The jig is finally over as Manchester United relieve Erik ten Hag of his duties.
The Dutchman has been the worst performing manager the club has had since Sir Alex Ferguson left but also managed to be the most successful thanks to the two trophies he picked up in his two-and-a-half seasons.
The club’s start to the 2024/25 season has been terrible and is the club’s worst start to a season after 10 matches. The defeat away to an equally shambolic West Ham United side was the straw that broke the camel’s back for INEOS, who backed him in the transfer window with as many signings as he wanted.
The club’s statement regarding his sack reads thus: “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.”
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, hosted by fellow former England striker Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer believes Ten Hag’s sacking was inevitable in the end.
He said: “We were just waiting for it to happen. Even the way he was talking that ‘we’re all on the same page.”
“Well, they weren’t really on the same page because everyone knew they were talking to managers in the summer.”
“If they’re on the same page why on earth are they speaking to managers in the summer? As soon as that came out we all said he was a dead man walking, unfortunately.”
Lineker said: “It’s been an ongoing saga, which started in the summer just before the FA Cup (final) when we got wind of the fact United were sounding out other coaches.”
“They seemed to go for Thomas Tuchel but he didn’t take the job, then they subsequently went back to Ten Hag. I suppose there was a degree of eventuality about this.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ”xAm I surprised? No.”
“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.”
