Erik ten Hag was fired by Manchester United after the 2024–25 season got off to a terrible start. “Erik ten Hag has resigned from his position as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” the Red Devils said in a statement. After being hired in April 2022, Erik guided the team to two domestic championships: the FA Cup in 2024 and the Carabao Cup in 2023.
“We wish Erik the best of luck in the future and appreciate everything he has done while he has been with us. While a permanent head coach is being sought, Ruud van Nistelrooy will serve as the team’s interim coach with assistance from the present coaching staff.
After leading United to eighth place in the Premier League during a terrible season, the 54-year-old Dutchman nearly lost his job last season. But Ten Hag bought himself some time in May when United shocked Manchester City with a 2-0 victory, winning the FA Cup.
Despite having warned Ten Hag that he would be fired regardless of the outcome at Wembley, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS-led board at Old Trafford decided to give him a fresh one-year contract extension and support a summer spending binge instead. However, United sacked Ten Hag today after suffering crushing losses to bitter rivals Liverpool and Tottenham, and after their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, which left them in 14th place in the standings. The final nail in United’s coffin came on Sunday when they lost controversially to West Ham 2-1 on the road.
According to reports, United is thinking of using Barcelona star Xavi in place of Ten Hag. The currently unemployed manager is one of several possibilities Manchester United is interested in; former England manager Gareth Southgate and Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi are also rumoured to be on the shortlist.
According to reports, Inzaghi also turned down United. Given their chances of winning Serie A again and the fact that they are playing in the Champions League while United is in the Europa League, the Italian is unlikely to leave Inter, at least not at this time.
The former England manager’s tactical suitability for leading a quality Premier League team is still up in the air, despite his superb man-management skills. Southgate managed Middlesbrough in his final Premier League position. Although he has stated that he wants a break from management, he could still be enticed to Old Trafford. He was fired just months after they were demoted from the Premier League during the 2008–09 season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former United striker, is a name closer to home who might step up if Ten Hag is fired this week. The interim manager, Van Nistelrooy, was hired this past summer to join Ten Hag’s coaching staff. He has prior experience as a number one, having guided PSV from 2022 to 2023.
Ten Hag’s first season as United’s manager required him to perform a lot of firefighting after arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022. When United defeated Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final in February 2023, he took Cristiano Ronaldo out of the first team roster and took home a trophy.