“Very strange” – Spurs were left shocked by manager stance during interview

[mawspurs]

Over in the Netherlands, there’s been a little reveal on what happened with Erik ten Hag and Tottenham. The Ajax coach had been repeatedly linked with the club earlier this summer, before he signed a new contract with the Eredivisie side.

Source: Sports Witness

 

[Serpico]

Over in the Netherlands, there’s been a little reveal on what happened with Erik ten Hag and Tottenham. The Ajax coach had been repeatedly linked with the club earlier this summer, before he signed a new contract with the Eredivisie side.

Source: Sports Witness

So what happened?

 

[theShiznit]

So what happened?

The article says he told them (us) that he wouldn't be bringing any backroom staff.

which is "very strange" as Levy then wouldn't be able to barter him down to minus one (well i suppose he did in the end )

 

[Matthew]

So what happened?

Over in the Netherlands, there’s been a little reveal on what happened with Erik ten Hag and Tottenham. The Ajax coach had been repeatedly linked with the club earlier this summer, before he signed a new contract with the Eredivisie side.
There was never great concern in the Dutch media about Ajax potentially losing their manager, even when he was favourite with English bookmakers.
Valentijn Driessen, chief football writer for De Telegraaf, has explained that Ten Hag likely ruined his chances during an interview with Spurs.
Quoted by Voetbal Zone, he explained Tottenham were left shocked when Ten Hag told them he had no plans to bring a backroom team with him: “Which they found very strange at Spurs , and we think it is very normal in the Netherlands that if you get a trainer you only get one trainer, but with the English you get a whole staff: a physiotherapist, doctor, assistant trainer, goalkeeper coach.
“You just enter there with a whole group. So they also asked him: who are you taking with you? Yes, nobody. They don’t know that there. He wanted Sjors Ultee, that name had also been mentioned. But you normally go there with a whole group.”
Driessen says Ten Hag didn’t make a strong impression on Spurs, and it would appear the process didn’t go any further.

 

[Serpico]

Over in the Netherlands, there’s been a little reveal on what happened with Erik ten Hag and Tottenham. The Ajax coach had been repeatedly linked with the club earlier this summer, before he signed a new contract with the Eredivisie side.
There was never great concern in the Dutch media about Ajax potentially losing their manager, even when he was favourite with English bookmakers.
Valentijn Driessen, chief football writer for De Telegraaf, has explained that Ten Hag likely ruined his chances during an interview with Spurs.
Quoted by Voetbal Zone, he explained Tottenham were left shocked when Ten Hag told them he had no plans to bring a backroom team with him: “Which they found very strange at Spurs , and we think it is very normal in the Netherlands that if you get a trainer you only get one trainer, but with the English you get a whole staff: a physiotherapist, doctor, assistant trainer, goalkeeper coach.
“You just enter there with a whole group. So they also asked him: who are you taking with you? Yes, nobody. They don’t know that there. He wanted Sjors Ultee, that name had also been mentioned. But you normally go there with a whole group.”
Driessen says Ten Hag didn’t make a strong impression on Spurs, and it would appear the process didn’t go any further.

It all seemed a little odd and maybe the right outcome. Could it be possible he never wanted the job and used Tottenham to highen his profile for a new contract?

 

[Donki]

It all seemed a little odd and maybe the right outcome. Could it be possible he never wanted the job and used Tottenham to highen his profile for a new contract?

He didn't get a new contract though, it was a triggered extension.

 

[14/04/91]

Given the likes of Mason, King, Powell and Gibbs already in the background, I'm surprised Levy didn't see this is a positive.

 

[Shadydan]

Given the likes of Mason, King, Powell and Gibbs already in the background, I'm surprised Levy didn't see this is a positive.

Managers normally come with entourages or management teams, it's the first time I've heard of a manager who is looking to work by himself.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

He didn't get a new contract though, it was a triggered extension.

Triggered by the club, not by him - therefore an extension of one-year that he may not otherwise have been given.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Managers normally come with entourages or management teams, it's the first time I've heard of a manager who is looking to work by himself.

I think it used to be very normal on the continent:
A Director of Football recruits a team of backroom staff, of which the manager / head coach is one member, with each appointment intended to fit the club's philosophy. The club philosophy is set out by the DoF (in conjunction with the board) and not dictated by the manager / head coach. This significantly reduces the turmoil when a manager / head coach is sacked, as there isn't a huge upheaval of staff, allowing the same club philosophy to continue under the new manager.

Ajax and Borussia Dortmund are prime examples of clubs that have a clear and consistent philosophy, so it would make perfect sense that they follow this model. I'm not sure, but I would guess the frequent management changes at Watford were more along these lines too.

Why have a Director of Football if the manager they appoint is going to dictate who the coaches, team doctor, physio (and even scouts in some cases!) are?

 

[Shadydan]

I think it used to be very normal on the continent:
A Director of Football recruits a team of backroom staff, of which the manager / head coach is one member, with each appointment intended to fit the club's philosophy. The club philosophy is set out by the DoF (in conjunction with the board) and not dictated by the manager / head coach. This significantly reduces the turmoil when a manager / head coach is sacked, as there isn't a huge upheaval of staff, allowing the same club philosophy to continue under the new manager.

Ajax and Borussia Dortmund are prime examples of clubs that have a clear and consistent philosophy, so it would make perfect sense that they follow this model. I'm not sure, but I would guess the frequent management changes at Watford were more along these lines too.

Why have a Director of Football if the manager they appoint is going to dictate who the coaches, team doctor, physio (and even scouts in some cases!) are?

But I thought the DOF only ensures that the manager aligns with the club's philosophy and said manager is able to bring over who he wants which makes up the fabric of their team, for example when Pep came to Man City they gave him an absolute free reign of who to bring over, the only constant that was left there from the Pellegrini/Mancini era was Brian Kidd.

 

[Serpico]

He didn't get a new contract though, it was a triggered extension.

Ok then, trigger the trigger for an extention? Either way used Tottenham for his own advantage.

 

[Partizan]

Reading the title I feared for a split second that Nuno had already broken down in his first day with us

 

[Neon_Knight_]

But I thought the DOF only ensures that the manager aligns with the club's philosophy and said manager is able to bring over who he wants which makes up the fabric of their team, for example when Pep came to Man City they gave him an absolute free reign of who to bring over, the only constant that was left there from the Pellegrini/Mancini era was Brian Kidd.

I think that's the more modern take on it, whereas Ajax may still be following a model that has been largely phased out elsewhere for 20-30 years.

I'm not suggesting it was in any way normal for ten Hag to expect to come in alone.

 

[Pat Rice Spurs fan]

Wasn't Fonseca set up to come on his own, without staff?

If so, why would it be an issue for ETH but not Fonseca?

 

[Shadydan]

Wasn't Fonseca set up to come on his own, without staff?

If so, why would it be an issue for ETH but not Fonseca?

Not sure, where did you hear that?

 

[Metalhead]

Not sure, where did you hear that?

I think that there was some talk that the people that he worked with previously wouldn't have been available but the difference - to respond to @Pat Rice Spurs fan is that Fonseca wasn't actively working with anyone at the time whereas Ten Hag has an existing team of coaching staff that people would have expected him to bring.