Manchester United Sacks Erik ten Hag After Poor Start

Manchester United have dismissed Erik ten Hag after a poor season start with only three wins in nine Premier League games, placing them 14th in the table. Ten Hag’s last game saw a 2-1 loss to West Ham. Under his leadership, United’s struggles extended into Europe where they sit 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League after three opening draws. The decision to part ways came after a face-to-face meeting with CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, previously Ten Hag’s assistant has stepped in as interim manager, tasked with stabilizing the squad until a permanent replacement is found. Club officials emphasized the difficulty of the decision, citing a need for more significant progress in performance. Although Ten Hag’s first season in 2022 showed promise with a third-place league finish and victories in the Carabao and FA Cups, his second season fell short.

Manchester United ended last season eighth, their lowest-ever Premier League finish despite a June FA Cup victory against Manchester City. British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who invested £1.25bn for a 27.7% club stake noted that United’s problems go beyond the managerial role, describing a challenging environment that has hindered several managers.

United’s board was reportedly reluctant to disrupt stability but mounting pressure from poor results in all competitions left no choice. Ten Hag’s record includes a 54.6% win rate, the second-highest of any United manager since Ferguson but also a 31.8% loss rate and a significant number of goals conceded.

This season alone, United lost multiple games to late goals adding pressure to a manager already facing tough competition and a reshaping club structure.