Ten Hag Skipping Ajax Post-season Trip to Start Work on Man Utd Rebuild

Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
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Ten Hag Skipping Ajax Post-season Trip to Start Work on Man Utd Rebuild

Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)
Ajax Amsterdam's Dutch coach Erik ten Hag (C) applauds supporters after the Dutch Eredivisie match between Arnhem Vitesse and Ajax Amsterdam in The Gelredome in Arnhem on May 15, 2022. (AFP)

Erik ten Hag said he will not travel with Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam for their post-season trip to Curacao and will instead turn his attention to his new role as Manchester United manager.

Ten Hag, who was named United manager last month to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick, arrives at Old Trafford having led Ajax to their third consecutive Eredivisie title.

"Yes, there will be a party with the entire (Ajax) staff but that will be it. I will not be joining them to Curacao. I think that's understandable," Ten Hag said after his final match with Ajax on Sunday, a 2-2 draw at Vitesse.

"There's a lot of work to be done at United. There's a lot of work at every club. A manager's job is especially focused on the preparations for next season. And there's a lot of work to be done in that regard.

"Regarding the staff, there are several things that need to be organized. Also regarding the team and over the next several days, or actually as of Monday, we will be focusing on that intensively."

United, who are sixth in the Premier League, travel to Crystal Palace for the final game of the season on May 22.

Ajax have named Alfred Schreuder as their new coach to replace Ten Hag.



Former Argentina Coach Sampaoli Takes Over at French Club Rennes

FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
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Former Argentina Coach Sampaoli Takes Over at French Club Rennes

FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )

Former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is taking over at French league side Rennes.
The 64-year-old is returning to French soccer following a previous stint with Marseille.
Rennes said late Monday that Sampaoli signed a 1 1/2-year contract, The Associated Press reported.
Sampaoli, who was in charge of Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, replaces Julien Stephan, who was dismissed last week.
Rennes is looking for a jolt after a mediocre spell that saw the team slump to 13th place in the standings, 18 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain after 11 matches.
“He is a coach who is recognized internationally for his professionalism and humanism,” said Arnaud Pouille, the executive chairman and managing director at Rennes. “He has a strong attachment to his players and staff, and is a loyal and committed man. We need his energy to get the club moving again and to face the competition with determination.”
The much-traveled Sampaoli has also coached clubs in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain and Brazil.
Sampaoli abruptly left Marseille in July 2022 after leading the team back to the Champions League, over a disagreement related to the club's transfers of players.