Manchester United’s hierarchy have decided to stick with Erik ten Hag as head coach beyond the summer after concluding their end-of-season review.
Ten Hag’s future has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks on the back of a poor campaign for United in the Premier League, in which the club finished the season down in eighth place.
However, last month’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City strengthened Ten Hag’s case to remain in charge and the speculation over the manager’s position has at long last been brought to an end, with United deciding to keep faith with the Dutchman.
Widespread reports prior to the cup final suggested Ten Hag would be relieved of his duties regardless of the outcome at Wembley and, after the match, United’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, fuelled these rumours by swerving questions over Ten Hag’s future.
It’s believed Ten Hag had grown frustrated with the drawn-out nature of United’s post-season review, which began with immediate effect in the wake of his side’s shock defeat of City.
But the 54-year-old – who has been enjoying a break with his family in Ibiza – can now look forward to the 2024/25 campaign, which will be the manager’s third season in charge at Old Trafford.
Several high-profile names were identified as possible candidates for the hot seat at United, including Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi, Gareth Southgate and Kieran McKenna, before INEOS made the decision to press ahead with Ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s current contract in the north west runs through to next June and includes the option of a further 12 months. Negotiations will begin in due course over extending those terms.
Why did Erik ten Hag find himself under so much pressure?
Much was expected of Ten Hag when he arrived at the Theatre of Dreams from Ajax back in the summer of 2022.
United secured a third-placed finish in the Premier League in Ten Hag’s opening season in charge – one year after a desperately disappointing campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in which the club finished sixth.
Ten Hag also steered the Red Devils to the final of the FA Cup and lifted the Carabao Cup in his debut campaign, as the club’s long-suffering fans were able to celebrate a first major trophy in six years.
His first season didn’t come without issues, though. The former Ajax boss was involved a public falling out with club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who would go on to leave United as a result.
United endured a worrying run of form the following season before a dispute arose with another player, this time Jadon Sancho, who was frozen out of the first-team and sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
Across his tenure at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has found himself in the firing line for a number of his signings, too. Casemiro struggled last term, particularly in the back-end of the season as a makeshift centre-back.
Meanwhile, Antony has failed to live up to expectations on the back of an £86million move from Ajax in 2022.
It appeared that the the writing was on the wall for Ten Hag as Ratcliffe failed to publicly back him for months after his minority takeover completion. But after United won the FA Cup to qualify for the Europa League, the British billionaire clearly had a change of heart.
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