Wayne Lumbasi
Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag as their new manager from the start of next season. The Dutchman has signed a three-year contract with the option for an additional year. United paid Ajax £1.7million to release Ten Hag from his contract, which expires next year.
Under ten Hag, Ajax’s talented young squad has won a glut of domestic honors. But his highest profile success came in 2019 when he almost, and improbably, led the team to the final of the Champions League, falling just short after conceding a goal in the final seconds of the semifinal.
Ten Hag will have a huge job on his hands at Old Trafford as he will inherit a side that has spent the 2021/22 campaign in freefall. Multiple players are out of contract at the club this summer including Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard. Multiple other players will be allowed to leave if suitable offers come in.
United have struggled since the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Rangnick have all tried – and largely failed – to deliver the results and success the supporters had become so accustomed to.
Now Ten Hag joins that list hoping to fire-up a belated and sustained title charge in the Premier League.
