Erik Ten Hag sacked as Manchester United manager

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag after the club's disappointing start to the season.

United slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday at West Ham and sit in the bottom half of the table. They have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.

A club statement read:

"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."

Speculation over Ten Hag's future had regained intensity in recent weeks after the 54-year-old Dutchman remained in the role at the end of last season.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe kept faith with Ten Hag after United beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, but after only three wins from nine league games the club has taken decisive action.

United indicated it was a unanimous and collective decision, albeit a difficult one to take.

The club had wanted to give Ten Hag the chance to work within a new sporting structure set up over the summer, but results and performances have forced their hand.

It is understood the club's hierarchy had not seen enough progress in Ten Hag's side to believe they were on the right path to challenge again for the Premier League title.

Here, we look at five games that counted against the former Ajax boss in his final 12 months in charge.

Manchester United 0 Bournemouth 3 - Premier League, December 9, 2023

A 2-1 win over Chelsea in early December was arguably United's best performance of the season to that point and should have been something to build on.

Instead, just three days later they were embarrassed by Andoni Iraola's Cherries as Bournemouth enjoyed a first victory at Old Trafford - and in some style.

Dominic Solanke opened the scoring five minutes in and then hit a post before further goals from Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi led to boos from many of the United fans that stuck around until the end.

Manchester United 1 Fulham 2 - Premier League, February 24, 2024

Confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment into United, and the overhaul of football operations it would bring, had brought a sense of optimism to Old Trafford.

But it took only a few days for United to puncture it with yet another home defeat.

Harry Maguire thought he had earned a point with an 89th-minute equaliser only for United to switch off and allow Alex Iwobi to strike a dramatic stoppage-time winner.

Coventry 3 Manchester United 3 (United won 4-2 on penalties) - FA Cup, April 21, 2024

Even in victory there were alarm bells ringing at Wembley as United reached a second successive FA Cup final.

United were firm favourites against Championship opposition and duly took a 3-0 lead, apparently cruising to victory.

But Coventry scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to force extra-time and even thought they had won it through Victor Torp in the last minute of that period before VAR intervened with an offside decision.

United came through the penalty shoot-out but it was a victory without much honour.

Crystal Palace 4 Man Utd 0 - Premier League, May 6, 2024

Perhaps United's worst day of the season came at Selhurst Park as Palace completed their maiden Premier League double over the Red Devils.

Michael Olise scored twice as Palace overwhelmed a patched-up United defence manned by Jonny Evans and Casemiro.

Defeat left United with only two wins from 10 league games, a run which would ultimately cost them any chance of finishing in the European places.

Man Utd 0 Tottenham 3 - Premier League, September 29, 2024

United had been swept aside by bitter rivals Liverpool and dropped points in the Europa League against lowly-ranked Dutch side FC Twente in their two previous games at Old Trafford.

The mood worsened within three minutes of the Premier League clash with Tottenham as centre-back Micky van de Ven dribbled 70 yards through the heart of the United team before crossing for Brennan Johnson to open the scoring.

United captain Bruno Fernandes then saw red before the interval, after which further goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Solanke were the least Spurs deserved in a dominant display as the pressure on Ten Hag intensified.

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