Erik ten Hag sacked LIVE: Manchester United line up next manager with Ruud van Nistelrooy named interim boss
Ten Hag has been sacked after Man Utd made their worst start to a Premier League season
Manchester United are searching for a new permanent manager after Erik ten Hag was sacked just weeks into the season, with former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy taking interim charge.
United made their worst start to a Premier League campaign after nine games and Ten Hag has been relieved of his duties despite signing a one-year contract extension in the summer.
The Dutchman won the FA Cup by beating Manchester City at Wembley to seemingly save his job, but United also held talks with potential replacements after a record-low 8th place finish in the Premier League.
United failed to improve, leaving minority owners Ineos and their new-look football operations department with their first major decision to make.
United spoke to Thomas Tuchel this summer but the German has since been appointed England manager and is out of contention.
But Ineos are admirers of former England manager Gareth Southgate, and there has also been interest in Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and Sporting’s Ruben Amorim.
Follow all the reaction to Ten Hag’s sacking and updates on United’s new manager search in our live blog below
Ten Hag’s side conceded late goals
26% - Seven of Erik ten Hag’s 27 Premier League defeats came via a 90th minute winner, the highest percentage of defeats to 90th minute goals of any manager to lose 20+ games in Premier League history.
Ten Hag’s final post-match interview
Here’s the video of Erik ten Hag’s final post-match interview as Manchester United boss following the West Ham loss yesterday. He was adamant that the side have felt ‘injustice’ this year:
United’s record this season
Manchester United have won just four times from their opening 13 games in all competitions in the 2024/25 with one of those wins coming against League One side Barnsley.
Just three wins from nine in the Premier League, United sit in 14th place - already 12 points behind leaders Manchester City and just seven points off the bottom three.
They have scored just eight times in the league, with only bottom club Southampton and Crystal Palace having scored fewer goals (six).
United remain winless in the Europa League, having taken the lead in all three fixtures before having to settle for a draw.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching history: From PSV success to Manchester United interim
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis after Erik ten Hag was sacked with the club 14th in the Premier League table.
The former United striker has been installed as head coach and will be supported by the current coaching team at Old Trafford whilst a permanent appointment is made.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester United in the summer as Ten Hag’s coaching staff was overhauled, with Rene Hake and Andreas Georgson also recruited.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching history: From PSV success to Manchester United interim
The former Manchester United striker will replace Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout until a permanent appointment is made
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
Low - Man United 0-3 Tottenham, September 2024
Ten Hag’s side, who had lost to rivals Liverpool 3-0 in their previous league outing at Old Trafford, were swept aside by Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.
Defender Micky van de Ven was allowed to run through United’s half almost unopposed before his cross found an unmarked Brennan Johnson to give Spurs a third-minute lead. Captain Bruno Fernandes then saw red before half-time and Spurs could have scored more than the two second-half goals they managed.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
High - Man United 2-1 Man City, May 2024
United produced their finest performance under Ten Hag as the Dutch boss got his tactics spot on to come out on top in his FA Cup final battle with Pep Guardiola.
A fantastic first-half display was capped by goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo and Ten Hag’s men stood firm in the second to condemn the champions to a shock defeat.
Low - Crystal Palace 4-0 Man United, May 2024
United had all but seen their hopes of sneaking into Europe slip away by the time they travelled to Selhurst Park for their penultimate away game of the season.
What followed was a chaotic performance in which they were ripped to shreds by a Palace side who looked sharper, fitter and more organised, leaving Ten Hag’s position looking more precarious than ever.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
High - Man United 4-1 Chelsea, May 2023
Chelsea were swept aside at Old Trafford in the final home game of the season, a win that ensured the team would be playing in Europe’s top club competition after a year away.
Low - Liverpool 7-0 Man United, March 2023
United were 10 points clear of their northwest rivals and had already beaten them at home earlier in the campaign, but the manner of their capitulation at Anfield left the manager facing the ignominy of having overseen the club’s heaviest ever defeat to Liverpool.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
High - Man United 2-1 Barcelona, February 2023
Barca were on track to be crowned LaLiga champions, despite having dropped out of the Champions League into the Europa League, but United rolled back the years to some of their greatest European nights with a win that saw them go through 4-3 on aggregate.
Low - Man City 6-3 Man United, October 2022
The team had recovered from losing Ten Hag’s first two league fixtures to record four consecutive wins, but illusions of a smooth upward trajectory were shattered at the Etihad Stadium as City demonstrated their clear superiority to put six past their rivals for just the second time in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag’s highs and lows
High - Man United 2-0 Newcastle, February 2023
Victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley handed Ten Hag a major domestic trophy after just eight months in the job and, with the team looking on course to return to the Champions League, the manager’s rebuild looked to be well on track.
Low - Brentford 4-0 Man United, August 2022
United had already lost their first league game of Ten Hag’s tenure against Brighton at Old Trafford, but the true size of his task was laid bare a week later in west London as Brentford hit four goals inside the opening 35 minutes to leave the visitors bottom of the league.
Why was Erik ten Hag sacked?
Sources have said that Erik ten Hag’s sacking was a difficult and finely balanced decision, but a collective and unanimous by the hierarchy.
They had wanted to give Ten Hag the opportunity to work within a new sporting structure, but the results and performances at the start of the season have not been good enough.
United felt they were not seeing the momentum and progress to believe they were improving and developing. The Red Devils have also had a poor start in the Europa League having failed to win their first three games from winning positions.
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