Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag after the club’s disappointing start to the campaign.
United slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday at West Ham and sit in the bottom half of the table. They have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.
A club statement read: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Speculation over Ten Hag’s future had regained intensity in recent weeks after the 54-year-old Dutchman remained in the role at the end of last season.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe kept faith with Ten Hag after United beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, but after only three wins from nine league games the club has taken decisive action.
United indicated it was a unanimous and collective decision, albeit a difficult one to take, the PA news agency understands.
The club had wanted to give Ten Hag the chance to work within a new sporting structure set up over the summer, but results and performances have forced their hand.
It is understood the club’s hierarchy had not seen enough progress in Ten Hag’s side to believe they were on the right path to challenge again for the Premier League title.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand said he was not surprised by Ten Hag’s departure and used a boxing analogy to describe the manner of his exit.
Ferdinand, on holiday in the Maldives, went live on his YouTube channel after news of Ten Hag’s sacking broke.
He said: “Am I surprised? No.” Later, he added: “They kept the man in charge, season kicks in, I actually thought we were starting to see some new signs in the first two or three games, and then we get beat by Liverpool and never recovered.
“It was like a boxer getting hit and knocked down in the third round and never recovering and getting knocked out, knocked down, every single round on the way to the 12th round.
“And finally, we’re here. The fight’s been called off in the last round for the manager, and I think now we’re going to go for a new direction.”
Ten Hag was appointed by United as interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s permanent replacement in April 2022 and ended the club’s six-year wait for a major trophy in his first season when his side beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
The former Ajax boss also led United to a third-placed top-flight finish, but his second season saw United knocked out of the Champions League group phase before finishing eighth in the Premier League.
Speculation that Ten Hag would be sacked at the end of the 2023-24 campaign reached fever pitch but after United beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup, they kept him in place for the current season.
The club opted to trigger a contract extension until 2026 after carrying out an extensive review.
Ten Hag, United’s fifth permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, had led Ajax to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals and also won the league and cup double with them in 2018-19 and 2020-21.