“Managing Manchester United is the most difficult job in the world and here’s why”: Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reveals why Managing Manchester United is and will always be difficult
Erik ten Hag has been without a job since he was sacked by Man Utd last year.
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has ruled himself out of any job for the remainder of the season following links with a number of vacancies. The Dutchman has been out of work since he was sacked by United in October 2024, just 116 days after he had his contract extended by the club.
United had looked to replace Ten Hag following a dismal season that saw them finish 8th in the Premier League and bottom of their Champions League group. However, a lack of viable replacements led them to extend his contract by a year and back him with another £200 million in the transfer window.
They were 14th in the league, having lost four of their opening nine matches and were without a win in the Europa League when they admitted there could be ‘no excuses’ and sacked him. Ten Hag is set to speak about his time at Old Trafford in an interview that will drop this week.
Erik ten Hag sets timeline for management return
In an upcoming interview for SEG Stories, Erik ten Hag is set to address his time at Old Trafford and what went wrong during his spell as Manchester United manager. In a promotional clip uploaded to social media, the 55-year-old is heard discussing a potential return to management later this year and what he missed most about the English club.
“I had already decided for myself, okay, I’m not doing anything until the first of July,” he says in a short clip. He goes on to add: “If there’s one thing I miss, it’s Old Trafford. You’re always working towards a dot on the horizon, but you never get to the horizon. We’ve had many highs, there is always room for improvement and good is not enough. You can do better.”
How much it cost Manchester United to sack Erik ten Hag
Last week, United confirmed in their latest financial results that ‘exceptional items for the quarter’ came at a cost of £14.5 million to the club. The statement claimed the costs were associated to the departure of former men’s first team manager Erik ten Hag and various members of football staff.
We know from United’s previous financial results it cost them £10.4 million to dismiss Ten Hag and his backroom staff, which means the additional £4.1 million was spent on remunerating Ashworth. It is understood United had previously paid £3 million to bring Ashworth to the club from Newcastle United, however, club sources insist the £4.1 million figure was the total cost for hiring and firing the sporting director.
