Erik ten Hag has made it crystal clear that Ajax remain his top priority until he takes over at Manchester United.
The 52-year-old has officially agreed to become the Red Devils' permanent manager from the end of this season, signing a lucrative contract at Old Trafford which runs until June 2025. Between now and the start of his new job, Ten Hag is hoping to continue with impressive work with Ajax and guide the Amsterdam giants to their third Eredivisie title in five years.
Upon his announcement, the Dutch tactician confirmed in a statement on Ajax's website : "I'm happy that it has been finalised and that it has been officially announced. That clarity is important. But I only have one interest now and that's these last five games. I want to finish my time here on a positive note, by winning the league. By doing so, we'll qualify directly for the Champions League. Ajax belongs there."
Having lost the Dutch cup final 2-1 to rivals PSV Eindhoven on Sunday, Ten Hag is aiming to finish the campaign strongly and end his time with Ajax on a high. The highly-regarded coach has made the famous club a force in Europe once again during his half-decade in charge, notably reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, beating Juventus and Real Madrid along the way.
His work was alongside Ajax chief executive and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who added: "Four and a half years is a good amount of time, but we would have liked to have kept Erik at Ajax for longer. He is going to make the step to one of the biggest clubs in the world, in a fantastic league."
"We owe Erik a lot of thanks for what he has achieved with Ajax so far, but we are not done yet. At the end of the season, I will look back more extensively on his departure. For now, what matters is the final games of the season in which we all want to bring home the league title."
Once this term is done and dusted, Ten Hag is "determined" to be a success at Old Trafford, with the new manager declaring: "It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.
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"I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve. It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United."
Football Director John Murtough, who has led the search to replace interim boss Ralf Rangnick, added: "During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team's attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.
"In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that. We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer."
