Following a dreadful start to the season, Erik ten Haag has been sacked by the Manchester United board. United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, only winning three of their nine opening matches.
The Dutchman has been under fire for a while and a recent 1-0 loss to West Ham was the tipping point. Ten Haag ended United’s 6-year wait for a trophy when they beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup at Wembley in the 2022/23 season. He also lifted the FA Cup last season.
“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” said a club statement.
“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“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 will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Even before the West Ham loss, the Dutch manager Ten Hag had presided over United’s worst start to an English top-flight campaign since the 1989/90 season.
The 54-year-old Ten Hag’s position had been repeatedly called into question in recent week after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe kept him on board at Old Trafford following the club’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City at Wembley in May.
Ten Hag was even rewarded with a one-year extension of his contract to June 2026 after a shock FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City in May.
However, he failed to find the solutions to many of his side’s struggles from last season.
Former Ajax boss Ten Hag, who joined United in May 2022, had fiercely defended his record in recent weeks after winning two trophies in his two full seasons in charge.
United ended a six-year wait for silverware by beating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.
The Red Devils also reached the FA Cup final and finished third in the Premier League in an encouraging debut season for Ten Hag.
However, the wheels came off in his second season as injuries to key players, the lack of a meaningful impact from big money signings and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear style of play led to a number of embarrassing results.
United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage after defeats by Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen, while Bournemouth, Brighton and Fulham were among the other sides to win at Old Trafford in the 2023/2024 campaign.
The implementation of a new sporting structure at United, spearheaded by co-owner Ratcliffe, saw widespread change over recent months off the field with the appointment of a new chief executive, sporting director and technical director.
But Ten Hag’s surprise victory over Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City side at Wembley in the FA Cup final, saw him handed a stay of execution.
Any hope United’s FA Cup glory could act as a launching pad to more regular success quickly unravelled in the opening weeks of the new season.
Liverpool and Tottenham coasted to 3-0 wins at Old Trafford in September, while United failed to win either of their opening two Europa League matches against FC Twente and Porto.
For all Ten Hag’s faults, he oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Since the Scot’s departute from the Old Trafford hot seat, five permanent managers have now been dismissed without United even posing a challenge for the Premier League title -- a trophy they won 13 time under Ferguson.
Former United captain Gary Neville said Ten Hag had paid the price for an “unacceptable” league position.
“The big shock for me is how bad they’ve been with the new signings that have come in,” Neville told Sky Sports.
He added: “The fact that they are 14th is unacceptable. You can’t be in 14th after nine or 10 games with the level of spend that’s occurred without being under significant pressure -- and that’s what’s happened.”
Former England manager Gareth Southgate and ex-Barcelona coach Xavi are among the leading contenders to take charge at Old Trafford.
For all Ten Hag’s faults, he oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Since the Scot’s departure, five permanent managers have now been dismissed without United even challenging for the Premier League title -- a trophy they won 13 times under Ferguson.
