Manchester United sack Erik ten Hag

Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag following a disappointing start to the Premier League season, culminating in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham. The loss left United in 14th place, with just one win from their past five league games and a mere eight goals scored in nine matches this campaign. The decision was announced by Manchester United today morning, ending Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year tenure as manager.

Despite the team’s early struggles, Ten Hag initially had the support of United’s management. Over the summer, he oversaw a promising victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, raising hopes that he could lead a resurgence at Old Trafford. However, a series of uninspired performances saw the club plummet down the league standings, a run that ultimately prompted the club’s leadership, including new minority shareholder INEOS, to take action. INEOS, led by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, played a crucial role in assessing the team’s progress, and Ten Hag’s exit marks the most notable decision made since the new owners coming to the club.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former United striker who joined Ten Hag’s coaching staff in the summer, has been appointed as interim manager. His first match in charge will be against Leicester City on October 30 in the Carabao Cup, followed by a challenging league fixture against Chelsea at Old Trafford. The search for a permanent manager is underway, with notable candidates including Brentford’s Thomas Frank and former England manager Gareth Southgate among a few names. Former Barca legend Xavi is also a name on the list while Sporting’s Amorim is also an outside favourite. Thomas Tuchel, who had previously been considered, ruled himself out by accepting the England national team position a couple of weeks back.

Ten Hag joined United in the summer of 2022 from Ajax, succeeding interim manager Ralf Rangnick, and signed a three-year contract. His first season saw some success, with United finishing third in the Premier League, 14 points behind the champions, and winning the Carabao Cup against Newcastle. However, his second season was marked by inconsistency and disappointing performances, despite a strong finish with the FA Cup victory.

United’s struggles continued into the new campaign, with the team registering just four wins in 13 matches across all competitions. In September, Chief Executive Omar Berrada and Sporting Director Dan Ashworth publicly backed Ten Hag, calling him the “right coach for us.” However, speculation about his future persisted as the team failed to find form. Ten Hag reportedly needed at least one positive result from last week’s matches against Fenerbahce and West Ham to secure his position. United managed a 1-1 draw only in Turkey, while the loss at the London Stadium sealed his fate.

With a challenging season ahead, United’s hierarchy felt the need to act swiftly to salvage their season. The hunt for a new Manchester United manager starts with plenty of news to follow. The club released a statement thanking Ten Hag for his contributions and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

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