Tragedies at Twente Shaped Ten Hag’s Career

Plane Crash, Car Accident, and Fireworks Disaster: How Twente Shaped Erik Ten Hag

September 25, 2024
9:00 am

As Erik ten Hag leads Manchester United into their Europa League clash against FC Twente, the Dutch club remains a place of profound significance in his life. Twente, where Ten Hag spent formative years as a player and coach, is where early tragedies indelibly shaped his character and career.

In 1989, Ten Hag’s teammate, Andy Scharmin, a highly talented young footballer, died in a plane crash while flying to Suriname for a friendly match aimed at promoting Dutch-Surinamese players. Scharmin and 13 of his teammates, along with their coach, were among 176 passengers who perished in the disaster. The news shook the club to its core, and Ten Hag, along with other Twente players, served as pallbearers at Scharmin’s funeral. Ten Hag has since held June 7, the day of the crash, as a personal day of mourning each year, reflecting on the friend and teammate he lost. He recalled the moment he heard the news, with Twente teammate Edwin Hilgerink standing at his doorstep to deliver the devastating information.

Just a year later, tragedy struck the club again when Tom Krommendijk, a promising 23-year-old midfielder, died in a car accident shortly after joining Twente from Feyenoord. Though Ten Hag had left the club at the time, his bond with Twente remained strong, and these back-to-back losses profoundly impacted him and the Twente community.

In May 2000, Ten Hag, now captain of Twente, was thrust into another heartbreaking tragedy when a fireworks explosion tore through the city of Enschede, killing 23 people and injuring hundreds. The disaster shook the region, but just three days later, Ten Hag led his team onto the field for an emotional 2-2 draw against NAC Breda. A year after the tragedy, he captained Twente to a Dutch Cup victory, the club’s first major trophy in 24 years. The triumph brought much-needed joy to the area and strengthened the connection between the club and its community.

Twente, based in the east of the Netherlands, embodies the local ethos of “Noaberschap,” a concept that stresses neighborly support and communal solidarity. These experiences of loss and resilience at Twente shaped Ten Hag’s outlook on life and football. The tragedies he witnessed turned him into a coach who not only values the tactical side of the game but also the importance of caring for players as people.

Theo Snelders, a former Twente goalkeeper and Ten Hag’s close friend, reflected on how the club’s tragic past molded Ten Hag: “He cares about people. He is a very caring soul, not just interested in the player but also the person, and their families.”

As Ten Hag transitioned into coaching, his time at Twente continued to influence him. After retiring from playing, he worked as head of youth development at the club and later earned his coaching badges. Snelders recalled how Ten Hag was already well-respected among his peers, occasionally skipping sessions to attend local carnivals but still excelling due to his deep football knowledge. His reputation as a smart, considerate coach grew, leading him to take on increasing responsibilities at Twente, including running training sessions during Steve McClaren’s managerial tenure.

Ten Hag left Twente for a coaching role at PSV Eindhoven in 2009, but his experiences at the club — both joyful and tragic — profoundly shaped the way he views football, leadership, and life. His ability to connect with young players and help them grow is a hallmark of his success, which carried him through an impressive spell at Ajax and now to the pressures of managing Manchester United.

As Manchester United prepare to face Twente, Ten Hag will undoubtedly reflect on the memories and challenges that shaped him during his time there. The personal losses and communal tragedies forged his resilience and compassion, shaping him into the manager he is today — one who cares deeply about both the game and the people within it.