Manchester United pull the trigger and sack manager Erik ten Han following the 2-1 loss to West Ham over the weekend. Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to take over on an interim basis.
The club released a statement that said:
"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."
Club statement: Erik ten Hag.#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 28, 2024
That Ten Hag was fired isn't a surprise. The surprise is the ownership sticking with him to begin the season in the first place. While he did end the season with an FA Cup trophy by beating Manchester City, it was a blip in an inconsistent radar filled with more bad than good.
It seemed like the perfect time for both sides to part ways with the Dutchman leaving on a high note. Instead, Manchester United opted not to make a change and things have gone about as expected so far this season.
Manchester United lounge in 14th place at the moment, already 12 points behind Manchester City. Their start in the Europa League hasn't been much better, drawing at home against FC Twente and then away against Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahçe.
According to ESPN, "United bosses made the decision to sack Ten Hag after losing faith that the Dutchman would be able to turn things around after a poor start to the new campaign."
They went on to say that with only 11 points from nine games, their Champions League aspirations were already in danger.
As mentioned, Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over with his first match in charge coming in the Carabao Cup against Leicester City on Wednesday. He'll remain in charge until a permanent manager is appointed.
Gareth Southgate is a name that immediately pops up given his run with England. One surprising candidate that has emerged is former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez. The question is whether the project at Manchester United is attractive enough to get him to change his mind about the sabbatical he's currently on.
The Manchester United managerial job at this point is a poisoned chalice. The Red Devils have spent a significant amount of money the past couple of season but the results remain unconvincing. The new ownership has started some cost cutting measures at the club and one can assume that could very well translate to the upcoming transfer budgets.