The highs and lows of Erik ten Hag’s time at Man Utd | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag has been sacked as manager of Manchester United following a poor start to the season in which his side lost four of their first nine league games.

It brings to an end a mixed two years at Old Trafford for the Dutchman, which brought success in the cup competitions but also underwhelming form in the league which eventually cost him his job.

We look back at some of the highs and lows of his spell in charge…

Brentford 4 Man Utd 0 – Premier League, 13 August 2022

ten Hag became the first Manchester United manager since John Chapman in 1921 to lose his first two games in charge when his side were thrashed 4-0 by Brentford. Goals from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo exposed United’s flaws and ten Hag responded by reportedly joining his players in a 14km run in training, the total distance Brentford outran his players by.

Man Utd 2 Newcastle 0 – Carabao Cup final, 26 February 2023

Later on in the campaign, ten Hag guided the club to silverware in his first season in charge by beating Newcastle 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final. It saw the Red Devils end a six-year wait for a trophy thanks to goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford and helped make it a successful first season in charge for ten Hag.

Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0 – Premier League, 5 March 2023

After winning his first trophy with the club, ten Hag was brought back down to earth with a bump when they were battered 7-0 by big rivals Liverpool just over a week later, which was United’s joint ever heaviest defeat.

Man Utd 4 Chelsea 1 – Premier League, 25 May 2023

Despite some heavy defeats along the way, ten Hag oversaw a solid debut league campaign and confirmed Champions League qualification with a comfortable 4-1 win over Chelsea in May.

Man City 2 Man Utd 1 – FA Cup final, 3 June 2023

ten Hag failed to make it a double in his first season in charge, losing the FA Cup final to rivals Manchester City at Wembley.

Man Utd 0 Bayern Munich 1 – Champions League, 12 December 2023

United’s return to Champions League football the following season was not a successful one, exiting in the group stage following a defeat to German giants Bayern Munich and finishing bottom, which also meant they missed out on the Europa League too.

Crystal Palace 4 Man Utd 0 – Premier League, 6 May 2024

ten Hag’s second season in charge saw his side struggle in the Premier League, with a 4-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace at the end of the season seeing them sit eighth place, which is where they would eventually finish. It was their lowest position since the 1989-90 season.

Man City 1 Man Utd 2 – FA Cup final, 25 May 2024

Despite enduring a disappointing season up to that point, ten Hag’s side salvaged something from the campaign by beating rivals Man City 2-1 in the FA Cup final thanks to goals from Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, giving United fans a glimmer of hope for the future though ten Hag remained under big pressure.

West Ham 2 Man Utd 1 – Premier League, 27 October 2024

Despite reports that United were looking elsewhere for a manager in the summer, ten Hag kept his job along with a show of faith from the owners in the form of a new contract. But following a poor start which included defeats to Brighton, Liverpool and Tottenham, ten Hag was shown the door after a defeat to West Ham with his side in 14th place in the Premier League.