Ten Hag’s New Deal
In a significant show of support from Manchester United’s minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, Erik ten Hag has extended his contract with the club until June 2026. This extension comes after a period of uncertainty regarding Ten Hag’s future following a disappointing campaign that saw United finish eighth in the Premier League, their worst performance in the league to date.
Turning Point: FA Cup Victory
Despite the underwhelming league performance, United managed to win the FA Cup final against Manchester City, securing their second piece of silverware in two years under Ten Hag and qualifying for the Europa League. This success led the club to trigger a one-year extension to his original deal, which was set to expire in 2025.
Vote of Confidence
The extension is a clear vote of confidence from Ratcliffe, who commissioned a comprehensive analysis of United’s football department in search of improvements. The club had even considered potential replacements, including Thomas Tuchel, but ultimately decided to stick with Ten Hag. The Dutch manager is now looking into refreshing his backroom staff, with former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dutch coach René Hake under consideration.
Ten Hag’s Statement
Expressing his satisfaction with the new deal, Ten Hag said, “I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with the club to continue working together. Looking back at the past two years, we can reflect with pride on two trophies and many examples of progression from where we were when I joined. However, we must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles. In my discussions with the club, we have found complete unity in our vision for reaching those goals, and we are all strongly committed to making that journey together.”
Strengthened Leadership Team
Ten Hag’s position will be further bolstered by the new football leadership team at Old Trafford. Dan Ashworth, who recently started as sporting director after arriving from Newcastle, and technical director Jason Wilcox, who has been in place for several months, will be key figures in supporting Ten Hag.
Ashworth commented, “With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football. While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also reached a clear conclusion that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in driving up standards and outcomes. This group of players and staff have already shown they are capable of competing and winning at the top level; now we need to do it more consistently. With our strengthened football leadership team now in place, we are looking forward to working hand-in-hand with Erik to achieve our shared ambitions for this football club.”
The extension of Ten Hag’s contract marks a significant step for Manchester United as they aim to build on their recent successes and address the challenges that lie ahead. With the backing of the club’s leadership and a refreshed backroom staff, Ten Hag is set to lead United in their pursuit of both domestic and European glory.