Manchester United have sacked their manager and appointed the club's former striker as interim replacement.

 

Former Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, previously the assistant manager, will step in as interim head coach.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been dismissed following a series of disappointing results.

The 54-year-old Dutchman was informed of the decision on Monday morning, ending his two-and-a-half-year tenure with the club. United suffered a 2-1 defeat away to West Ham over the weekend, further compounding their challenging start to the season.

In a club statement, United expressed gratitude to Ten Hag, saying, "We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future."

Former Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who served as the assistant manager, will step in as interim head coach while the club searches for a permanent successor.

Ten Hag's future had been uncertain following last season’s eighth-place finish—United's lowest-ever in the Premier League—despite an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. The poor start to the current season, including 3-0 home losses to Tottenham and Liverpool, saw United fall to 14th place with only three wins in nine matches.

Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris described the team's performance as "woeful," with Ten Hag being the fifth manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, during which time United has yet to secure a Premier League title. Harris noted Ten Hag's struggles and that he often appeared "quite a despondent figure."

The club will now look to steady the ship as van Nistelrooy takes the reins temporarily while discussions for a long-term head coach continue.

The club felt that United's on-field results simply weren't good enough, leaving no justification for their current position in the league.

Ten Hag, who signed a three-year contract in 2022, took over from interim coach Ralf Rangnick after the departure of club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Under Ten Hag’s leadership, United won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and secured a surprise 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City to claim the 2024 FA Cup at Wembley.

Ten Hag often defended his tenure, highlighting these two trophies won during his two full seasons with the club. However, these achievements didn’t fully dispel doubts about his leadership and the team's direction.