Man Utd's Erik ten Hag looked very different when he played against his current team's opponent, FC Twente.

On Wednesday night, Erik ten Hag will have a familiar opponent as Manchester United takes on FC Twente in the Europa League. It will be an emotional reunion for the 54-year-old, as he used to play for the Dutch club and even made his senior debut there after coming through their youth set-up.

Ten Hag had a strong connection with Twente, returning for two more spells as a player, with his final one lasting from 1996 to 2002. After retiring from playing in 2002, he continued his involvement with the club, moving into coaching and working with their Under-17 and Under-19 teams. Interestingly, there is also a Manchester United connection as Ten Hag had the opportunity to work with the academy while Steve McClaren was in charge of the first team in 2009.

During his time at Twente, Ten Hag made over 200 appearances, captaining the team and even winning the KNVB Cup in 2001, which he considers to be his proudest moment as a player. It's no surprise that he looks a bit different now compared to his playing days, as he has since grown a greying beard and ditched his old hairstyle.

As he prepares to face his former club at Old Trafford, Ten Hag admits that it will be an emotional evening for him and he would have preferred to play against someone else. He even goes on to say, "It's not nice to hurt something you love." Twente holds a special place in his heart, as it is where he started his journey in football and he still follows the team closely as a fan, not just as an analyst.

According to his former teammate, Leon ten Voorde, it was clear from a young age that Ten Hag would become a manager. "You could back then already see a coach in him," Ten Voorde said. "He was always captain and had a know-it-all attitude when it came to football. Even though he wasn't the best player, he always had the best tactical thoughts."

It's evident that Ten Hag's time at Twente has had a significant impact on his career, and he holds a great deal of history with the club. As he prepares to face them as an opponent, he reflects on the journey that has brought him to this point and the fond memories he has from his time at Twente.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]