Old Trafford, Greater Manchester | By Michael Wandati | Manchester United announced on Monday that Erik ten Hag has been dismissed from his managerial role following a disappointing start to the season.
The team’s recent dip in performance has left them sitting at 14th in the Premier League standings, a stark contrast to their high expectations.
Sunday’s defeat at West Ham marked their fourth loss in just nine league games, and United has only managed one win across their last eight matches in all competitions.
“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.”
United added former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who returned to the club as Ten Hag’s assistant in July, would now serve as interim manager “whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Even before the loss to West Ham, Erik ten Hag faced mounting pressure after leading Manchester United to their roughest start in an English top-flight season since 1989/90.
The Dutch manager, who took the reins in May 2022, had narrowly held onto his position following an internal review by United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe.
Despite an eighth-place finish last season, he was given a vote of confidence with a contract extension through June 2026, largely due to a surprising FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
In his first season, Ten Hag’s journey started strong—guiding United to an FA Cup final and ending a six-year silverware drought with a League Cup win over Newcastle.
But cracks began to show in his second season, as injuries, lackluster big-money signings, and struggles to establish a clear play style hampered the team’s performance.
It was as if United had finally built a promising ship, but when the storms hit, it found itself leaking at every turn.
Key defeats, including Champions League group stage losses to Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen, highlighted the team’s challenges.
Embarrassing home losses to teams like Bournemouth, Brighton, and Fulham further exposed their vulnerabilities, while matches against Liverpool and Tottenham saw them overrun by a combined score of 6-0.
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Amid these setbacks, Ratcliffe’s ambitious plans to revitalize United’s structure led to major off-field changes, including new leadership in executive roles.
Yet Ten Hag’s unexpected FA Cup win over Pep Guardiola’s City provided a brief reprieve—one that sadly unraveled as the season progressed, leaving United in unfamiliar territory.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, Ten Hag joins a list of five managers who, despite attempts to reignite the glory days, couldn’t bring United close to the Premier League title they once won 13 times under Ferguson.
For Ten Hag, this chapter closes like many before it, as United continues its search for a path back to the summit.
