Manchester United has run out of patience and fired manager Erik ten Hag on Monday after a difficult start to the season. The 20-time English champions are currently struggling in the Premier League during a time of significant change at the club.
Reports from British media indicate that Ruben Amorim, the coach of the Portuguese team Sporting, is in talks to take over Ten Hag’s position.
During his 2 and a half years in charge, Ten Hag won two domestic cups. However, he faced the consequences of leading United to its worst start ever, with the team sitting in 14th place and losing four of their first nine league matches.
Heavy home defeats against rivals Liverpool and Tottenham put Ten Hag under intense pressure and shifted the mood among United fans, who had previously been more supportive. A 2-1 loss at West Ham on Sunday marked his final game in charge.
United has managed to win only one of its last eight games across all competitions.
“Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” the club announced. They also stated that Ruud van Nistelrooy, one of Ten Hag’s assistants and a former striker for the club, would serve as interim head coach while they search for a permanent replacement.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future.”
Amorim, who has been the coach of Sporting since 2020 and won the Portuguese league in 2021 and 2024, seems to be a strong candidate for the job. The local newspaper, the Manchester Evening News, reports that he has agreed in principle to become United’s next manager, and negotiations for a compensation package are underway.
United has not made any public statements about Amorim.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who has also been linked to United in the past, was asked about his interest in the position and said, “I’ve said many, many times, I’m very happy here. I think it’s one of the best clubs in the world. What happens in the future, who knows? But I’m very, very happy here.”
Other names mentioned include former England coach Gareth Southgate, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, and former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez.
Ten Hag joined Manchester United from Dutch giant Ajax in 2022, with the goal of bringing the club back to its former glory after a decline that started when former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Even though United won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup this year, the team showed no signs of improving after finishing in eighth place last season, which was its worst league performance in 34 years.
Currently, United is already 12 points behind first-place Manchester City in the Premier League. Under Ten Hag, the team never developed a clear style of play and often gave up late goals, making it seem unlikely that they could challenge for the title. They are also at risk of missing out on qualifying for the valuable Champions League again.
