KUALA LUMPUR – Manchester United has sacked manager Erik ten Hag following a disappointing start to the Premier League season.
The decision comes after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham yesterday, which has left the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the league table.
He signed a new contract to extend his stay until 2026 and get another chance to restore the 20-time English league champions to their former glories.
The club’s woeful start to this season has come despite more than 600 million pounds (RM3.3 billion) being spent on new players since Ten Hag took charge ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
Manchester United have won four of their 14 games in all competitions so far this term and endured damaging 3-0 losses against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
This lacklustre performance has put significant pressure on the club and its management to finally pull the plug on Ten Hag.
In a statement released by Manchester United today, the club acknowledged Ten Hag’s contributions since his appointment in April 2022, during which he guided the team to two domestic trophies: 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,” the statement read.
In the wake of Ten Hag’s departure, former United star Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed as the interim head coach.
He will lead the team alongside the current coaching staff while the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.
According to reports, Manchester United has been linked to former Barcelona manager Xavi, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim, and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
Earlier, Manchester United’s co-owner INEOS decided to end club legend Sir Alex Ferguson’s role as their ambassador due to its cost-cutting programme.
According to reports, this brings an end to a multi-million-pound annual commitment with the most successful manager in the club’s history.
As Manchester United navigates this transitional period, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team responds under new leadership. — October 28, 2024