Erik ten Hag’s assistant, 54, sacked by Swiss club just weeks after ex-Man Utd boss’ Bayer humiliating Leverkusen exit

MITCHELL VAN DER GAAG, the former assistant to Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Swiss side FC Zurich.

His sacking comes just weeks after Ten Hag himself was dismissed following a disastrous two-game spell as Bayer Leverkusen boss.

The 54-year-old Dutchman joined FC Zurich this summer but leaves the club languishing in eighth place on the Swiss Super League table.

The club announced van der Gaag’s immediate departure on Wednesday.

Van der Gaag had been appointed head coach at Zurich after following Ten Hag to Manchester United.

He also served as the Dutchman’s trusted assistant during their time at Ajax.

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But things have quickly gone downhill for the pair. Just weeks ago, Ten Hag was sensationally sacked at Leverkusen after the German club decided to go in another direction.

Van der Gaag’s own tenure at Zurich, meanwhile, failed to gain traction as the club cited stagnation in the first team’s development as the reason behind the decision.

In a statement, FC Zurich president Ancillo Canepa explained: “The club management of FCZ has come to the opinion that the development of the first team has stagnated and has therefore decided to make a personnel adjustment.

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“In the interim, new assistant coach Dennis Hediger will take over the leadership of the first team.”

The club also expressed regret at van der Gaag’s departure and thanked him for his commitment.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s playing career was highlighted by a two-year spell at Motherwell in Scotland, and he was a Dutch youth international in his early days.

However, his coaching career has also had its dramatic moments.

Back in 2013, while managing in Portugal, van der Gaag suffered a heart scare that nearly cost him his life, he reportedly almost died in the dugout during a match.

Despite this, van der Gaag returned to management and continued to build a solid reputation as a coach and assistant.

His close relationship with Ten Hag meant he followed the Dutchman to some of football’s biggest clubs, including the famed Ajax side that reached the Champions League semifinals in 2019.

Van der Gaag was viewed as a key part of Ten Hag’s backroom team during their success in the Netherlands and their high-profile move to Manchester United.

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Yet, following Ten Hag’s shock dismissal at Leverkusen, it now seems the former assistant’s coaching career is also facing uncertainty.

FC Zurich currently sit eighth in the Swiss Super League and the board clearly feel a change is necessary to arrest their slide.