Manchester United have appointed Erik Ten Had as their new permanent manager from the start of the 2022-23 season.
Ten Hag will succeed interim manager, Ralf Rangnick who will step down at the end of the current season after he replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in late November, with the 52 year-old stepping down as manager of Ajax at end of the current season to take up his new role.
Speaking about his decision to join Man Utd as their new permanent manager, Ten Hag said: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.
“I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.”
This decision also means that Ten Hag’s four-and-a-half year tenure in charge of Ajax will end at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
Ten Hag proceeded to address Ajax fans at the conclusion of his press statement, as he said: “It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.”
Utd have confirmed that Ten Hag has been appointed on a three-year contract until the end of June 2025.
Utd’s Football Director, John Murtough explained that Ten Hag’s “attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth” played a huge factor behind his appointment as well as a “long-term vision” to guide Utd back to regular success with “drive and determination to achieve that.”
Murtough also spoke on behalf of Utd as the club placed their best wishes to Ten Hag as he chases a successful conclusion to his time at Ajax, in which the Dutch club look set to defend their Eredivisie title with five league matches left of the campaign.
Ajax Chief Executive and ex Man Utd goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar meanwhile issued the following statement on behalf of the Dutch club; “Four and a half years is a good amount of time, but we would have liked to have kept Erik at Ajax for longer. He is going to make the step to one of the biggest clubs in the world, in a fantastic league.”
“We owe Erik a lot of thanks for what he has achieved with Ajax so far, but we are not done yet. At the end of the season, I will look back more extensively on his departure. For now, what matters is the final games of the season in which we all want to bring home the league title.”
Utd currently sit sixth in the Premier League and on course to qualify for next season’s UEFA Europa League.
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