrived for Michels in the 1960s before he was lured to Spain to take charge of Barcelona, winning La Liga with them in 1974.

He then followed that up by taking Holland to the European Championship in 1988.

Success after Ajax: Yes

Stefan Kovacs (1971-73)

Continuing the success of Michels did not look an easy task, but Romanian boss Stefan Kovacs achieved it.
He picked up two Dutch titles, a Dutch Cup and two European Cups in a sensational spell.
However, unlike Michels, success after Ajax was not forthcoming.
Kovacs went on to manage France, Romania, Monaco and Panathinaikos, picking up one further trophy - the Greek Cup in 1982.

Success after Ajax: No

Tomislav Ivic (1976-78)

Considered by some the greatest manager of all time, Croatian-born Ivic managed in 14 different countries and four national sides.
Ivic's spells in the late '70s with Ajax saw him win the title and more success followed with further championships at the helm of Porto, Anderlecht and Marseille.

Success after Ajax: Yes

Cor Brom (1978-79)

A controversial figure. Brom took the league title in his only season in charge before being sacked by the chairman for accepting gifts from an opponent! He did little thereafter.

Success after Ajax: No

Leo Beenhakker (1979-81, 1989-91)

One of Holland's great coaches, he won the title in both spells with Ajax. He also enjoyed success elsewhere, most notably with Real Madrid where he claimed three consecutive La Liga titles.

Success after Ajax: Yes

Kurt Linder (1981-82, 1988)

After spells with PSV Eindhoven, Marseille and Young Boys, he was appointed Ajax boss in 1981 and he led the club to league glory that season. He returned to Young Boys and had a brief second spell at Ajax in 1988 which would prove to be his final managerial role.

Success after Ajax: No

Aad de Mos (1982-85)

De Mos enjoyed a brilliant spell in charge of Ajax with two league titles and followed that up with some remarkable success.
He won the Belgian title with Anderlecht but perhaps more impressively he won the Belgian league with lowly Mechelen and also the Uefa Cup Winners' Cup and Uefa Super Cup.

Success after Ajax: Yes

Louis van Gaal (1991-97)

One Ajax's best, Van Gaal claimed three Eredivisie crowns and also a Champions League title before leaving the Dutch capital.

He went on to seal further titles with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar.

Success after Ajax: Yes

Morten Olsen (1997-99)

The Danish legend only had a couple of seasons with Ajax but he did win the title before heading off to take charge of his country.
However, no titles arrived for Olsen with Denmark.

Success after Ajax: No

Ronald Koeman (2001-05)

Ronald Koeman enjoyed a very good spell, with titles arriving in 2002 and 2004.
He would go on to manage Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Everton and Southampton as well as Netherland - but only claimed one further domestic title with PSV.

Success after Ajax: No

Frank de Boer (2010-16)

One of the true Ajax greats, nobody has won more titles, as a player and/or manager than de Boer. He picked up four as a manager and was considered one of the finest bosses on the planet.
However, ill-fated spells at Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and Holland have seen his stock plummet.

Success after Ajax: No

Erik ten Hag (2018-22)

Two Eredivisie titles have put Erik ten Hag on the road to Old Trafford. But as we have seen, of the 14 permanent managers that have won the Eredivisie with Ajax, less than half tasted real success elsewhere. Will Ten Hag prove to be another post Sir Alex Ferguson flop? Only time will tell.

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