United look to return to youth under Ten Hag

MANCHESTER, England : Manchester United appointed a new manager in Dutchman Erik ten Hag on Thursday with some very familiar language used to announce his arrival from Ajax.

"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," said United's football director John Murtough.

It is the same rhetoric that former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer frequently turned to when talking about United's 'DNA' - attacking football and youth are seen by the club's hierarchy as embedded in the club's ethos from the days of Matt Busby to Alex Ferguson.

The 'Busby Babes' of the 1950's established United as a post-war power in English football before their progress was wrecked by the Munich air disaster.

The 'Class of 92' under Ferguson created an era of domination of the English game out of a team which won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and went on to win the Champions League as part of a treble of trophies in 1999.

Ajax are likewise known for a production line of young players and for a commitment to aesthetically pleasing, positive football and by poaching their manager, United clearly hope to tap into that tradition.

United are rightly proud of their record of producing homegrown talent - in 2019 they celebrated 4000 straight matches in which at least one youth graduate was represented in the first team or matchday squad, a run which goes back nine decades to before World War Two.

Even in the midst of their current troubles, placed sixth in the league and beaten 4-0 by Liverpool on Tuesday, the club can point to the success of reaching a record 15th FA Youth Cup final - they will face Nottingham Forest