Erik ten Hag has retreated back to his hometown to lick his wounds after being sacked as Manchester United manager, MailOnline can reveal.
On being told that his two and half year tenure at United was being terminated, Ten Hag immediately raced to Manchester Airport where a private Cessna Citation jet was waiting to take him back to the Netherlands.
And within hours of being fired he had travelled some 500 miles back to the comfort of his other home in a small Dutch town where his extended family lives.
And last night the 54-year-old was consoled by his parents Hennie and Joke who visited their son at his £1m modern three storey home near the centre of Oldenzaal.
It’s believed that after his dismissal on Monday the Dutchman didn’t even return to his UK base but raced straight to the jet that was waiting to fly him to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
Erik ten Hag has been consoled by his parents in his hometown of Oldenzaal, Netherlands, after being sacked by Manchester United. He is seen with his father Hennie yesterday
Ten Hag has recently been mocked after his former side’s 5-2 win over Leicester City last night
The 54-year-old was visited by his parents Hennie and Joke at his £1m three storey home
There a car was waiting to drive him to Oldenzaal, and his five bedroom home there.
Ten Hag didn’t wait around for his wife Bianca or their three children.
It’s understood they remained behind at his home in Cheshire where Bianca will sort out admin matters before joining him in the Netherlands.
The town that he raced back to is Oldenzaal a town of 31,000 residents near the Dutch-German border
That, according to friends and neighbours, is where he not only grew up but also feels most comfortable.
Ten Hag and his wife Bianca would often return to the tranquil town where almost everyone cycles to escape the pressures of running one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
It is also a place where despite his fame from previously managing the Netherland’s top team Ajax and then with United being paid £7.8m a year, he can walk about with relative anonymity.
On being told that his two and half year tenure at United was being terminated, Ten Hag immediately raced to Manchester Airport where a private jet took him back to Oldenzaal, Netherlands, via Schipol airport
According to friends and neighbours, Oldenzaal is where the ex-Manchester United manager feels most comfortable
One resident said of Ten Hag’s hometown: ‘He likes it here as he is not bothered by anyone’
One neighbour said: ‘It’s no surprise that Erik was visited by Hennie and Joke.
‘They are a close family and his parents are very proud and very, very supportive.
‘In fact everyone around Oldenzaal is very proud of him and very respectful of the ten Hags.
‘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.’
Ten Hag was sacked after a disastrous start to the season with United placed 14th in the Premier League.
A 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the weekend was the final straw for United’s board of directors and the shaky tenure at Old Trafford came to a close.
One consolation is an exit package of around £13.5m having signed a new two year contract in the summer.
The decision to sack Ten Hag – who was only given a contract extension in July and spending over £600m in transfer fees – was described as ‘difficult and finely balanced’ by United’s bosses.
Locals said the slow pace of life where cycling is the main means of transport and the town centre is pedestrianised provided the perfect getaway from the pressures of football management
Pictured: The town where former Manchester Utd manager Erik ten Hag has returned to after his recent sacking
Club insiders have said Ten Hag was ‘taken aback’ by the timing of his ousting having survived a review of his position before the start of the season when he was given the contract extension until 2026.
He has since been mocked online by United fans following their 5-2 win in the Carabao cup over Leicester City.
Residents of Oldenzaal spoke of their admiration for Ten Hag as many fondly remember him from his playing days with the local team Twente in the nearby city of Enschede.
He ended up playing 160 games for the club and later began his coaching career with their youth academy.
Ten Hag later took over Holland’s top team Ajax which brought him to the attention of United when they were looking to replace Ralf Rangnick in 2022 following several interim appointments to try and re-capture the glory days under Alex Ferguson.
While with Ajax Ten Hag and his wife Bianca would often return to the small town to escape the pressures of life in Amsterdam at the house a short walk to the modern town centre.
Ten Hag cycling with wife Bianca in Cheshire in happier times – in September 2022
Ten Hag left his post with United sat 14th in the Premier League table
It’s understood Ten Hag’s family have remained in the UK while wife Bianca sorts out admin matters before joining him in the Netherlands
Locals said the slow pace of life where cycling is the main means of transport and the town centre is pedestrianised provided the perfect getaway from the pressures of football management.
‘Most people know Erik from his time as manager of Ajax and it was big news when he joined Manchester United,’ said a local shopkeeper.
‘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.’
Another resident said: ‘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.
‘Of course living in England he has not had the opportunity to spend a lot of time here, but when he does he is not pestered and he can relax.’