Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Manchester United after the club’s worst start to a Premier League season and just four months on from being handed a contract extension at Old Trafford.
United have won just three of their opening nine league games of the campaign, including Sunday’s late 2-1 defeat at West Ham, with Ten Hag failing to impress United’s new ownership. The decision was confirmed on Monday and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was Ten Hag’s assistant, will take interim charge with immediate effect.
A club statement said: “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 will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Reports suggest the club are in talks to try and appoint Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s replacement.
Legendary United defender Rio Ferdinand likened Ten Hag’s sacking to a “boxer getting hit and knocked down ... The fight’s been called off in the last round”.
The Dutchman was under significant pressure last season when United slumped to a record-low 8th position in the Premier League, but ended the campaign by beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup at Wembley.
Although United still spoke to potential replacements in the summer, Ten Hag received a one-year contract extension, as well as backing in the transfer window. But results and performances did not improve and defeat at West Ham leaves United 14th in the table, adding to the dismal home defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur this term.
This story is from the October 29, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 29, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Farage willing to work with Lord Mandelson on Trump
Nigel Farage has said he would be willing to help the incoming ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson negotiate with the Trump administration.
Abbott: Starmer has no feel for politics or Labour Party
Sir Keir Starmer has no feel for politics or the Labour Party, Diane Abbott has said.
Professor who fled Putin's war says Kremlin is playing Russian roulette with lives
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Vladimir Putin has faced persistent opposition not only in Western capitals but also inside his own country.
'I have to be here ... I know my family understands'
In the forests near Kharkiv, Askold Krushelnycky speaks to soldiers spending Christmas with Ukraine’s drone brigade
Russia's attack called out as 'state-sponsored terrorism'
A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack targeting Ukraine’s energy system on Christmas Day has been condemned as “inhumane” by president Volodymyr Zelensky.
DeChambeau is an unlikely winner in game's civil war
As golf's civil war rumbles on, with any optimism that came from the announcement in June 2023 that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour had a framework agreement in place for a merger having long since dissipated, it's hard to argue that the situation has created many winners.
Mbappe looks a spare part in the Real Madrid machine
Real Madrid are the kings of Europe, that much was true even before La Decimoquinta.
Sign on the dotted line: the £12m steal and £50m dud
The best and worst Premier League transfers this season
Why are there no trains running on Christmas Day?
Q Why don't any trains run on Christmas Day in the UK? Everywhere else on the European continent trains run on 25 December.
The flightmare before Christmas: why December disruption is so painful
Air traffic control language is commendably succinct. The advisory message that was sent out by the US Command Center at 11.50am GMT on Christmas Eve read: “Nationwide ground stop for all AAL Main and Subs”.
