Revealed: When Erik ten Hag considered ‘QUITTING Manchester United’ before Ineos finally sacked the Dutchman after sorry start to the season
- Erik ten Hag was fired by Man United on Monday after a dismal start to the season
- The Dutchman barely avoided losing his job at the club this summer
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Erik ten Hag reportedly considered leaving Manchester United in the summer amid criticism of his performances and speculation that the club was in talks with other managers.
The Dutchman was sacked by the Red Devils boss on Monday, finally ending his two-and-a-half-year spell in charge, which has been interrupted in recent months by the near-constant threat of his sacking.
His position looked untenable ahead of the FA Cup final in May, after a disappointing league season in which they finished eighth in the Premier League.
But their shock 2-1 win over Manchester City spared the former Ajax manager a few more months. However, it was only confirmed that Ten Hag would stay after co-owner Ineos conducted an end-of-season review, with club chiefs speaking to potential candidates.
According to Dutch outlet De TelegraafThe reports of those meetings and the heavy criticism of his performance as United boss made the 45-year-old consider resigning.
Erik ten Hag reportedly considered leaving Manchester United this summer
The club’s co-owner Ineos carried out an end-of-season review in the summer
They report that Ten Hag only decided to stay during a lengthy summit conference in Ibiza, where he had gone on holiday.
Ten Hag agreed a one-year contract extension with the club after clear discussions in the summer. That deal would keep him at the helm until 2026.
Ten Hag lifted the lid on his talks with United, revealing that the club had turned up on his doorstep to confirm they wanted him to stay.
“We had a good conversation and various topics were discussed and the conclusion was that we will continue together, but the conclusion is also that we will sit around the table to extend the contract,” he told NOS in June .
Unfortunately for Ten Hag, results did not improve this season, prompting the club to act quickly and end his tenure at Old Trafford. It is understood the decision by United’s leadership team was collective and unanimous, although sources say it was ‘a difficult and balanced’ decision.
That claim is supported by De Telegraaf, which reports that Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe found it difficult to part with the Dutchman, who is well-liked and known as a hard-working straight-shooter.
Despite winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in his two seasons at Old Trafford, Ten Hag finished eighth in the Premier League last season with a negative goal difference.
He was given the opportunity to work within a new structure after Omar Berrada was appointed CEO in the summer, alongside new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Ten Hag’s position was saved by United’s shock 2–1 victory in the FA Cup final against Man City
Ten Hag was sacked after United’s loss to West Ham; their fourth in nine league games
His backroom staff was also overhauled, with Van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake coming in as his assistants, replacing Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag. It is believed that the United hierarchy wanted continuity after the period of change, but did not see enough evidence of momentum or progress to convince them that the team was on the right track.
Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy has been given temporary charge, but United quickly opened talks with Ruben Amorim and Sporting about activating the £8.5 million release clause that would allow him to complete the move to Old Trafford.
