Erik ten Hag sacked as Manchester United manager
www.nytimes.com
Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager. The Dutchman was informed on Monday morning and leaves Old Trafford after two and a half years in charge with his final game proving to be the Premier League defeat to West Ham United on Sunday. That result left the club 14th in the table, seven points off the Champions League qualification places, after just three league wins from nine games and only four in 14 in all competitions. The club are now working on next steps with former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, recruited in the offseason to work alongside Ten Hag, having been asked to...

Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager.

The Dutchman was informed on Monday morning and leaves Old Trafford after two and a half years in charge with his final game proving to be the Premier League defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.

That result left the club 14th in the table, seven points off the Champions League qualification places, after just three league wins from nine games and only four in 14 in all competitions.

The club are now working on next steps with former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, recruited in the offseason to work alongside Ten Hag, having been asked to take charge on an interim basis with the rest of the management staff remaining in position for now.

Ten Hag was retained as United manager in the summer after an end-of-season review following an eighth-place Premier League finish, the club’s lowest since 1990, and a FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City.

United triggered a one-year extension option in the 54-year-old’s contract at the start of July. His previous deal, which he signed when he was appointed in 2022, was due to expire in 2025.

However, another hugely disappointing run of form to start the new season has prompted key decision-makers, including chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, to recommend a change.

United kept Ten Hag in position following the FA Cup win (Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

The Athletic revealed during the international break that the United hierarchy were scheduled to meet in London while also reporting that Ten Hag’s performance as manager and possible departure was to be discussed at the meeting.

In Ten Hag’s first season at United, he guided them to a third-place finish and oversaw their Carabao Cup triumph, ending a six-year run without a trophy.

Last year, though, United struggled domestically and in Europe, suffering a group-stage exit from the Champions League, and only qualified for the Europa League this season by winning the FA Cup.

United had sounded out potential replacements including now England head coach Thomas Tuchel, newly-appointed USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

But at the end of a process led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, the choice was made to move forward with Ten Hag.

  • kameecoding@lemmy.worldM
    4·
    2 months ago

    well I can’t say I am glad (that’s too mean imo), but I am relieved, wish all the best to Erik, he lead us to 3 domestic cup finals and won 2 of them, he is the joint fastest manager to achieve 50 wins with United, Kicked Xavi’s Barcelona out of the EL.

    It’s a difficult job, that was impossible for anyone under the Glazers, hopefully, whoever comes in, will enjoy a more competent leadership around them and do better.

    • ryan213OP
      2·
      2 months ago

      I’m not sure Ruud will do much better but it feels like our attacking was a little bit better this season. Like they knew what they were trying do do .Just couldn’t finish.

      • kameecoding@lemmy.worldM
        3·
        2 months ago

        I don’t think Ruud is a standout manager who will turn this around, but maybe we can hope for some Ole style interim manager bounce.

      • 2000mph@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 months ago

        On the attacking coaching, I’m not really seeing much improvement. Our approach is still get it to the wingers who just run forwards and blast it. Or if we do work it inside then as soon as it gets to Bruno he will just wildly blast it.

        Nobody has informed the team that we do now intact have a number 9 the can play off of or set up.

      • 2000mph@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 months ago

        Hopefully a little new manager bounce. But do you think Ruud will stick around with a new manager, or that it for him and a bunch of the new coaching staff who only recently came in?

        • ryan213OP
          1·
          2 months ago

          No idea. I guess it depends if we start winning again under him.

  • roonaldo2284@lemm.ee
    3·
    2 months ago

    While I can understand the decision, who are the potential viable candidates? Don’t seem like there is a big pool to choose from :(

    • kameecoding@lemmy.worldM
      4·
      2 months ago
      • Amorim
      • Xavi (hope not, ETH dismantled him)
      • McKenna
      • Carrick
      • Southgate (i will fucking quit)
      • Potter
      • Thomas Frank
      • Zidane (I can see him sooner being back to Real and Ancelotti to United)
      • Nagelsmann (I don’t see it happening, unless he is going to do both Germany and United at the same time)

      Inzaghi already rejected United reportedly.

      Edit, some missing names from the list:

      • Iraola
      • Hoeneß (Stuttgart)
      • Xabi Alonso

      I think of these Thomas Frank and Potter are the most realistic, I would also like some Iraola, I think both Frank and Iraola get way more out of their players than how good they actually are.

      Xabi or Nagelsmann would be my first pick, but I think neither are realistic.

      • roonaldo2284@lemm.ee
        2·
        2 months ago

        While it would be nice, guess its too early to consider McKenna or Carrick

        Totally agree about Southgate :p

    • ryan213OP
      2·
      2 months ago

      Just happened that I checked Mastodon right when Ornstein posted. Lol

      • kameecoding@lemmy.worldM
        2·
        2 months ago

        yeah, I have atheltic notifications turned off as I often watch games on delays and they tend to spoil it, so I learned it from reddit.