Manchester United limoges Ten Hag, Van Nistelrooy takes interim

Manchester United sacked their Dutch coach Erik ten Hag on Monday due to the club’s poor start to the season, only 14th in the Premier League, and appointed his compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy to take over as interim manager.

“Erik ten Hag has left his role as coach of the Manchester United men’s first team,” the club announced in a press release, the day after a fourth defeat in nine league matches against West Ham (2). -1).

The club’s former star striker and current assistant to Ten Hag, the Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, 48, “will act as interim manager, supported by the management, while awaiting the recruitment of a permanent head coach,” added the Mancunian club.

Injuries to key players

The names of former England manager Gareth Southgate and ex-Barcelona coach Xavi are being rumored to take the reins of the team next.

At the beginning of July, Ten Hag had extended his contract until 2026, but the Red Devils’ failed start to the season, the worst since the 1989-1990 financial year, had put the 54-year-old Dutch technician in the hot seat.

Appointed in April 2022 from Ajax Amsterdam, Ten Hag had a successful first season on the Manchester United bench with a third place in the Premier League and a League Cup. The Red Devils also reached the final of the FA Cup and the quarters of the Europa League, where they notably eliminated FC Barcelona.

But injuries to key players, lack of significant impact from important signings and Ten Hag’s inability to establish a clear style of play resulted in a very disappointing second season.

United were eliminated in the Champions League group stage and finished in eighth place in the league. The Red Devils saved the furniture by winning the Cup against great rival Manchester City.

Threatened before this final, Ten Hag was finally retained in its functions after this success by new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, holder of 25% of the club’s shares since December 2023.

“I don’t want to answer that question.”

At the beginning of October, the founder of Ineos refused to comment on the future of his coach. “I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach, but ultimately it’s not me who decides,” the British billionaire told the BBC.

Ratcliffe passed the ball to Manchester United’s new management team, Dan Ashworth, its sporting director, and Omar Barrada, executive director.

Despite a new spending summer transfer window (Zirkzee, Ugarte, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Yoro), the Red Devils currently only occupy 14th place in the Premier League. Under Ten Hag’s leadership, United spent a total of more than 600 million pounds (720 million euros) on the transfer market, almost half of which was on players from Ajax, his former club.

Ten Hag paid the price for an “unacceptable” place in the league, reacted former Manchester United captain Gary Neville on Sky Sports. “The most shocking thing for me is how bad they have been despite the new recruits.”

Since the retirement of the legendary Alex Ferguson in 2013, five managers have succeeded one another without the team being in a position to challenge for the Premier League title. A trophy that she won 13 times under “Fergie”. This did not prevent the new leaders from recently ending his lucrative ambassadorial contract in order to reduce costs.

AFP

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