April 21, (THEWILL) – On Thursday, Manchester United announced the hiring of Erik Ten Hag as first team manager, from the end of this season until June 2025, with the option to extend for a further year, subject to work visa restrictions.
Commenting on the decision, United Football Director, John Murtough said: “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.
“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.
“We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.”
The man of the moment himself, Ten Hag, remarked: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead. 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.”
Since joining Ajax in 2017, Ten Hag has won two Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup twice, and he will look to end his career with a third league trophy in the coming weeks, with the Amsterdam giants leading second-placed PSV by four points.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s season reached a new low this week when they were crushed 4-0 by Liverpool in the Premier League at Anfield, putting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season in jeopardy.
By the time Ten Hag takes over, United will have gone five seasons without winning a major title.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
