Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as the new Manchester United manager starting July 1.
He penned a three-year contract at Old Trafford with the option for an additional season. Ten Hag is also pushing to bring his Ajax assistant Mitchell van der Gaag with him to United. The former England manager and Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren, whom Ten Hag worked under at FC Twente, is also on the Dutchman’s wishlist.
Ten Hag was still under contract at Ajax, but United hasn’t activated his release clause. It’s understood that the two clubs have a separate agreement in place.
“It is a great honor to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead,” ten Hag told Manchester United’s official website. “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,” he added.
Ten Hag said “it will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years,” but assured fans he will focus on bringing the season to a successful conclusion before moving to Manchester United.
Ten Hag looking to change United’s outlook
Ralf Rangnick, who’s been in charge at Man. United on an interim basis since November, will see out the remainder of the season.
The 52-year-old ten Hag took over at Ajax in December 2017. Before that, he worked for two-and-a-half years at Dutch Eredivisie side Utrecht, and at Bayern Munich’s second team from 2013 to 2015 when City boss Pep Guardiola was heading the first team.
Ten Hag is a two-time Dutch champion with Ajax. The Amsterdam giants have a great chance of winning another title this year, so ten Hag could add another piece of silverware to his trophy room before joining United this summer.
Manchester United is currently sixth in the Premier League table on 54 points, three less than fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. If the Red Devils miss out on the top four they won’t play in the Champions League next season. The bookies have United at +2000 to catch Tottenham from behind in the last five matches of the campaign and finish fourth.
The team also had Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino among their top targets for the managerial role, but ten Hag impressed the hierarchy during his employment interview.