FC Twente defender Youri Regeer has detailed how Erik ten Hag’s move to Manchester United effectively ended his own spell at Ajax.
The defender has been speaking to Voetbal International, relayed by Voetbal Zone, about his career and his decision to leave Ajax for Twente this summer.
He had been with the Dutch giants since 2017, when he arrived on a free transfer from ADO Youth and moved into the youth side at Ajax.
He moved his way up the various ranks at the club since then, featuring for the U17s, U19 and U21s before being moved in the first team.
He made his debut in April 2022, with Erik ten Hag handing him his chance in a 3-0 win over PEC Zwolle towards the end of the season.
He went on to make five appearances under the Dutchman and appeared to be the latest in a long line of youngsters to be developed by the club.
However, things soon went a different way for him as Ten Hag left to join Manchester United and his replacement, Alfred Schreuder, seemed to have other plans.
That left Regeer on the sidelines and eventually making the decision to move on, something that may not have happened if Manchester United hadn’t come calling.
“A change of coach can have a lot of impact, I have experienced that myself,” he said.
“I regularly had good conversations with Ten Hag. I felt his confidence, he had a clear plan for me.
“He (Schreuder) indicated that he did not see me as a right back. That was honest and clear, but that changed a lot. I did not figure in his plans.
“I noticed last season that my end at Ajax was approaching. I played again at Jong Ajax, but where I previously played there very focused with an eye for development and growth towards Ajax 1, it now felt different.
“All in all, I have had six wonderful years at Ajax. It is the club that I grew up with as a boy and was a fan of, but in the last year I have experienced that my own path had to take a different turn. With FC Twente came a great new club on my way and I am very happy with that.”
