As the beer flows outside the Johan Cruyff ArenA after a convincing win over PEC Zwolle and Sweet Caroline blasts out of the Febo bar, those barren days seem a distant memory.
There are few who have seen what Ten Hag has done at Ajax who would even consider that he has not done more than enough to be worthy of the Manchester United role.
Ten Hag’s appointment was seen as a big risk, but was representative of Marc Overmars’ approach to hiring managers.
Despite spending the majority of his career in Dutch football, Ten Hag brought with him a philosophy not necessarily in tune with the traditional Dutch or Ajax way.
“He did very well in Utrecht,” says former Netherlands international and Feyenoord manager Mario Been, now an analyst for ESPN.
“When Ten Hag came, he had to change and build a new team,” Verweij adds.
Continually, Ten Hag has found answers.
Just as he has done everywhere he has been, Ten Hag leaves a lasting legacy and template for his Ajax predecessor.