Inside household lifetime of Erik ten Hag – from childhood sweetheart to dad’s legacy

Erik ten Hag’s future as Manchester United manager looks about as certain as Rishi Sunak’s and by the time you’re reading this, he may have even left Old Trafford.

But unlike the soggy PM, Ten Hag at least enjoyed some recent success in his job, having outwitted Pep Guardiola with a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

But almost immediately after the game, Ten Hag was facing uncomfortable questions about his future. And in a defiant message to new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, he said: “Two trophies in two years is not bad. Three finals in two years is not bad.

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“I’m not satisfied with it. We have to do better. If they don’t want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do.”

It was fighting talk from the former Ajax man and while he awaits news on whether he will continue in his role next season, he is now spending precious time with his family after a rollercoaster season where the club finished eighth.

Ten Hag’s family life

Ten Hag rarely shows much emotion and has been described as a frosty character when speaking with the press. But away from the spotlight and pressures of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world, the 54-year-old is a loving family man.

He has a wife, two daughters and a son, and ever since taking the reins at United, he is often seen strolling around Cheshire with his partner. Her name is Bianca and the pair are believed to be childhood sweethearts – but she prefers to stay away from the limelight.

The married couple do not have social media accounts unlike Ten Hag’s rival across the city Pep Guardiola – whose model daughter once dated an England star.

Erik and Bianca meanwhile used to live in Oldenzaal in Twente, Netherlands, before Ten Hag succeeded Ole Gunnar Solskjær in April 2022.

According to OK!, the pair enjoy playing golf and they also keep fit by going on bike rides together, where they are often snapped by photographers.

Ten Hag was born in a town called Haaksbergen, Overijssel, and his wife has been by his side throughout his football career.

He also has a close relationship with his son, Nigel, who according to the Daily Mail, works as an anaylst for Sports Entertainment Group, a firm founded by Ten Hag’s agent, Kees Vos. They reportedly work closely on transfers at United and they represent Rasmus Hojlund, who joined from Atalanta for £72million.

The United boss used to be a centre-back and he played for Dutch clubs like FC Twente, De Graafschap, RKC Waalwijk and Utrecht.

But he has been retired from playing for 22 years and since then he has managed Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich II, FC Utrecht, Ajax and United.

Family legacy

Ten Hag’s success in professional football is not the only legacy celebrated in his family.

That is because his brothers, Michel and Rico, run the biggest estate agents and financial services business in Haaksbergen after they inherited it from their father.

The Ten Hag name is proudly emblazoned on shop windows and apartments in the town Erik grew up in.

It was set up by the father in 1967 and it is based two hours from Amsterdam and a statement on the website reads: “If we tell you that we have more than 50 years of experience and that ten Hag now has nine branches, it is almost redundant to say that we are a household name in the region. Yet we do it!

“We are very proud that we are known in the East Netherlands region as the service provider in real estate and financial services. We now have 100 enthusiastic and motivated employees. We continue to grow with pleasure, both physically and in the expertise of our employees.”

With his brothers acting as chairman and director of the business, at least Ten Hag will have options if he is given the boot at United…

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