Erik ten Hag will leave Ajax to take over as manager of Manchester United next season, the English club said on Thursday.
The 52-year-old, who has signed a three-year contract, has a big job ahead of him to turn around the Red Devils’ fortunes after a seventh straight season without a trophy.
The new First-Team Manager of Manchester United: Erik ten Hag.#MUFC || #WelcomeErik
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2022
Since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the 20-time English champions have been in decline, and the Dutchman becomes the fifth permanent manager at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is on track to win Ajax’s third league title, and he led the four-time European winners to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 22 years in 2019.
“It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead,” said Ten Hag.
“I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.
“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.”
Made in the Netherlands. Ready for Manchester.
Erik ten Hag’s next step is United.#MUFC || #WelcomeErik pic.twitter.com/SwsCwFja10
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2022
United are now in sixth place in the Premier League, 23 points behind Manchester City, and are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired in October, the club has been looking for a permanent manager.
Ralf Rangnick was named interim manager for the rest of the season, however he has failed to inspire any improvement in United’s performance.
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Rangnick has been harshly critical of United’s performance in recent weeks, suggesting that the team is “six years” behind its opponents after Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool.
With Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, and Juan Mata all out of contract, and Nemanja Matic having already indicated his intention to depart at the conclusion of the season, an overhaul of the squad is expected in the coming months.
Ten Hag’s ability to work productively with the club’s new CEO Richard Arnold, technical director Darren Fletcher, and football director John Murtough will be put to the test right away during a summer of much-needed change.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United future uncertain
“During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth,” said Murtough.
“In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is also unknown.
Ronaldo has scored 21 goals in his first season back at Old Trafford, where he was a sensation from 2003 to 2009.
The 37-year-contract old’s is up in a year, but he may not want to lose out on Champions League action in one of his final seasons at the pinnacle of the game.