Manchester United announced on Thursday that Erik ten Hag has signed a contract extension, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026.
There was intense speculation about the Dutch manager’s future following a disappointing 2023/24 Premier League season. However, he redeemed himself by leading the club to an FA Cup victory against Manchester City.
Last month, British media widely reported that after a review by the club’s new part-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Ten Hag would remain in charge.
“Erik ten Hag has extended his contract as Manchester United men’s first-team manager until June 2026,” the club confirmed in a statement.
Previously managing Ajax, Ten Hag’s contract was initially set to expire in 2025. Reflecting on his tenure, Ten Hag acknowledged the progress made but emphasized the need for continued efforts to bridge the gap with United’s Premier League rivals.
“Looking back at the past two years, we can reflect with pride on two trophies and many examples of progression from where we were when I joined,” Ten Hag said. “However, we must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles.”
Manchester United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, praised Ten Hag’s impact, stating, “With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football. While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also reached a clear conclusion that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in driving up standards and outcomes.”
Ten Hag, 54, ended a six-year trophy drought for United in his first season by winning the League Cup in 2023 and securing a third-place finish in the league, raising fans’ hopes for a Premier League title bid in 2023/24. However, the team lost 14 games, finished with a negative goal difference, and ended 31 points behind champions Manchester City.
