After two-and-a-half years in charge, Erik ten Hag has officially stepped down as the manager of Manchester United. In a statement, the club confirmed his departure and thanked him for his contributions.
“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,” the statement read. “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 Appointed Interim Manager
With Ten Hag’s departure, former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named interim head coach, supported by the existing coaching staff.
This temporary arrangement will remain until Manchester United appoints a permanent manager, a process that is expected to involve a comprehensive search.
A Difficult Decision Amid Poor Performance
According to club insiders, the decision to part ways with Ten Hag was a challenging one, made unanimously by the club’s leadership. Despite a promising start, the Red Devils have struggled this season, securing just four wins out of 14 matches. Currently positioned 14th in the Premier League, United has managed only one victory in their last eight games.
United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly considered replacing Ten Hag as early as the summer, meeting with several potential replacements, including Thomas Tuchel, Roberto de Zerbi, and Kieran McKenna. Despite a significant investment of £200 million in new players, the club’s faith in Ten Hag ultimately waned following a series of disappointing results, culminating in a recent 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
Potential Candidates for the Permanent Role
United is reportedly prepared to compensate clubs to secure their ideal candidate, and there are several names in contention. Brentford’s Thomas Frank is highly regarded within United’s hierarchy, while sporting director Dan Ashworth is known to have worked well with Eddie Howe at Newcastle, making Howe another viable option.
The club has also shown interest in Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Meanwhile, sources in Spain claim that former Barcelona manager Xavi has held discussions regarding a possible move to Old Trafford. Xavi shares a close connection with United’s CEO Omar Berrada from their time together at Barcelona, potentially easing negotiations.
A New Direction for Manchester United
Ten Hag’s tenure at United initially brought success with domestic trophies but ultimately fell short of revitalizing the team. With the club’s new sporting structure in place as of this summer, United is looking for a manager capable of delivering consistent performances and results. The next few weeks are expected to be crucial as United searches for the right candidate to lead the Red Devils into a new era.
