In a dramatic shift from his coaching roots, former Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag has been officially appointed as the new Technical Director of FC Twente. The 55-year-old Dutchman has signed a contract until mid-2028 and is scheduled to begin his duties on February 1, 2026. Returning to the club where he spent 13 years as a player across three spells, Ten Hag will lead a new era in the boardroom rather than on the touchline.

The appointment comes after a bruising 2025 for Ten Hag. Following his dismissal from Old Trafford, he took over at Bayer Leverkusen in July to replace Xabi Alonso. However, his stint in Germany was historically brief; he was sacked on September 1, 2025, after just three competitive matches. Clashes with the board over the departure of stars like Granit Xhaka and a lack of tactical cohesion led Leverkusen staff to reportedly label his tenure as "one of the most disastrous" in the club's modern history.

In his new role, Ten Hag will succeed the retiring Jan Streuer and assume total control over the club’s football operations. His responsibilities include player recruitment, strategic planning, and youth development—areas he previously managed during a successful stint at FC Utrecht. By returning to his boyhood club to focus on high-level strategy, Ten Hag aims to rebuild his reputation away from the immediate pressure of the manager’s dugout, positioning himself as the architect of Twente’s long-term Eredivisie ambitions.