Muscat: The Dutchman was informed on Monday morning that his time at United had come to an end after two and a half years at the helm. His final game saw United fall to West Ham, a defeat that left the club languishing in 14th place, with just three league wins from nine matches and seven points adrift of Champions League qualification spots. The season’s challenging start follows a summer where United, under Ten Hag’s guidance, invested heavily in new talent, spending £205 million on players such as Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.

United’s decision to part ways with Ten Hag marks the culmination of a disappointing run dating back to last season, where the team’s eighth-place finish was its lowest since 1990. Despite securing an FA Cup victory over Manchester City, United struggled domestically and in European competitions, missing out on Champions League qualification and narrowly securing a Europa League spot through the FA Cup.

The decision to replace Ten Hag comes after a series of internal reviews, with key club figures including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox recommending the change. While United had explored potential successors, including Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Roberto De Zerbi, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford ultimately decided to make a shift midseason.

Van Nistelrooy, who was recruited over the summer to assist Ten Hag, will now assume interim managerial duties. The rest of the management staff remains in place as United faces Leicester City in the League Cup on Wednesday, with hopes of stabilizing under Van Nistelrooy’s leadership.