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Manchester United fires manager Erik ten Hag
His departure is linked to the club's recent defeat against West Ham Football Club.
October 28, 2024, 08:42 PM
Manchester United's manager Erik ten Hag has been sacked from the football club.
A statement by the Premier League (EPL) club on Oct. 28 did not state why the 54-year-old manager's left his role.
The team's loss against West Ham United on Oct. 27 is purportedly linked to his departure, reported The Guardian.
Club statement
Ten Hag, who started managing the team in April 2022, had led the club to two domestic trophies.
Under his management, Manchester United won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) in 2024.
However, the club expressed its gratitude to Ten Hag for "everything he has done during his time", and wished him well for the future.
In the meantime, Dutch football coach and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will act as interim head coach.
He will be supported by the current coaching team while the club is recruiting a permanent head coach.
Team's defeat against West Ham
Manchester United lost 2-1 to West Ham on Oct. 27 in an EPL match.
It was dubbed one of the club's "worst starts to a Premier League season".
According to The Guardian, the club had one win from their past five top-flight matches and sat 14th in the division with seven points above the relegation zone.
The club's hierarchy felt there were "no excuses" for the pitch performances.
They then reportedly decided to fire Ten Hag, informing him about the decision on the morning of Oct. 28 (U.K. time).
It was believed that Ten Hag needed to win one of last week's games against Turkish football club Fenerbahçe SK or West Ham.
However, Manchester United ended up with a 1-1 draw in Turkey and lost to West Ham on Oct. 27.
No clear improvement has been seen after the club's eighth-place finish last season, despite him being given more time for continuity and collaboration with the new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
The team's next match is on Oct. 30 at home against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.
Top photos via Manchester United/Facebook
