He has already started his next job at Manchester United, but trainer Erik ten Hag may win another prize next month. The Tukker who led Ajax to the national title last season has been nominated for the Rinus Michels Award.
Ten Hag previously won the Award as a trainer of FC Utrecht in 2016 and then as a trainer of Ajax in 2019 and 2021.
The trainers’ union Coaches Professional Football has nominated a total of five trainers for the prize. Ten Hag’s competitors are Feyenoord coach Arne Slot, Ron Jans (FC Twente), Joseph Oosting (RKC Waalwijk) and Kees van Wonderen (GA Eagles). Roger Schmidt, who won the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruijff Scale with PSV and who finished in second place in the Eredivisie with the Eindhoven team, has not been nominated.
Wim Jonk
One level lower, Wim Jonk is a contender to be elected trainer of the year. Jonk has brought FC Volendam back to the Eredivisie after fourteen years. De Volendammer has fierce competition from Dick Lukkien who became champion of the first division with FC Emmen. Marinus Dijkhuizen (Excelsior) and Rob Penders (FC Eindhoven) have also been nominated. Dijkhuizen can promote with Excelsior if ADO Den Haag is defeated in the final of the play-offs.
All head coaches in professional football vote for their favorite. The winners will be honored in Garderen on Sunday 26 June.
