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Apparent Everton managerial candidate Erik ten Hag once enjoyed making Marcel Brands nervous

Mathew Nash

Wed 9 October 2019 7:45, UK

Speculation over Everton boss Marco Silva’s future has continued to rumble on this week. The Toffees are currently in the Premier League relegation places and the Portuguese is losing faith among the Everton fanbase. 

Silva will remain Everton boss after the international break but results need to improve fast or he could find himself in trouble. 

Names are already starting to appear as possible alternatives. One such name is that of Erik ten Hag. Everton are looking at the Ajax boss as a potential successor to Silva. 

Of course, the Dutchman is best known for helping Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. 

He will also be well known to Everton’s current director of football Marcel Brands. The pair were once on very opposing sides when Brands held the same position at Ajax’s fierce domestic rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Indeed, before a meeting between the two sides in April 2018 the Ajax boss stated that PSV were afraid of Ajax. That statement was laughed at after PSV, who went on to win the title, won 3-0. 

But ten Hag,later stated he knew it was true after comments made by Brands. 

“I got the question after Heracles-home, whether PSV would be afraid of Ajax in view of the position. I answered that. We only had something to gain, seven points behind, PSV had everything to lose. 

“I myself later received confirmation (they were afraid) when I heard Marcel Brands say that he had never been so nervous about the duel with us.”

Ajax went on to close the gap at the top of the table that season before winning the league last season. 

Brands, of course, left PSV last summer but it certainly appears that ten Hag made an impression on him. Time will tell if it ends up with him getting a job at Goodison Park.