Manchester United announced on Monday that Erik ten Hag has been dismissed as manager following their 2-1 Premier League loss to West Ham United on Sunday.
Despite signing a contract extension over the summer, Ten Hag has been let go after securing only four wins in the first 13 games of the season. His departure follows a series of disappointing performances, with United currently sitting in 14th place and struggling with just 11 points from nine league matches, sparking concerns about their prospects for a Champions League qualification.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as interim manager and will lead the team for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Leicester City at Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy, a former United star from 2002 to 2006, joins United’s revamped coaching staff, where he will be supported by former Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake, who is set to stay on in his current role.
Sources reveal that club executives lost confidence in Ten Hag’s ability to turn around United’s poor start. Last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish and struggles in early-season Premier League games were key factors in the decision. United’s surprise FA Cup final victory over Manchester City gave Ten Hag another chance, with the club extending his contract until 2026 after an extensive end-of-season review led by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other executives.
Although Ratcliffe and his INEOS team engaged with several managerial candidates, they ultimately chose to keep Ten Hag. Now, as the search for a permanent replacement begins, names like Thomas Tuchel, who was a top summer candidate, and Gareth Southgate have surfaced. However, Tuchel has since committed to managing England, and Southgate has expressed that he does not plan to return to club coaching until next summer.
United’s leadership, including Ratcliffe, INEOS sports director Sir Dave Brailsford, and United sporting director Dan Ashworth, are carefully assessing all options for the club’s next chapter.
