Man United sack Erik ten Hag with one win in eight games, and £200m in new players – and turn to Ruud van Nistelrooy to save them
Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag following Sunday's defeat to West Ham.
Ten Hag was informed of the decision on Monday morning.
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It brings to an end his two-and-a-half years in charge of the Red Devils.
Club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who returned to United this summer to become Ten Hag's assistant, has been placed in interim charge.
A Man United statement read: "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.
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"We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.
"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."
Man United sources say the decision was a difficult, but a collective and unanimous one.
The club wanted to give Ten Hag the opportunity to work within the new sporting structure that was installed over the summer.
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However, results and performances have not been good enough.
The Red Devils have won just four games out of 14 this season and sit 14th in the Premier League, with their poor run stretching to one win in their last eight.
They have also failed to win any of their three games in Europe, and are 21st in the Europa League table out of 36 teams.
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Ten Hag was appointed by United as interim manager Ralf Rangnick's permanent replacement in April 2022 and ended the club's six-year wait for a major trophy in his first season when his side beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
The former Ajax boss also led United to a third-placed top-flight finish, but his second season saw United knocked out of the Champions League group phase before finishing eighth in the Premier League.
Speculation that Ten Hag would be sacked at the end of the 2023-24 campaign reached fever pitch but after United beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup, they kept him in place for the current season.
United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe - whose INEOS Group officially took control of football operations in Feburary - contemplated sacking Ten Hag in the summer and the club held talks with various bosses including Thomas Tuchel, Roberto de Zerbi and Kieran McKenna.
The club ultimately opted to trigger a contract extension until 2026 after carrying out an extensive review and introducing a new sporting structure, with Dan Ashworth appointed sporting director, Omar Berrada as chief executive and Jason Wilcox as technical director.
United chiefs wanted to give Ten Hag time to work to work within the structure and following £200m investment in new players.
That summer outlay took the total expenditure on players under Ten Hag to beyond a staggering £600m.
But there has been little upturn in form this season and Ten Hag ran out of lives when Man United lost 2-1 to West Ham on Sunday, which followed a draw to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
United sources told talkSPORT that results and performances were simply not good enough, and there were no excuses for the current below-par performances of the team.
It leaves United now seeking their sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
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The list of possible replacements for Ten Hag includes at least one manager currently employed by another club and United are believed to be willing to entertain paying compensation.
Brentford's Thomas Frank is known to have admirers among the United hierarchy while sporting director Ashworth worked successfully with Eddie Howe at Newcastle.
United have also shown recent interest in Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Sources in Spain claim former Barcelona boss Xavi has held talks about a move to Old Trafford.
Xavi has a close relationship with United chief executive Berrada from their time at the Nou Camp.
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Van Nistelrooy will be the man in charge of United, however, for Wednesday's League Cup game against Leicester at Old Trafford.
He could also well be in the dugout for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, unless United make a swift appointment.
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