Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, makes a gesture during the FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, May 25, 2024. /CFP
Erik ten Hag will continue as the manager of Manchester United until 2026, the club announced on Thursday.
Ten Hag’s current deal will expire in 2025, but United didn't sign a new deal with him. Instead, they triggered a one-year extension and allowed him to retain the transfer veto he got when he arrived in 2022.
"I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with the club to continue working together," Ten Hag said. "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."
United won 68 and lost 31 of their 114 games under Ten Hag in the past two seasons. They finished in the third place in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign and the EFL Cup title. Last season, they came in eighth, but won the FA Cup after defeating the league champions Manchester City.
Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, celebrates with the FA Cup trophy after defeating Manchester City in the final at Wembley Stadium in London, England, May 25, 2024. /CFP
Winning his second trophy partly saved Ten Hag's career at the Old Trafford when there were continuous rumors about him likely getting fired.
"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," the Dutchman said. "In my discussions with the club," ten Hag continued. "We have found complete unity in our vision for reaching those goals, and we are all strongly committed to making that journey together."
Dan Ashworth, United's newly-hired sporting director, insisted that Ten Hag is the right man for the club's manager.
"With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football," Ashworth said. "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."