Manchester United has officially parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag after a two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford. The decision follows a string of disappointing results, most recently a 2-1 loss to West Ham, which left United in 14th place in the Premier League standings. Ruud van Nistelrooy will now step in as interim head coach, with support from the current coaching team, while the club searches for a permanent replacement.

In a statement, the club acknowledged ten Hag’s contributions since his appointment in April 2022, highlighting his achievements, including the Carabao Cup win in 2023 and FA Cup success in 2024. Despite these accomplishments, United’s recent struggles and underwhelming performances created mounting pressure. Reports indicated that the club’s minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had shown little inclination to support ten Hag’s position in early October, especially after back-to-back 3-0 home defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham. The season’s turbulent start, marked by injuries to key players like Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw, compounded United’s challenges and tested ten Hag’s ability to rally the team.

Ten Hag joined the ranks of former United managers David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who all left the role after failing to return the club to Premier League glory since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.

Despite leading United to a promising third-place finish in the 2022/23 season and breaking a six-year trophy drought with a Carabao Cup win, ten Hag could not sustain the momentum, and last season’s eighth-place finish marked a new low for the club.

Questions

1. What recent defeat led to Manchester United's decision to part ways with Erik ten Hag?

2. Who will take on the role of interim head coach following Erik ten Hag’s departure?

3. Which achievements did Manchester United acknowledge in Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford?

4. How did injuries to key players impact Manchester United’s performance under ten Hag this season?

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