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, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Sporting’s Ruben Amorim, while Spain legend and former Barcelona boss Xavi is available.
Follow all the reaction to Ten Hag’s sacking and updates on United’s new manager search in our live blog below
Fight’s been called off – Erik ten Hag like ‘boxer knocked down’ says Ferdinand
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand likened Erik ten Hag’s reign to a boxer getting “knocked down” and “never recovering”.
Ten Hag was sacked as United first-team manager on Monday following a disappointing start to the season.
They slipped into 14th in the Premier League table following their fourth league defeat of the season, by West Ham on Sunday.
Speculation had mounted over the Dutchman’s position in recent weeks and Ferdinand admitted he was unsurprised to see the boss go.
Fight’s been called off – Erik ten Hag like ‘boxer knocked down’ says Ferdinand
The Manchester United manager was sacked on Monday after yet another Premier League defeat.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Erik ten Hag (July 2022-October 2024)
P128 W70 D23 L35 Trophies: 2
Dutchman Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford with a formidable reputation having guided Ajax to a hat-trick of Eredivise titles having impressed the club’s hierarchy with his long-term vision.
He ended the club’s six-year wait for a major trophy when they lifted the Carabao Cup in February last year before leading them to a top-three finish and Champions League qualification.
However, a miserable second season blighted by injuries and faltering form saw United exit Europe after the group stage and finish eighth in the Premier League, their worst ever return.
They did beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final to temper that but made a disappointing start to this season, where they sat in 14th place following defeat by West Ham when Ten Hag departed.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Ralf Rangnick (December 2021–May 2022)
P29 W11 D10 L8 Trophies: 0
The German was drafted in as interim boss with a view to transitioning to a two-year consultancy, but never took up the extended role after accepting the post of manager of the Austria national team.
Rangnick guided the club to a sixth-place finish with their lowest Premier League points tally of 58 while all the time talking up the overhaul required to revitalise the club.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (December 2018-November 2021)
P168 W91 D37 L40 Trophies: 0
The former United striker transformed the mood at Old Trafford after initially taking charge on a caretaker basis, winning 14 from 19 games to earn the job permanently.
Solskjaer led United to third in 2019-20 and runners-up a year later, when they also lost the Europa League final on penalties. But despite the progress made, the 1999 treble hero paid for a series of poor performances when he lost his job in November 2021.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Jose Mourinho (May 2016-December 2018)
P144 W84 D32 L28 Trophies: 2
The much-decorated Portuguese initially breathed new life into the club, winning a cup double in 2017 and securing a runners-up finish in the Premier League in 2018.
However, his defensive brand of football did not delight fans and his abrasive character, with constant rumours about problems with Paul Pogba, affected the dressing room and results suffered. Mourinho was sacked after two and a half years in charge at Roma in January and after being appointed as Fenerbahce boss in June, oversaw the Turkish club’s 1-1 Europa League draw with United in Istanbul last week.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Louis van Gaal (May 2014-May 2016)
P103 W54 D25 L24 Trophies: 1
The tough-talking Dutchman delivered the FA Cup in his second season, but United’s fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, coupled with criticism of his side’s ponderous style and lack of goals, led to his departure.
Van Gaal returned to management in a third stint as Holland’s head coach in 2021, but quit after their exit from the 2022 World Cup finals and last year rejoined former club Ajax as an adviser.
Man Utd managers since Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Manchester United for 27 years, but the club are now looking for a seventh full-time boss since the Scot retired in 2013.
Here’s a look at the record of the managers that cam after the legend. First up:
David Moyes (June 2013-April 2014)
P51 W27 D9 L15 Trophies: 0
Moyes was seen as the ideal Ferguson successor and handed a six-year contract but, after 11 years at Everton, he lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford, paying the price for a dismal campaign in which United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995.
After years of further struggle at various clubs, Moyes rekindled his career at West Ham, leading the club to Europa Conference League glory in 2023 before stepping down 12 months later.
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.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments