It is inevitable as a Dutch coach that sooner or later the influence of Johan Cruyff will become a question that needs to be answered. Especially if you come from Ajax, the club that Cruyff, along with coach Rinus Michels, propelled to European glory in the Seventies, transforming football with their tactical innovations.
Manchester United’s new Dutch manager Erik ten Hag will have a ready-made answer when that question comes. For he is undoubtedly a Cruyff disciple. In fact, he pretty much sat at the master’s feet as a child and was schooled by him.