Ten Hag: The Biography

This book is an excellent read. I read Mr. Meijer’s biography of the last Dutch manager of Manchester United, Louis van Gaal, so I was excited to see this one appear - although I wasn’t surprised that he had chosen Erik Ten Hag as his next subject, as the author is a fellow Dutchman.It means that alongside Meijer’s encyclopaedic knowledge of football, and his obvious love of the game, you get to know “what maketh the Ten Hag man.” His in-depth study of the culture and region in which the Reds' new manager grew up helps explain why Ten Hag appears so enigmatic in the dugout, and I think biographers from the UK would find it hard to understand and convey that.Compared to the flamboyant and passionate touchline displays of Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jürgen Klopp, Ten Hag is the model of reserve, but as Meijer explains, the "Tukker" from Twente is letting his results speak before he does - and when he does, it will be in his strong farmer's accent. There is a great quote in the biography that sums up Ten Hag perfectly: "I am who I am and I am undisturbed. I don't care what they say."For a lot more excellent analysis of every aspect of the new-kid-on-the-premier-league-block, I fully recommend this book.

Not only does the biography offer a very good view of Erik ten Hag as a player and coach, but it also shows who he is as a human being. It puts his life against the backdrop of his native 'Twente,' the rural eastern part of the Netherlands, telling a story that is clear and understandable to a reader unfamiliar with Dutch cultural idiosyncrasies. The resulting portrait helps to demystify the man and explains the sources of his strengths as a football manager. Manchester United supporters should pay particular attention: connecting the dots of Ten Hag's sporting life thus far, the best is yet to come. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Bought as a gift for someone who only reads his interests, he was very happy with the book so it seems worth the price!

Great read and insight into a very interesting charictor

Meijer tells an engaging story of a football coach and his ability to influence people to achieve breakthrough results.