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Manchester United have sacked manager, Erik ten Hag, after a dismal start to the 2024/25 season that sees the Red Devils languishing in the bottom half the English Premier League table and struggling in the Europa League.
United confirmed the sacking in a statement on the club’s official website on Monday.
“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.”
The statement says Ten Hag was appointed manager of Manchester United in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
Assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of first team affairs on an interim basis. The club says van Nistelrooy will be supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is conducted.
Ten Hag was appointed manager at Manchester United following a successful stint leading Ajax to consecutive league titles in the Netherlands.
He also oversaw the revival of Ajax as a European force, eliminating Real Madrid on the way to the semifinal of the Champions League in 2019.
But, Ten Hag’s start to life in Manchester was marred by heavy early defeats to Brighton and Brentford. Those defeats prompted the recruitment of Carlos Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70 million.
Ten Hag would go on to deliver an FA Cup victory in his first season. But the season was also highlighted by a row with Cristiano Ronaldo which saw the Portugal and United legend scorch the earth in a sensational interview with Piers Morgan on his way out of the club.
Ten Hag’s second season was marked by poor recruitment with Antony becoming an expensive flop costing the club more than £80 million.
Ten Hag’s team also seemed to regress from the high watermark of finishing third in his debut season, with another preferred signing, Andre Onana largely responsible for the team being eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage.
The 2023/24 season will also be remembered for a sensational row between Ten Hag and Jadon Sancho, who now plays for English rivals, Chelsea on loan.
There were some bright spots in Ten Hag’s reign. For a brief period, Marcus Rashford elevated his game to world class standards. And in addition to winning two domestic cup competitions, Ten Hag can point to nurturing Alejandro Garnacho’s and Kobbie Mainoo’s rise from academy prospects to first team regulars.
Those bright spots meant Ten Hag avoided the ax in the summer after winning the Carabao Cup.
He was backed with further investment in the playing staff with the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, and Manuel Ugarte in a summer he spent in limbo with the club carrying out a review of his position.
But after being given the stay of execution, another poor start to the season, culminating in a tepid 2-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday, leaving Man United 14th in the table, triggered the Dutchman’s sacking.
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