(Football news) Manchester United are on the lookout for a new man to steady the ship at Old Trafford after confirming the dismissal of Ten Hag on Monday.
Man United’s decision to sack Ten Hag has been described as ‘difficult and finely balanced’ by the club’s hierarchy, which only gave the Dutchman a new two-year contract in July.
However, a 2-1 defeat away against West Ham United in the Premier League last weekend proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Ten Hag, who has overseen just four wins in 14 matches as Man United boss across all competitions this season.
The 54-year-old departs Old Trafford after two and a half years in charge and leaves the Red Devils languishing 14th in the Premier League table and 21st in the 36-team Europa League standings.
Manchester United have since placed Ten Hag’s assistant coach Van Nistelrooy in interim charge “while a permanent head coach is recruited.”.
Van Nistelrooy reluctant to ‘betray’ Ten Hag
Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 games during a legendary five-year spell as a player at Manchester United between 2001 and 2006, has already had a taste of senior management having previously taken charge of 51 matches as PSV Eindhoven boss between May 2022 and May 2023.
The 48-year-old joined Manchester United in the summer to become Ten Hag’s number two, and it has been suggested that he could step up to take the top job at Old Trafford on a full-time basis.
However, according to sources in the Netherlands, Van Nistelrooy is reluctant to replace Ten Hag permanently as he does not want to stab his compatriot in the back’.
Although Van Nistelrooy is said to be popular with Manchester United’s first-team squad, he feels that succeeding Ten Hag could be seen as an act of betrayal.
Van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first game as interim boss of Manchester United when they welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford for an EFL Cup last-16 tie on Wednesday night.
Reports of Van Nistelrooy not wanting the permanent Manchester United job come at a time when Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim has allegedly agreed in principle to become the club’s new head coach.
Also read: Manchester United’s possible 11 under highly linked manager
