Ten Hag retired from playing at the end of the following season, became head of youth development and, together with Snelders, now back in the Netherlands, began earning his coaching badges.

“Erik and I had to do 18 sessions and we always rode together, except when it was carnival and Erik wanted to come along, so then he gave up,” said Snelders.

Despite his occasional absence, Ten Hag was still given his coaching badges because he was “well-liked” and “already knew his knowledge quite well,” Snelders added.

“He wasn’t really the teacher’s pet, but the teachers always asked, ‘Do you agree with that, Erik?'”

By the time he played his final season at Twente in 2008–09, Ten Hag had become so attached to the club that former England manager Steve McClaren allowed him to train with the club for the first two months of his tenure, in order not to disrupt the culture at the club.

Ten Hag left in 2009 to become a coach at PSV Eindhoven, after helping to shape the modern Twente. But how did the club influence him?

“He cares about people. He’s a very caring soul,” Snelders said. “He’s not just interested in the player, but also in the person and their families.

“I didn’t think he would manage Manchester United (when he left Twente). But he has taken the right steps to develop himself and he is very good with young players.

“He has the talent. He grew again at Ajax. What he did there was unbelievable.”