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Manchester United has fired manager Erik ten Hag after a poor start to the season left the English Premier League’s once dominant club languishing in the table and behind rivals in the race to qualify for the lucrative Uefa Champions League.
The club announced Ten Hag’s departure in a statement on Monday following the club’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, assistant coach and former striker, will replace Ten Hag as head coach on an interim basis until the club appoints a permanent replacement.
The dismissal comes less than a year since UK billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27 per cent stake in the club. Ten Hag’s exit follows months of speculation about his position, as an eighth-place finish in the English Premier League last season overshadowed victory in the FA Cup final.
In July, United extended Ten Hag’s contract until June 2026 and then signed off on more than €200mn of player acquisitions in the summer transfer window.
Ratcliffe has made it clear that his ambition is for United to challenge for top honours once again, following more than a decade of struggles since the retirement of manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
United sit 14th in the league table and seven points adrift of the top four spots that ensure qualification for the Champions League.
Ten Hag won two domestic trophies in his 2.5 years at the club but last season’s eighth-place finish was its worst in Premier League history.
The club has guided that it expects to generate £650mn to £670mn in revenue this financial year, highlighting how missing out on elite European competition restricts growth.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future,” United said.
