It’s official: Erik ten Hag will succeed Xabi Alonso in Leverkusen. What sets the Dutchman apart and how will you transfer the 55-year-old’s playing style to the virtual pitch?
For four years, Erik ten Hag dominated Dutch soccer with Ajax Amsterdam and enchanted Champions League viewers with his combination play in the 2018/19 season. After a not entirely successful interlude at Manchester United, the Haaksbergen native is now set to make his mark at Bayer Leverkusen. He was officially presented as the club’s new coach on Monday.
Authenticity or meta: a question of formation
Ten Hag’s preferred formation is 4-2-3-1. He started out at Ajax with a 4-3-3, but switched to a double six during his tenure and retained this framework at Manchester. The choice of formation in FC 25 is therefore obvious – or is it?
That depends entirely on whether you want to replicate ten Hag’s tactics as accurately as possible, in which case you should go with the wide 4-2-3-1 formation. If you’re looking for the best meta formation, 4-2-1-3 is the way to go. At the end of the article, you’ll find tactic codes for an authentic and a meta implementation of the approach.
Regardless of the formation, it is clear that possession and dominance are key objectives. This means adopting a high defensive approach and focusing on short passes when building up play. This means your attacking players will make fewer deep runs and will be available to receive the ball in front of the opposition defenders more often. This is ideal for quick combinations of short passes.
The keeper becomes the first playmaker
In ten Hag’s teams, build-up play starts with the keeper and the center backs. At ManUnited, Casemiro sometimes played in the back line to bring his qualities on the ball to bear. In goal, the “TW-Libero” role with a focus on “build-up play” is best suited in FC 25, while one of your center backs should act as a “playmaking defender.”
To maintain balance, the “defender” role is recommended for the second center back. Both central defenders should also have a focus on “defense.” This prevents the playing defender from straying too far from the line, while his teammate holds the line.
Offensive drive on the wings – strength in the center
The new Bayer coach values dynamism and offensive drive on the defensive wings. In combination with the inverted wingers, whom we will come to later, the overlapping full-backs should give the game width. As “offensive wing-back professionals” with a focus on “balance,” the virtual players perfectly fulfill this requirement profile. But be careful: as in real life, there is of course the danger of being caught on the counterattack.
In midfield, we first look at two defensive players who have a similar distribution of roles to those in the back line: one of the two central midfielders is more responsible for the creative side of the game, while his partner acts as an anchor and ball winner – but should also get forward when the situation demands.
The “deep-lying playmaker” role is suitable for both central midfielders. The difference lies in their focus. The more offensive player focuses on “build-up play,” while the more defensively stable professional focuses on “defense.” Important: Make sure that the stronger defensive midfielder plays on the same side as the center back who is active in build-up play. This creates numerical superiority in the center and prevents defenders and midfielders from getting in each other’s way.
Number 10 and inverted wingers in combination
The offensive full-backs and wingers should also avoid getting in each other’s way. Therefore, both the left and right midfielders are assigned the role of “inside forward.” When in possession, the duo moves in from the wings into the half-spaces – just as ten Hag likes to see.
The focus on “balance” is well suited to the Dutchman’s preferred short passing game. This allows you to repeatedly play X,A passes with L1,LB to the striker or number ten and start directly in the half-space in the penalty area. If you want more proactive deep runs from the AI, you can alternatively select the “attack” focus.
In attacking midfield, ten Hag relies on classic playmakers with strengths in dribbling, passing, and finishing. Bruno Fernandes brought these qualities to ManUnited and is also a blueprint in terms of player role. “Engine” is the setting of choice, and you should select “freedom of movement” as the focus. This allows the number 10 to drift away from the center here and there and drop back at times.
Center forward becomes a “false 9”
Finally, we come to the striker, who is not just a classic finisher under ten Hag. At the Red Devils, he repeatedly relied on target player Rasmus Höjlund, but at Ajax, Dusan Tadic sometimes even conjured up a “false 9.” Lionel Messi sends his regards.
The role of “striker pro” with a focus on “support” offers a middle ground between a power striker and a disguised playmaker. Your striker’s main focus is in the danger zone, but his range of movement is increased. He is always available for short passes from your wingers or drops back a little into the space behind them – like a kind of “semi-false 9.”
Erik ten Hag’s FC 25 tactic at a glance
If you summarize Erik ten Hag’s preferences in an FC 25 tactic, the playing system could look like this:
Tactic code: gt2stUT68
Tactic presets: Individual
Formation: 4-2-3-1 wide
Build-up style: Short passes
Defensive approach: High
Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper-Libero – Build-up
Right-back: Offensive wing-back – Balance
Center-back, right: Defensive professional – Defense
Center-back, left: Defensive professional – Defense
Left-back: Offensive wing-back – Balance
Defensive midfielder, right: Deep-lying playmaker – Defense
Defensive midfielder, left: Deep-lying playmaker – Build-up
Right midfielder: Center forward – Balance
Left midfielder: Center forward – Balance
Attacking midfielder: Playmaker – Freedom of movement
Striker: Striker – Support
You can of course mirror the player roles.
Bayer coach in the meta variant
If you take ten Hag’s approach as a basis and try to reconcile it with the meta formation 4-2-1-3, the FC 25 tactic could look like this:
Tactic code: wKQP1R46%k
Tactics presets: Individual
Formation: 4-2-1-3
Build-up style: Short passes
Defensive approach: High
Goalkeeper: GK-Libero – Balance
Right back: Wing-back – Balance
Center back, right: Defender-Pro – Defense
Center back, left: Defender-Pro – Defend
Left defender: Wing defender – Balance
Defensive midfielder, right: Deep-lying playmaker – Build-up
Defensive midfielder, left: Deep-lying playmaker – Build-up
Attacking midfielder: Playmaker – Balance
Right wing: Center forward – Freedom of movement
Left wing: Center forward – Freedom of movement
Striker: Striker professional – Attack
