Patience and excuses finally ran out at Old Trafford after another dismal defeat at West Ham on Sunday, leaving them 14th in the Premier League and increasingly fearful of another season outside the Champions League.
Losing for a third straight season in east London was the straw that broke the camel's back, forcing the club's most senior figures to discuss terminating his contract because they were no longer confident of a top-four finish.
The trigger may have been pulled at any point in recent times but Sunday's performance was indicative of events on the pitch.
Mistakes were made at both ends to ensure another limp loss and a unanimous decision was taken by the club hierarchy, before Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth informed Ten Hag.
In the end, Ten Hag was undone by more than a late penalty at West Ham.
United's bosses had heard the final excuses of the Dutchman's tenure.
Ten Hag said "luck is not on our side" but teams such as United should not rely on fortune.
They should be outclassing the majority of teams in the league but quality had been lacking for far too long, and there seemed no other option than to dismiss the manager after a sustained period of growing frustration.
Ten Hag carried out his media duties for tomorrow's visit of Leicester in the Carabao Cup, a press conference that will not be broadcast, apparently not sensing the end was nigh.
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