In the summer he was already on the brink, but was allowed to stay. Now Erik ten Hag‘s less than glorious time at <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/premier-league-manchester-citys-turnover-for-the-first-time-higher-than-manchester-uniteds/" title="Premier League – Manchester City's turnover for the first time higher than Manchester United's”>Manchester United is over. For now, a club legend is taking over. However, the separation could cost the English record champions dearly.
The English football record champions Manchester United have now parted ways with Dutch coach Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils drew the conclusions from the weak start to the season with only three wins and 14th place in the Premier League.
As the club announced, former HSV star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as interim coach for the time being. Ex-Barcelona coach Xavi and long-time national coach Gareth Southgate were most recently considered possible successor candidates.
Ten Hag was already on the verge of being replaced in the summer after the club, which was used to success, missed out on participating in the Champions League. A win in the FA Cup final against city rivals Manchester City saved the coach, who had been in office since 2022, his job – at least temporarily. His contract was even extended until 2026, and he also got some dream players like ex-Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt. But success did not come.
English media recently reported that the English record champions would have to pay the former Ajax coach a severance payment worth the equivalent of 21 million euros if his contract, which runs until 2026, is terminated early. If the club had forgone the surprising contract extension in the summer, a transfer fee of “only” twelve million euros would have been due in the event of a separation.
Xavi, Southgate and Potter on the market
For the time being, the previous assistant coach van Nistelrooy will step in. The former goalscorer enjoys an excellent reputation at Old Trafford. Between 2001 and 2006, the Dutchman stormed for United and won the league and cup. As a head coach, van Nistelrooy only has one year as coach of PSV Eindhoven. Therefore, a major solution is more likely. Xavi was replaced at FC Barcelona by Hansi Flick in the summer. Southgate has also been without a job since England lost the European Championship final. Another candidate would be former Chelsea coach Graham Potter.
Man United, which once won a string of titles under iconic coach Sir Alex Ferguson, has been waiting to win the championship since 2013. Particularly bitter: The little-appreciated rival City, with star coach Pep Guardiola, has long since passed and is the clear number one in the city. In the still young season, United are already twelve points behind City. The start of the Europa League also went badly wrong with three draws.
rc/dpa
