Oh, to be Erik ten Hag for just one day. Driving into Manchester United’s Carrington training base under a microscope of scrutiny that has been present since he stepped into the role. But away from football, he also has to contend with being a dad.
Admittedly, much of the recent criticism of the Dutchman has been fair with United enduring a miserable start to the new Premier League season, sitting in 13th position and with just two wins to their name.
Consecutive 3-0 home hammerings against Liverpool and Tottenham, along with Thursday’s chaotic 3-3 draw against Porto, have piled renewed pressure on Ten Hag ahead of Sunday’s visit to high-flying Aston Villa that many believe could be his final game in charge if another heavy defeat follows.
The 50-year-old’s go-to defence has been winning two trophies in consecutive years at the helm of United – the Carabao Cup and FA Cup – but spending over £600m on new recruits without an improvement in league form during his time at the club has left much to be desired.
Another heavy summer of spending saw United’s new INEOS-backed sporting department fork out over £200m on Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte.
Concern were raised over the influence Erik ten Hag’s (middle) son Nigel (second from left) over Man United’s transfer business
Ten Hag is under serious pressure after a torrid start to his third season at the club
Ten Hag insists he remains the best person to lead Man United forward as they bid for success
Neither are yet to showcase the skills that convinced United to splash out on them and recruitment could be Ten Hag’s downfall.
Prior to the installation of Ineos’ new sporting structure at the club – which oversaw their summer transfer business – club staff had expressed concern over Ten Hag’s son’s potential influence over transfers.
The United manager’s son, Nigel, is employed by Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) agency as a performance analyst. The group has been heavily involved in transfer business conducted during Ten Hag’s time at the club.
Ten Hag’s second summer window at United saw his own agent Kees Vos – who owns the SEG agency – work heavily on recruitment as deals were struck for several European stars.
Nigel joined SEG a year earlier in 2022, just months after Ten Hag was named United’s next head coach. He has been part of the organisation at a time when SEG has been involved in several deals involving the Premier League club.
SEG worked on player sales and signings during a busy summer of activity ahead of last season which saw United spend £178million on four new arrivals – Rasmus Hojlund, Sofyan Amrabat, Andre Onana and Mason Mount.
Vos was a regular visitor to Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground throughout that period and SEG represented Hojlund during his £72m move from Atalanta having joined the company the month before signing for United.
The company also acted for United in negotiations over the loan signing of Amrabat from Fiorentina and were involved in selling former United academy midfielder Zidane Iqbal to Utrecht just two months after the 20-year-old had joined the agency from rivals CAA Base.
SEG become the go-to agency for United’s recruitment during Ten Hag’s time at the club, leading to concerns the organisation was being favoured because of his son’s involvement.
Nigel ten Hag works as an analyst for Kees Vos’s (second from right) SEG group that has worked on several transfers at United, including the deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund (second left)
Nigel had also previously worked at Ajax as a football scout during his dad’s successful managerial reign at the Dutch giants.
Ten Hag’s son previously worked at Ajax during the United boss’s reign at the club
It had been noted by other agents unhappy at what they perceived as losing out on potential deals due to the link with Ten Hag.
Despite such complaints, SEG are a globally renowned business, with 600 athletes on their books and have also developed close links with Manchester City.
Meanwhile, the five players signed during the most recent transfer window weren’t represented by SEG, a possible reflection of the new structure in place at the club.
This is despite Ten Hag still favouring signing players he previously worked with at Ajax.
United sources have previously stressed to Mail Sport that it is not unusual for top clubs to have strong links with particular agencies due to personal relationships formed by their key personnel, which often brings advantages in the transfer market.
Nigel – who bears a striking resemblance to his dad – has been present at Old Trafford on several occasions and celebrated with Ten Hag after winning the FA Cup at the end of last season.
SEG acted for United in negotiations over the loan signing of Sofyan Amrabat (right) last year
Ten Hag has spent heavily at United but has struggled to improve their Premier League form
He joined the club’s post-celebration party in London in the aftermath of United’s victory over Man City and even held the trophy for a picture that is now his Instagram profile shot.
Nigel then jetted off with Ten Hag for a summer break in Ibiza, where the United manager was met by club executives as they thrashed out a deal to keep him in charge at Old Trafford.
The father-son relationship is clearly a close one that is engrossed in a love for football, but at a time when Ten Hag’s future looks to be drawing to an end, every element of his reign is being scrutinised in a search for answers.
Ten Hag remains adamant that he is the best person to lead United to new glories, but a trip to Villa Park on Sunday could be the make-or-break point for the under-fire Dutchman.