UNITED DECIDE TO RETAIN MANAGER ERIK TEN HAG AFTER TWO-WEEK POST-SEASON REVIEW
Manchester United have decided to retain manager Erik ten Hag following a cataclysmic season under the Dutchman that ended with the club finishing 8th in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup title late last month. News of United’s decision was first reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein late Tuesday evening.
According to reports out of Old Trafford, United are not only retaining the 54-year-old manager but also extending him on a long-term contract.
As per European journalist Fabrizio Romano, talks between Manchester United and Erik ten Hag over a new contract extension are already underway and advanced, with both parties anticipating an agreement on a new deal very soon. Early reports from Manchester are suggesting that it could be a three to four-year deal.
Ten Hag has been on holiday in Ibiza, Spain, waiting patiently for news about his future at United. The Haaksbergen-born manager had a year left on his contract heading into 2024/25 and could now be set to stay at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future.
As per Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol, United contacted ten Hag this week and told him the postseason review was over and that they had decided to stick with him. After considering all eventualities, the clear conclusion was that ten Hag had to stay as the new manager.
United’s spirited performance in the 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City was viewed as a key reason why he should remain in the job and United’s new minority owners, INEOS, felt like ten Hag has done well to achieve what he already has with a squad that’s clearly in need of improvement.
The Dutch manager has also played a pivotal role in the development of youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo – who earned an England call-up for EURO 2024 last month – and Alejandro Garnacho. Both teenagers were United’s scorers at Wembley 19 days ago.
News of Ten Hag’s retention as Manchester United manager for next season and his imminent extension has elicited mixed and polarized reactions from the Manchester United fan base. United had already made what seemed to be an inevitable decision to make a managerial change before the FA Cup final three weeks ago.
The Dutch manager not only guided United to its worst Premier League finish since the league’s inception in 1992 (8th), but also oversaw the most defeats the club has ever suffered in a Premier League season (14).
Under ten Hag, United also conceded the most goals in franchise history in a single Premier League season (58) and faced the third-most shots in the league last season (444) – the most ever in Premier League history without a team being relegated. As per Data Game’s Josh Williams, amongst the 96 teams that competed in Europe’s big five leagues last season, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United finished 95th in shots faced. Only Sheffield United saw more shots.
Last season’s performance was arguably the worst by any United team in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, and was encapsulated by a sorry exit in the UEFA Champions League in the group stage, where United were knocked out of the competition after finishing last in a group that included teams such as Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.
Despite winning two trophies in his first two seasons at the club, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have registered shocking score lines under the Dutchman, including losing 7-0 to Liverpool and 4-0 to Brentford in his first season in charge, and suffering devastating 3-1 and 4-0 defeats to lowly Brighton and Crystal Palace this season. The Red Devils also suffered a stunning 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in December as ten Hag’s men put up one of the worst performances by a United team at the Theatre of Dreams.
Since the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, United have had talks with a few managers available on the European market this season but failed to realize a suitable candidate. According to reports, the new minority owners couldn’t find a replacement for ten Hag with multiple reports last week confirming that former Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel had turned down the opportunity to take over at Old Trafford. Tuchel met with United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Tuesday.
The club was also interested in Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna but the 38-year-old decided to stay with the Tractor Boys and signed a new four-year contract extension. United were also linked to Brentford’s Thomas Frank, former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, England boss Gareth Southgate and former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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