UK
Manchester United sack manager Erik ten Hag
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been sacked after a string of bad results.
The Dutchman, 54, was informed on Monday morning after two and a half years in charge. The team lost 2-1 away at the weekend against West Ham.
A statement from the club said: “We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Dutch striker who was assistant manager, will take charge of the team as interim head coach while a permanent head coach is recruited.
Ten Hag survived a summer review by the club’s hierarchy after an FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City in May.
It came despite the United ending last season in eighth place – their lowest-ever Premier League finish – and crashing out of the Champions League before Christmas.
But a series of bad results, including 3-0 home defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, seriously dented the side’s start to the Premier League season.
Marcus Rashford after Man Utd’s FA Cup final win over rivals Man City in May 2024. Pic: Reuters
Former United defender Gary Neville led the criticism of his old side’s “absolutely disgusting performance” against Spurs at the end of September.
“It’s one of the worst performances I have seen under Ten Hag – and that is saying something. It is really bad,” he told Sky Sports.
Gary Neville is part of the new ownership’s committee considering the future of Old Trafford. Pic: PA
Ten Hag signed a three-year deal with United in 2022, taking over from the club’s interim coach Ralf Rangnick after former coach and club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer departed.
United won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and beat rivals Manchester City – the Premier League champions – to win the 2024 FA Cup final in a surprise 2-1 victory at Wembley at the end of last season.
Ten Hag has frequently defended his record at United, pointing to winning these two trophies in his two full seasons in charge.
But these moments of glory did not end the doubts about his leadership.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who became a part-owner of United – with control of footballing matters – in February, said he wanted to restore the greatness of United and knock current Premier League champions Manchester City “off their perch”.
Asked recently about Ten Hag’s future, Ratcliffe said he liked the coach but that results needed to improve – adding that changing the manager was not his decision to make.
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