Manchester United has confirmed that Erik Ten Hag will continue as the manager of the club following a post-season review by the board. The club is now in talks with Ten Hag about extending his contract, which is set to enter its final season. The decision to retain Ten Hag comes after United’s 2-1 victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, which allowed the club hierarchy to approach the review in a more positive light.
Throughout the review process, constructive conversations took place between Ten Hag and the club. It was clear that the preference was for the Dutchman to remain in charge. Despite some suggestions that Ten Hag was becoming impatient with the time it took for United to reach a conclusion, he is reportedly delighted with the outcome.
Several other names were linked to the Manchester United managerial position, including Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. However, Tuchel ruled himself out of the running, and United’s interest in Pochettino cooled after his exit from Chelsea. Graham Potter, Thomas Frank, Roberto de Zerbi, and Gareth Southgate were also linked with the job, but Southgate’s commitment to England made it impossible for him to take up the role this summer.
Ten Hag has been on holiday with his family in Ibiza, enjoying some well-deserved time off after a challenging season for the club. Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their lowest position in the Premier League era. The Dutchman took charge at Old Trafford in 2022 and has since become United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Ten Hag’s tenure at Ajax prior to joining Manchester United was highly successful, with three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups under his belt. In his debut season at United, he led the club to a third-place finish in the Premier League and reached the finals of the EFL Cup and FA Cup. He secured his first trophy as United boss in February 2023, winning the EFL Cup against Newcastle. However, the 2023-24 season proved more challenging, with United exiting the Champions League early and struggling for consistency in the Premier League.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group bought a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in December, and a review of football operations at the club has been conducted by new director Sir David Brailsford. Ratcliffe had previously hinted at retaining Ten Hag, stating that there was something wrong with the environment at the club that made it difficult for managers to succeed. With confirmation that Ten Hag will stay, United can now focus on rebuilding after a difficult season and exploring the transfer market.
During his time as manager, Ten Hag has faced several off-field issues, including Mason Greenwood going on loan to Getafe after an internal investigation deemed it best for his future. Winger Antony was also given leave following allegations against him from a former girlfriend, which he denies. Jadon Sancho was dropped from the squad after refusing to apologize to Ten Hag for his comments about being made a scapegoat.
Overall, Manchester United’s decision to retain Erik Ten Hag as manager provides stability and continuity for the club. With the backing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the opportunity to build in the transfer market, Ten Hag will have the chance to lead United to greater success in the upcoming season.