Manchester United have sacked Erik Ten Hag after a poor start to the season culminating in a fourth defeat in nine Premier League games.
A statement on the Manchester United website read:
“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“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.”
With just 11 points from the opening nine games of the season the Reds were languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.
They had also drawn all three Europa League games this term, completing a forgettable year without a win in European football.
Ten Hag had asked fans to look at his record of winning trophies with United – he lifted the League Cup and the FA Cup with the Reds – and was rewarded with a new deal with the club consisting of a triggered extra year’s deal.
But after spending over £600m in less than 3 years the league finishes deteriorated from 3rd to 8th, and United now sit 14th in the table – as close to the bottom three as they are to the top four.
Despite a decent first half performance at West Ham their hosts turned over the Reds with a disputed VAR penalty in injury time.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has been linked to the club who will face Leicester City in this season’s Carabao Cup on Wednesday with Ruud Van Nistelrooy in caretaker charge of the club.