Ten Hag, Weghorst and Van den Brom drive Twente upwards: 'Satisfaction leads to laziness'

Fourth-placed Twente have surged under manager Van den Brom and technical director Ten Hag, winning 9-0 at Excelsior and sitting just two points behind Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.

FC Twente's rise in the Eredivisie has become impossible to ignore after a stunning 9-0 victory over Excelsior last week. The club now sits fourth, just two points behind leaders Feyenoord, while also maintaining a perfect record in the Conference League with three wins from three matches.

The turnaround began when John van den Brom took over as manager in September 2025 following Joseph Oosting's departure. Technical director Erik ten Hag, newly appointed to the role, backed Van den Brom with a one-year contract extension after initial criticism at the start of the season. Ten Hag has raised the standards at the club, with former former Twente manager Fred Rutten noting: "Satisfaction leads to laziness. If we win, we can't let euphoria linger because another match is coming."

The signing of striker Wout Weghorst exemplifies the new ambition. Initially criticised after his September arrival, Weghorst has become one of the Eredivisie's top scorers and brings a mentality rarely seen in Dutch football. Rutten believes the combination of Van den Brom, Ten Hag and Weghorst—all experienced at the highest level—will drive the club forward. While a title remains distant, Twente are now positioned to compete for European football every season.