Erik ten Hag sacked as Man United manager: Ruud van Nistelrooy to be interim manager ahead of coaching search

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

United are in the midst of one of their worst starts to a Premier League season, one victory in their last five top flight matches leaving them 14th in the table, as near to the relegation zone as they are the top four. The Red Devils are also winless from their three Europa League matches, held to a 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce on Thursday. It ultimately proved to be a loss at faltering West Ham that cost Ten Hag his job, a decision made less than four months after United extended his contract.

“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” said a club statement. “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, appointed to the coaching staff in the summer, will take on the managerial role on an interim basis. His first game will be against Leicester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Ten Hag had begun his reign in impressive fashion in 2022, taking United to third place in the Premier League and the final of both domestic cup competitions, an EFL Cup final win over Newcastle delivering Old Trafford its first silverware since 2017. The former Ajax boss would add to the trophy cabinet the following year, stunning Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final, but performances in the Premier League were disastrous. Eighth represented United’s lowest finish since 1989-90 though after a slow start to this season it may be something of a false nadir.

Ten Hag’s tenure ends with a Premier League record of 146 points, the fifth best return in that time but 25 fewer than Liverpool with Arsenal and Manchester City far further ahead. Their goal difference of 11 is the seventh best mark in the top flight, reflecting United’s propensity to lose heavily to the league’s top sides while scraping by against the field. An expected goal difference of 3.84 is the nearest to average the Premier League has to offer.

The outgoing manager might also contend, however, that luck was not on his side. His final game ended with a baffling penalty handed to West Ham for what was judged to be Matthijs De Ligt clattering into Danny Ings, a bitter ending to a game where familiar issues around converting big chances had reared their head. “Eventually we will find the net and we will win more games,” Ten Hag said in one of his final interviews. If that prophecy proves to be accurate, he will only be watching on from afar.