Erik ten Hag, the recently sacked Manchester United manager, has made a swift return to his hometown of Oldenzaal, Netherlands.
Within hours of his dismissal on Monday, the 54-year-old Dutchman raced to Manchester Airport, where a private Cessna Citation jet awaited him.
Ten Hag flew directly to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, leaving behind his wife Bianca and their three children in Cheshire.
A car then transported him to Oldenzaal, a town of 31,000 residents near the Dutch-German border.
The former United boss has sought solace in his £1m modern three-storey home, where he was visited by his parents, Hennie and Joke, last night.
Oldenzaal holds significant importance for Ten Hag, as it’s where he grew up and feels most comfortable, according to friends and neighbours.
Erik ten Hag has left the country after getting the sack
Reuters
The tranquil town offers him a respite from the pressures of managing top-flight football clubs.
“He can relax and feel like he has his privacy when he is here – and I’m sure that’s very different to what he experienced in Manchester and why he was quick to return,” a neighbour told MailOnline.
Despite his fame from managing Ajax and Manchester United, Ten Hag can enjoy relative anonymity in Oldenzaal.
The town’s slow pace of life and cycling culture provide a perfect getaway for the former United manager.
Ten Hag’s sacking came after a disastrous start to the season, with Manchester United placed 14th in the Premier League.
The 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the weekend proved to be the final straw for United’s board of directors.
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Club insiders revealed Ten Hag was “taken aback” by the timing of his dismissal, having survived a position review before the season’s start when he received a contract extension until 2026.
Despite the setback, Ten Hag will receive an exit package of around £13.5m. The decision to sack him was described as “difficult and finely balanced” by United’s bosses.
Residents of Oldenzaal have expressed their admiration and support for Ten Hag. Many fondly remember him from his playing days with local team Twente in nearby Enschede.
“Most people know Erik from his time as manager of Ajax and it was big news when he joined Manchester United,” a local shopkeeper told MailOnline.
“Getting sacked was no surprise because the results were bad. There is a lot of sympathy for him. The team has not being doing well, but he is welcome back here.”
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Another resident added, “He likes it here as he is not bothered by anyone.
“Many people have followed what he has been doing as Manchester United are such a big club and we hear all about what they are doing.”