Manchester United have parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag, as announced in a club statement on Monday.
The statement also revealed that former player Ruud van Nistelrooy will step in as the interim head coach.
“Erik ten Hag has left his position as manager of Manchester United’s men’s first team. He was appointed in April 2022 and guided the club to two domestic trophies, securing the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. We appreciate Erik for all his contributions during his tenure and wish him the best in his future endeavours.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee the team as interim head coach, with support from the existing coaching staff, while the search for a permanent head coach is underway,” the statement added.
Manchester United have dismissed manager Erik ten Hag after a disappointing start to the season, the club announced on Monday.
United fell to 14th place in the Premier League standings after their fourth league defeat in nine games against West Ham on Sunday, winning just one of their last eight matches across all competitions.
“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” the club stated.
Appointed in April 2022, Ten Hag guided United to two domestic trophies, lifting the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“We are grateful to Erik for his contributions during his time with us and wish him success in the future,” the statement added.
Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who returned as Ten Hag’s assistant in July, will now step in as interim manager while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Before the West Ham loss, Ten Hag was already facing pressure, with United suffering their worst start to a Premier League season since 1989/90. Despite a positive review from United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe after an eighth-place finish last season, Ten Hag’s position was increasingly uncertain.
He had been awarded a contract extension through June 2026 following a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City, but struggled to resolve the team’s ongoing challenges.
During his tenure, Ten Hag defended his record, having brought silverware back to United with the 2023 League Cup title after a six-year drought.
In his debut season, he led United to third place in the league and an FA Cup final, providing hope for a turnaround.
However, injuries to key players, lack of impact from major signings, and an unclear style of play led to difficulties in his second season, resulting in United’s group-stage exit from the Champions League after defeats to Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen. Additionally, losses to teams like Bournemouth, Brighton, and Fulham highlighted their struggles.
United recently restructured under co-owner Ratcliffe, hiring a new chief executive, sporting director, and technical director, but Ten Hag’s FA Cup win against Pep Guardiola’s City provided only a brief reprieve.
Any momentum from that victory quickly faded as the new season began poorly, with 3-0 losses at Old Trafford to Liverpool and Tottenham, and a lacklustre Europa League start against FC Twente and Porto.
While Ten Hag faced significant challenges, his tenure was part of United’s broader decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Since then, five permanent managers have been dismissed, with United yet to mount a serious Premier League title challenge—something they achieved 13 times under Ferguson.
AFP
