Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager.
The Dutchman was informed on Monday morning and leaves Old Trafford after two and a half years in charge with his final game proving to be the Premier League defeat to West Ham United on Sunday.
That result left the club 14th in the table, seven points off the Champions League qualification places, after just three league wins from nine games and only four in 14 in all competitions.
The club are now working on next steps with former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, recruited in the offseason to work alongside Ten Hag, having been asked to take charge on an interim basis with the rest of the management staff remaining in position for now.
Ten Hag was retained as United manager in the summer after an end-of-season review following an eighth-place Premier League finish, the club’s lowest since 1990, and a FA Cup final victory over rivals Manchester City.
United triggered a one-year extension option in the 54-year-old’s contract at the start of July. His previous deal, which he signed when he was appointed in 2022, was due to expire in 2025.
However, another hugely disappointing run of form to start the new season has prompted key decision-makers, including chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, to recommend a change.
United kept Ten Hag in position following the FA Cup win (Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The Athletic revealed during the international break that the United hierarchy were scheduled to meet in London while also reporting that Ten Hag’s performance as manager and possible departure was to be discussed at the meeting.
In Ten Hag’s first season at United, he guided them to a third-place finish and oversaw their Carabao Cup triumph, ending a six-year run without a trophy.
Last year, though, United struggled domestically and in Europe, suffering a group-stage exit from the Champions League, and only qualified for the Europa League this season by winning the FA Cup.
United had sounded out potential replacements including now England head coach Thomas Tuchel, newly-appointed USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.
But at the end of a process led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, the choice was made to move forward with Ten Hag.
I don't think Ruud is a standout manager who will turn this around, but maybe we can hope for some Ole style interim manager bounce.