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What had been anticipated for days has become a reality. Dutch coach Erik ten Hag is no longer at the helm of Manchester United. The former Ajax manager received his dismissal letter after a 2-1 loss to West Ham in London, clearly marking the end of his tenure. Following a disastrous start to the season and huge defeats against Liverpool and Tottenham, this outcome seemed inevitable. The last match was the final straw.
Despite being overly patient up to this point, Manchester United's management decided it was time to part ways with the Dutchman. Ten Hag arrived at United with a strong reputation and a track record of success in the Netherlands, but his time at the club ended much sooner than expected. There were promises of a major project, the arrival of great players, and a return to glory for United. However, none of this materialized, and it appears that the club has only declined since Ten Hag's arrival, despite winning two cups in two years.
Winning cups is not a priority for a club of this stature. Competing in major matches and tournaments like the Champions League should be the team's imperative, as once led by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Even the performances in the Europa League this season have not satisfied the management's expectations, with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe in the last match providing no indication that better days are ahead.
Erik ten Hag invested a huge amount of money, and it's clear that he even overpaid for some players.
In the Dutchman's first season, €243.28 million was spent on signings, followed by €202.3 million in the second season, and another €214.5 million this summer, totaling €660.08 million. Yet, it hasn’t been enough to make Manchester United resemble the powerhouse it was under Sir Alex Ferguson. As a result, manager Erik ten Hag was sacked after a poor start to the season, with the team sitting 14th in the Premier League after nine games.
It's hard to defend Ten Hag’s time at the club, especially given the budget and five transfer windows he had. United has tried several managers since Sir Alex's departure; David Moyes, Ryan Giggs (as caretaker), Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Michael Carrick, Ralph Rangnick, and now Ten Hag; yet the club still seems far from a comeback.
None of the coaches have achieved the expected results, leading many football experts to ask: Is it really the coaches' fault, or is there something rotten within the club? The arrival of new owners hasn’t changed much, as this season has started disappointingly. However, the new owners are now at a crossroads, needing to find a successor who can lead United back to glory. There are many candidates in the mix.
Now, legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will temporarily take charge. However, there seems to be a deeper issue at United that isn’t just about the coaching changes. Ten Hag can’t complain too much, though; three wins in the first nine Premier League matches are not enough for a club with such ambitions, especially when they've spent heavily on players like Leni Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, and others.
Gary Neville commented on the situation, saying, "Manchester United cannot be 14th in the table. Maybe after one or two games, but not after nine."
Candidates for the coach
Ten Hag will pay the price, but the real question is: who’s next? Candidates mentioned recently include Thomas Frank, Sporting’s Ruben Amorim, Edin Terzić from Borussia Dortmund, and former Barcelona coach Xavi. But no one can guarantee a turnaround in such a tough situation.
Being the coach of such a big club comes with immense pressure, raising the question of who might handle that situation best. Many believe that an experienced manager would be ideal, especially someone who has led big clubs and understands the pressure involved.
Given this context, it’s hard to pinpoint who would be the right choice. Thomas Frank certainly has experience, but he hasn’t managed a team under such intense scrutiny. Xavi has had the chance to coach a major club, but he lacks extensive experience altogether. It will be interesting to see who the management considers, with candidates like Zinedine Zidane and even Xabi Alonso being mentioned, although their chances seem less likely, particularly for Alonso.
Another option could be Gareth Southgate, the former England national team coach, who knows many of the players well. While fans might not be keen on this choice, his experience and understanding of the players and English football could be beneficial for United.
The following days will give us an answer as to what the management intends. For now, Van Nistlerooy will have a big responsibility.
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