Erik ten Hag has extended his stay at Old Trafford, signing a contract that keeps him with Manchester United until 2026, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
This move comes amidst speculation over his future following a challenging 2023/24 Premier League campaign, but his leadership in guiding the team to FA Cup success against Manchester City solidified his position.
Rumors had been circulating about Ten Hag’s tenure, particularly after a review by the club’s new part-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. The club’s official statement confirmed the Dutchman’s extension, putting an end to the uncertainty.
“Erik ten Hag has extended his contract as Manchester United men’s first-team manager until June 2026,” the club announced.
Ten Hag, who originally joined from Ajax, acknowledged the challenges ahead in closing the gap on 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,” he 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.
“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, broke United’s six-year trophy drought in his first season by winning the League Cup in 2023 and securing a third-place finish in the league, giving fans hope for a Premier League title challenge in 2023/24.
However, the recent season saw United losing 14 games and finishing with a negative goal difference, 31 points behind champions Manchester City.
