Clumsy Man Utd chiefs paid Ten Hag an extra £7MILLION to take club to 14th… despite trying to save money
MANCHESTER UNITED supremos have finally sacked Erik ten Hag… but even then they’ve been left with egg on their faces.
The Dutchman, 54, has long been under-fire after an unimpressive tenure at Old Trafford.
AlamyMan Utd chiefs’ Erik ten Hag blunder in the summer has cost them an additional £7m[/caption]
PASir Jim Ratcliffe is embarking on major cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford, including relieving Sir Alex Ferguson of his ambassadorial role, but still gave Ten Hag a new deal[/caption]
Ten Hag was expected to be sacked in the summer after leading United to a record-worst EIGHTH in the Premier League.
He survived by the skin of his teeth in part thanks to winning the FA Cup, but perhaps more due to the lack of options on the manager market.
But rather than just keep Ten Hag – whose original contract was due to expire next summer – bungling United chiefs offered Ten Hag improved terms, including an additional year on the contract.
It’s believed it will cost Man Utd a staggering £15MILLION to sack him.
And that number would have been roughly half that had they not offered him a fresh contract in the summer.
So what exactly did Man Utd get for that extra £7million or so?
Well, how about 14th place in the Premier League with just three wins from nine games averaging 1.2 points per game?
How about ZERO wins from three Europa League games?
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What about averaging under one goal per game in the top flight for a goal difference of -3?
In fact, in all competitions, United have only beaten Fulham, Brentford, Southampton and Barnsley.
They’ve got nowhere near the big boys either, getting thrashed 3-0 by both fierce rivals Liverpool AND Tottenham.
Perhaps United’s new look boardroom were fearful Ten Hag WOULD show signs of promise this season and then jump ship when a better offer came in next summer.
Otherwise, why on earth would you extend his contract?
With the benefit of hindsight, it’s a massive blunder – especially with United chiefs desperately slashing the budget, including axing club legend Sir Alex Ferguson from his multi-million-pound ambassadorial role.
Of course, Ten Hag and the board aren’t the only ones to blame – the players have been largely dreadful, too.
And for now it’s up to striker icon Ruud van Nistelrooy – brought into the club setup in the summer to help Ten Hag – to try to get the best out of this struggling squad, on an interim basis.
He may, too, be given the full time job if he impresses.
With the bar set so low, it’s hard to believe he won’t improve the club at least in some small way.
However, it’s most likely United chiefs look for a more seasoned campaigner with Xavi, Ruben Amorim, Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, Kieran McKenna and Edin Terzic all in the running.
The likes of Thomas Frank and Michael Carrick will all be keeping an eye on the situation at Old Trafford with great interest.
Who could replace Ten Hag at Man Utd?
ERIK TEN HAG has finally been put out of his Manchester United misery – but who will be the manager to lead them into the future?
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Red Devils legend, 48, is no stranger to the pressures of Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games for Man Utd and helped them to the 2002-03 Premier League title.
The striker also starred for another monster club, Real Madrid, as a player before going into coaching.
The 70-cap ex-Holland international managed PSV’s youth team before landing the senior job for the 2022-23 season.
Van Nistelrooy landed a coaching job under Ten Hag earlier this year and is said to have done a superb job working with the clubs strikers behind the scenes.
And now he will have the chance to show what he can do in a live ‘interview’ of sorts.
How long the club will give him is another matter.
Gareth Southgate
The former England boss, 54, has long been linked with the Man Utd job.
The former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has gone on to enjoy great success as a manager – albeit without getting his hands on a major trophy.
Southgate managed Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009 before taking on the England Under-21s job between 2013 and 2016.
The 57-cap former Three Lions international then took the senior national job, replacing Roy Hodgson.
Southgate brought the nation together as he led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, as well as the final of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
However, he left his role in the summer following the defeat to Spain and was replaced by Lee Carsley on an interim basis.
Thomas Tuchel – another boss long linked with the Old Trafford job – will take over the reins in 2025.
Southgate has been out of club management for 15 years and a portion of England fans were frustrated by what they deemed a defensive style.
However, his ability to largely galvanise the fan-base and deal with the pressure of one of the biggest jobs in sport with real class would be a huge asset for United.
Edin Terzic
Earlier this month, SunSport revealed Edin Terzic is the shock name on United’s list to replace Ten Hag.
German Terzic took Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season before surprisingly quitting.
He has many admirers at Old Trafford and it would he a smart but unexpected move to go for him if they sack under-fire Ten Hag.
Terzic, 41, did his coaching badges in England, where he was friends with fellow United target Graham Potter, and then worked as Slaven Bilic’s No 2 at West Ham.
He rose to the top in Germany during two spells at Dortmund before he walked away in June.
Graham Potter
The English boss, 49, has been out of work since being axed by Chelsea in April 2023.
Potter excited fans with his attacking approach at Brighton before he was poached by the Blues.
However, he failed to lift Chelsea out of their funk and was given his marching orders.
Potter’s fans include Manchester City mastermind Pep Guardiola.
And there’s no doubt the ex-OstersundS FK and Swansea boss would get United playing on the front foot, something Old Trafford fans have long craved.
Kieran McKenna
Cruelly denied a playing career due to injury, the former Tottenham youth prospect has excelled as a coach.
McKenna, 38, worked as Under-18s coach at both Spurs and Man Utd before landing the top job at Ipswich Town.
The young boss incredibly guided the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, guiding them from League One back to the Premier League, ending the club’s 22-year absence.
McKenna was quickly added to a host of clubs’ wish-lists, including Man Utd, according to reports.
But Ipswich reacted swiftly to offer him a new, long-term contract.
However, his side are yet to win any of their opening nine Premier League games, with four wins and five defeats.
McKenna has Ipswich playing exciting, expansive football – something Man Utd fans crave.
The big question now is whether McKenna opts to jump ship or stay loyal.
Ruben Amorim, Xavi and Thomas Frank are also three names very much believed to be in the running.
