Why Erik ten Hag is staying at Manchester United: Ownership open contract extension talks with embattled boss

Manchester United have opened talks with Erik ten Hag over a new contract at Old Trafford after a post-season review concluded the manager should remain away at Old Trafford. The Dutchman had 12 months remaining on his current contract, with United having the option to extend it by a further year, but faced a struggle to meet even the initial terms he signed after arriving from Ajax in 2022.

Ten Hag led Manchester United to their worst league finish since 1990, their eighth in the Premier League, but his team recovered on the final day of the season to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a second trophy in as many years for the club . This was followed by an internal review of the starting lineup, which concluded on Tuesday, with both parties entering contract negotiations over an extension, CBS Sports sources confirm.

United had considered a number of other potential managers for the vacancy, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaking to former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel, while, according to CBS Sports sources, England manager Gareth Southgate , was a preferred option if he decided to leave the international scene after the Euros. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was also considered, while Brentford’s Thomas Frank and former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino were linked.

The dialogue between Ten Hag and INEOS, who are leading the sporting reform at Old Trafford, extended beyond the manager’s own future and encompassed a wider review that focused on, among other factors: United’s recent troubled injury history , in recruitment failures and in the sporting structure around his team. head coach. Many of these are in the process of being resolved with Jason Wilcox joining as technical director. Jordan Reece has also been hired as chief physiotherapist, joining a medical department being revamped by his former Arsenal colleague, head of medical services Gary O’Driscoll.

There was significant sympathy for the difficulties Ten Hag had with injuries last season, on several occasions during the campaign he was without a natural left-back, with Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw sidelined through injury. Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Casemiro were among those who also missed significant moments in the campaign.

Similarly, the turmoil that enveloped United during a protracted takeover process – only formally concluded in February, with the Glazer family selling a minority stake to Ratcliffe – was considered in the review of Ten Hag’s performance. In his first season, the 54-year-old finished third in the Premier League, winning the EFL Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and qualifying for the Champions League.

An altogether more challenging second year concluded, with Ten Hag managing amid speculation that the FA Cup final could be his last game. Indeed, he himself acknowledged, after beating Manchester City, that he didn’t know whether he could take charge in another United game. “Two trophies in two years is not bad, three finals in two years is not bad,” he said. “If they don’t want me, then I’ll go somewhere else to win trophies, because that’s what I do.”

United concluded they did indeed want Ten Hag, who will now operate with a de facto endorsement from Ratcliffe that has not existed since INEOS arrived at Old Trafford. It remains to be seen whether it will be a success when and if mitigating factors are addressed. In two seasons of Premier League football, United have just the seventh-best goal difference in the league – 14 – and are ninth when the top flight is ranked by expected goal difference, significantly behind Brentford, Chelsea and Brighton, between others.