Just one day after Manchester United's contentious 2-1 Premier League loss to West Ham United, Erik ten Hag formally resigned as manager of the team on October 28. The Dutch manager's troubles were exacerbated by the loss, which was tainted by officiating scandals. This season has been tumultuous for United in every competition.
Due to United's patchy performances, there had been a lot of conjecture over Ten Hag's possible resignation and whether the team would try to replace him. But in the end, Ten Hag decided to terminate his term as he saw fit. In addition to officially announcing Ten Hag's departure, Manchester United also announced that assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will serve as interim head coach.
"Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager...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," United's statement read.
Erik ten Hag left Eredivisie powerhouse Ajax to join a faltering Manchester United in April 2022. At first, he helped United win two domestic championships: the FA Cup in 2024 and the Carabao Cup in 2023. This improvement, nevertheless, did not translate into steady results in the Premier League or in European tournaments like the Europa League and UEFA Champions League.
United's performance has declined further this season after they finished eighth in the Premier League the previous year, and they are currently in 14th position, only three spaces above the relegation zone. Ten Hag has not yet discovered a winning recipe, even after spending a lot of money during the 2024 summer transfer window to acquire players like Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Lenny Yoro, and Noussair Mazraoui.
As United looks for a long-term replacement, former United player Ruud van Nistelrooy will coach the team alongside the present staff. Supporters believe stability will be brought about by Van Nistelrooy's connection with the club's history and culture. Now that United is going through a difficult time, everyone is looking on Van Nistelrooy to get the squad back on track. After an outstanding first tenure as head coach of PSV of the Eredivisie, Van Nistelrooy joined United as an assistant coach prior to this season. Fans are hoping for a swift change in United's fortunes under Van Nistelrooy's leadership because of the team's difficulties this season and the assurance that a trustworthy person would be leading them.
