Erik ten Hag has signed a new contract with Manchester United, extending his tenure until the summer of 2026. New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ultimately retained the Dutchman following a thorough review, despite the immense pressure he faced after a disappointing Premier League season.
Ratcliffe had considered potential replacements, including Thomas Tuchel, but decided to keep Ten Hag after United’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester City at Wembley. This victory marked two trophies in two seasons under Ten Hag, prompting the club to reward him with a contract extension.
Originally signed on a £9m-a-year deal set to expire next year, Ten Hag’s new contract adds an extra year, reflecting the club’s confidence in his leadership.
“I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with the club to continue working together,” Ten Hag said. “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 all strongly commit to making that journey together.”
Ten Hag’s extension follows the arrival of new sporting director Dan Ashworth from Newcastle, for whom United paid £12 million to end his gardening leave. Ashworth expressed his support for Ten Hag, emphasizing the coach’s track record and the club’s commitment to improvement.
“With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football,” Ashworth said. “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.”
There have been changes in Ten Hag’s backroom staff. Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is returning as a coach, opting to join United over Championship side Burnley. Additionally, Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake will join as an assistant head coach. However, Benni McCarthy, whose contract expired this summer, has left the club to pursue his own managerial career.
Ten Hag acknowledges the need for improvement after United’s underwhelming Premier League campaign, where they finished eighth and suffered 14 defeats. He is determined to enhance the club’s fortunes in the coming seasons.
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