Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag after a disappointing 2-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday, marking one of the club’s worst starts to a Premier League season. The defeat left United sitting in 14th place, just seven points above the relegation zone, with only eight goals scored in nine league matches.
Ten Hag’s position became precarious following the team’s lacklustre performances, including a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce in the Europa League last week. It was believed he needed a strong showing in these fixtures to retain his job.
This decision represents a significant move by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his associates since acquiring a minority stake in the club. Last season, United finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest placement since 1990, and have only managed four wins out of 13 matches this season across all competitions.
Despite previous public support from chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, who affirmed their belief in Ten Hag, scrutiny of his tactics soon emerged.
Ten Hag faced mounting pressure after a tumultuous end to the last season, but he managed to guide United to victory in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, which temporarily secured his position.
Candidates to replace him may include Brentford’s Thomas Frank and former England manager Gareth Southgate, as well as Thomas Tuchel, who recently took on the England national team role.
Having joined from Ajax to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick for the 2022-23 season, Ten Hag signed a contract through June 2025, which was recently extended as a show of faith from Ratcliffe. In his first season, he led United to a third-place finish, 14 points behind the leaders, and clinched the Carabao Cup by defeating Newcastle in the final.
