Erik ten Hag will leave Ajax to take over as manager of Manchester United next season, the English club said on Thursday.
The 52-year-old, who has signed a three-year contract, has a big job ahead of him to turn around the Red Devils’ fortunes after a seventh straight season without a trophy.
Since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the 20-time English champions have been in decline, and the Dutchman becomes the fifth permanent manager at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is on track to win Ajax’s third league title, and he led the four-time European winners to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in 22 years in 2019.
“It’s a wonderful pleasure to be named Manchester United manager, and I’m really thrilled about the challenge ahead,” Ten Hag stated.
“I am totally committed to produce a team capable of delivering the success they deserve, knowing the history of this wonderful club and the enthusiasm of the fans.”
“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these amazing years, but I can guarantee our fans that I will give everything I have to finish this season successfully before moving to Manchester United”, he added.
United are now in sixth place in the Premier League, 23 points behind Manchester City, and are unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired in October, the club has been looking for a permanent manager.
Ralf Rangnick was named interim manager for the rest of the season, however, he has failed to inspire any improvement in United’s performance.
Rangnick has been harshly critical of United’s performance in recent weeks, suggesting that the team is “six years” behind its opponents after Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool.
With Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, and Juan Mata all out of contract, and Nemanja Matic having already indicated his intention to depart at the conclusion of the season, an overhaul of the squad is expected in the coming months.
Ten Hag’s ability to work productively with the club’s new CEO Richard Arnold, technical director Darren Fletcher, and football director John Murtough will be put to the test right away during a summer of much-needed change.
“During his four years at Ajax, Erik has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting and successful coaches, recognized for his team’s dynamic, offensive football and dedication to youngsters,” Murtough added.
“We were genuinely impressed with Erik’s long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, as well as his ambition and desire to achieve that, in our conversations leading up to this appointment.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is also undetermined.
Ronaldo has scored 21 goals in his first season back at Old Trafford, where he was a sensation from 2003 to 2009.
The 37-year-old’s contract is up in a year, but he may not want to lose out on Champions League action in one of his final seasons at the pinnacle of the game.
