Unexpected Comeback: Ten Hag Emerges as a Savior for Wolves in the Premier League

Potential Rescue Mission in the Premier League

The Dutch coach Erik ten Hag is edging toward a return to the English top flight, roughly a year after his dismissal from Manchester United. He left Old Trafford in October 2024 following a run of unsatisfactory results.

According to The Athletic, Ten Hag is among the leading candidates to take the role of head coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers, succeeding Vitor Pereira, whose tenure ended amid poor form. The Wolves sit bottom after ten games with only two points.

Ten Hag is not the only option the club is weighing. The board also has a former Wolves manager in mind: Gary O’Neill, who previously steered the side from August 2023 to December 2024 before his dismissal.

The interest in Ten Hag comes about two months after his exit from Bayer Leverkusen, where his spell lasted just 62 days and ended after a short, turbulent run that replaced Xabi Alonso.

There have even been whispers of a return to Ajax in Amsterdam, with the Dutch club reportedly considering bringing Ten Hag back as the season progresses. If results continue to slide, a comeback might come sooner than expected. Ten Hag led Ajax from 2017 to 2022, securing three Dutch league titles, two cups, and a memorable run to the 2019 Champions League semi finals against Tottenham Hotspur.

His move to Manchester United followed, but the expected glory did not translate into a long-term revival, and he left in autumn 2024 when a new coach arrived.

In the current season, the 55-year-old was unveiled as Leverkusen’s new coach, a tenure that ended quickly after two games in the Bundesliga. Ten Hag’s departure is reported as the fastest in the club’s history.

Old ties with Ajax resurfaced in May, when Ajax sporting director said Ten Hag has long been on their radar. He is described as well known and capable, yet the club ultimately chose a different path in the summer. Ajax were doing well enough, but the gap to the leaders remained sizable, and their Champions League campaign had started with a loss to Inter Milan and a defeat to Marseille, dampening the mood.

Behind the scenes, Bild reported five major reasons for the abrupt Leverkusen exit, including a rift with players and staff, a reluctance to deliver a pep talk before the Hoffenheim opener that ended in defeat, and alleged interference in transfer plans via his agency. The transfer of Lucas Vazquez reportedly happened without Ten Hag’s knowledge, underscoring a fraught relationship with the club’s hierarchy.

Insiders also cited drills and conditioning as being overbearing, with players craving more ideas and a steadier leadership under previous coach Xabi Alonso. The club’s atmosphere was described as chilly, with management worried that a lack of direction would persist into the matches. As the season began with disappointing results, questions about the team’s tactics and leadership remained unresolved, leaving players puzzled and fans hoping for a brighter next act.

Punchline 1: Ten Hag’s plan is so sharp the ball wears a helmet. Punchline 2: If Wolves start winning, the only thing they’ll howl at is the scoreboard proving the plan isn’t just a rumor.