Manchester United has officially dismissed Erik ten Hag as manager after a turbulent two-and-a-half-year tenure, marking another high-profile exit from Old Trafford.
The club announced that former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as interim manager until a permanent replacement is found.
The decision comes after a disappointing 2-1 loss to West Ham, leaving United in a dismal 14th place in the Premier League with only 11 points from nine matches. The defeat capped a series of poor performances, including heavy home losses to Liverpool and Tottenham, and compounded the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign.
Appointed in April 2022, Ten Hag led United to third place in the 2022/23 season and secured two domestic trophies—the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
Despite these achievements, the team struggled to maintain consistency, finishing a lowly eighth last season and failing to make it past the Champions League group stage. Ten Hag’s brief success was overshadowed by injuries, inconsistent form, and unconvincing tactical adjustments.
In a statement, United expressed gratitude for Ten Hag’s contributions, saying, “Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies. We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”
The club further confirmed that van Nistelrooy, a former PSV Eindhoven manager, would be supported by the current coaching team as he takes on interim duties.
Ten Hag’s departure had been brewing for weeks. Reports suggested that United’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, was hesitant to back the Dutchman fully, given the club’s current performance trajectory.
Ten Hag’s criticisms of recent VAR decisions and a string of low-scoring matches compounded the pressure.
