Ten Hag sacked LIVE: Man Utd line up next manager as interim named

It says much about Manchester United’s decision on Monday to sack Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s long-term indecision, that even the Dutch coach’s great victory offered reasons to make a change. In the days before May’s FA Cup final, the Dutch coach was insistent on going “toe to toe” with Manchester City. It was only after hours of internal debate, led by Darren Fletcher, that Ten Hag relented. He had to be told to go with different tactics.

United still persisted with the manager, even though the decision to make a change had largely been settled on before that final. That stance was revealed with how they essentially interviewed Ten Hag for his own job over the weeks after, in a first big move by the new Ineos football leadership. It immediately undermined another season. United’s multi-headed hierarchy couldn’t ultimately settle on the right replacement, which remains a problem. That, allied with initial fan emotion, was the only reason that the decision was delayed until now.

It came after United slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season at West Ham. They now sit in the bottom half of the table, having won one of their last eight games in all competitions.

In a statement, the club thanked Ten Hag for his work and wished him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named interim head coach as United recruit a permanent head coach.

De Gea left United in 2023 after contract talks with the club broke down. Erik ten Hag had made clear he planned to sign a goalkeeper who specialised with the ball at his feet, and United brought in Andre Onana that summer.

Alejandro Garnacho wrote on Instagram and wished Erik ten Hag all the best.

He said: “Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club.

“It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik.”

In a unanimous decision by the club’s new hierarchy, the Independent understands, United decided neither results nor performances were good enough to give them reasons to persist with Ten Hag.

United had triggered a one-year contract extension for the Dutchman – though only after speaking to a host of other managers – and in September, new chief executive Omar Berrada said they were “fully backing him” while sporting director Dan Ashworth also gave Ten Hag his support.

The Northern Irishman is highly thought of at United, having impressed as Under-18s manager during a two-year spell. He later became assistant to Jose Mourinho, and then a coach under Solskjaer.

McKenna led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship last season playing an attacking brand of football with an emphasis on pressing and hard running. But the transition to the Premier League has proved predictably tough so far, with no wins from nine games.

Much like his playing days, the former Manchester United midfielder has been quietly impressing as the manager of Middlesbrough.

Carrick took over in October 2022 and quickly instilled a slick, attractive passing style which brought immediate results. Boro finished fourth in his first season, before losing in the play-off semi-finals to Coventry City. They finished just outside the play-offs in eighth last season and are currently ninth in the table after 12 games played.

Carrick is a popular figure at Old Trafford and has experience as a United coach under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. When Solskjaer was sacked, Carrick took interim charge for three games and oversaw two wins and a draw.

The Danish manager has built a reputation as an intelligent, pragmatic coach after guiding Brentford to the Premier League and keeping them there. They are currently ninth in the table, five places and four points above United.

Speaking recently on the Sports Agents podcast, Frank said: “I am probably at one of the best clubs in the world. End of discussion. In terms of alignment, leadership, culture, everything. Why should I ever leave this place?

“Things can happen and you can want new inspiration, maybe you find another inspiration at your club and you stay. For sure, if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better. I think we all know that.

“Maybe it is a challenge you need to try. It is not something I am thinking about.”

The former Barcelona manager has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days, but he is currently on a year’s sabbatical and has stated his preference to take time out of the game.

Xavi’s stock shot up after leading Barca to the Liga in 2022/23 – their first title for four years – but he was sacked at the end of last season following a major downturn in results.

The former England manager is still out of work after leaving the national team following defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final, and is known to be admired by United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his director of sport at Ineos, Sir Dave Brailsford.

Southgate’s club coaching experience is limited, having taken charge of Middlesbrough for three years and left 15 years ago, so Southgate is reliant on his work with England to convince United’s Ineos owners he has what it takes to lead a Premier League giant.

He was hugely popular with the England players and came within a penalty shout of delivering men’s major silverware for the first time since 1966. He also showed an adeptness at handling media scrutiny and difficult topics, from the infamous bust-up between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez, to the racist abuse of his players, to relentless criticism of his own shortcomings.

But those shortcomings became so magnified that his role effectively became untenable. In particular, Southgate was condemned for a hesitation to make substitutions and in-game tactical changes, as well as a broadly pragmatic approach that lacked adventure.