By 90min | Created at 2024-10-29 21:33:03 | Updated at 2024-11-05 16:30:06
1 week ago
After 128 games, two trophies and countless near misses, Erik ten Hag has finally lost his job at Manchester United.
The final nail in the divisive Dutch coach's coffin proved to be Sunday's damning 2-1 loss to West Ham United. After a dominant but wasteful first-half display, Ten Hag's side wilted in the second half before losing to a hotly controversial stoppage-time penalty.
The collapse in the capital was just the latest in a long sequence of embarrassing performances for United, who suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester City and many others during Ten Hag's reign. However, the former Ajax boss also finished third in his debut season while lifting the Carabao Cup, before defeating City in last summer's FA Cup final.
Given his wildly contrasting achievements, the instant reaction from fans was mixed.
I can’t believe it, feel like I’m going to pass out. Is this what death feels like?
— Frank🧠🇳🇱 (fan) (@TenHagEra) October 28, 2024Why's this Ten Hag bomba hitting me in the heart🐶💔 pic.twitter.com/VdIZxQNOqL
— Deng™ (@UTDDengv2) October 28, 2024Erik ten Hag won MU's first trophies since '17. A tough gig, but I thought he was onto something after six months. It wasn't to be and this season has been a nightmare. Players must take some responsibility too.
EtH was always good to deal with, never gave up and I wish him well
It's incredibly unfortunate that another manager has been let go, especially after that first season, I was so convinced that we were making strides forward under Erik, but it has been downhill since August 2023 if we're being truthful.
Wishing Erik ten Hag all the best, and…
So 116 days after Ineos triggered the one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract, they sack him. He should have gone after the FA Cup final but the power brokers lost their nerve and the main decision-maker was a guy who used to run a cycling team. What a mess. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) October 28, 2024Ten Hag did things i never thought I'd see as a United manager. A true visionary. A misunderstood genius. We will always remember you, Erik. City legend 🕊
— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) October 28, 2024Erik ten Hag had to go. He would have been long gone at another club with less patient fans. #MUFC were going nowhere under him. The team lacked identity, balance, belief and direction. Recruits he pushed for haven’t yet delivered. Ten Hag voiced frustrations over injuries and…
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 28, 2024Thank you for carabao cup and fa cup Erik Ten Hag
— عقيل (@aqil_zulkifly) October 28, 2024Others were quite content to see the back of a coach who had an endless supply of excuses.
Good riddance Ten Hag worst manager since Fergie
— Henry Savage (@HenrySa69019703) October 28, 2024Undoubtedly the right decision and the only surprise is it has taken #mufc so long to come to. Ten Hag has made mediocrity the new normal at United and the excuses were almost constant, he’d long ago stopped talking like a United manager. Change had to come
— Tyrone Marshall (@TyMarshall_MEN) October 28, 2024Opposition fans were unanimous in their sarcastic mourning of Ten Hag's exit.
Thank you for the memories Erik ten Hag, you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/ev6IgpOnME
— - (@AnfieldRd96) October 28, 2024Ten Hag sacked, this is the worst day of my life. pic.twitter.com/KPl9d96539
— Mod (@CFCMods) October 28, 2024"Eras come to an end" Erik Ten Hag said.
He was talking about his own era, he never said
Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and City fans right nowpic.twitter.com/c8DYBXHJXJ
Attention quickly turned to Ten Hag's potential replacement. Former England boss Gareth Southgate was heavily linked during the summer before distancing himself from the position this season, while United are thought to be interested in Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim - who is also a target for Manchester City.
Get Nagelsmann @ManUtd
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) October 28, 2024My ideal manager shortlist to replace Ten Hag pic.twitter.com/oi6taQRJEe
— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 (@UtdEra_) October 27, 2024
