Man Utd’s Erik ten Hag looks unrecognisable in throwback snap from playing days

On Oct 28, 2022

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks completely unrecognisable in an insane throwback snap from his playing days.

Appointed in the Old Trafford hot seat prior to the start of the new season, the former Ajax boss has endured an indifferent start to life in the Premier League, though United have shown signs of improvement from their dismal seventh-place finish last term.

Comfortably through to the last 16 of the Europa League, Ten Hag’s men are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run since they were torn apart against bitter rivals Manchester City, keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Learning his managerial trade at Bayern Munich II, where he studied under City boss Pep Guardiola, Utrecht and Ajax, Ten Hag’s clean head is now instantly recognisable but it’s a far cry from his playing days at Twente, where he sported a slick combover.

The Dutchman enjoyed a lengthy career as a central defender, including three spells at Twente, before hanging up his boots in the summer of 2002, aged just 32.

Claiming two major honours throughout his playing career, Ten Hag romped to the Eerste Divisie (Dutch second division) title in 1991 whilst also bagging the KNVB Cup with his beloved Twente ten years later.

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Erik ten Hag sported a slick comeover during his playing days
(Image: VI-Images via Getty Images)

The 52-year-old then stepped into management a decade after retirement, leading Bayern Munich II to Regionalliga Bayern in 2014 and sealing three Eredivisie crowns in four seasons in the Dutch capital.

But the cost of his recent success has clearly impacted Ten Hag with his luscious locks soon departing for baldness. But if he hadn’t lost all his hair, the United boss would be tearing it out over the Cristiano Ronaldo saga.

Ronaldo refused to come on against Tottenham

Unable to secure a move away from Old Trafford in the summer, CR7 refused to come off the bench against Tottenham in the Premier League, resulting in him being left out of the squad for the match at Stamford Bridge.

Though the Portuguese legend returned to the starting line-up in the Europa League on Thursday night, rounding off the scoring in a 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol.