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SACKED Erik ten Hag boards a private jet to the Netherlands after being axed as Manchester United manager yesterday with an expected £15million golden goodbye.
The Dutchman, 54, got his marching orders at 11am.
He was seen smiling at 2.15pm before a Cessna light aircraft flew him home from Manchester to Amsterdam.
Less than two hours after the announcement — at 1.30pm — sheepish Ten Hag was seen crouching down in the back of a black chauffeur-driven Mercedes S Class.
The 54-year-old Dutchman was whisked from his Cheshire home to Manchester Airport — where he was pictured in the gilet and with a rucksack — before his private jet left for Amsterdam at 2.15pm.
He is in line for a £15million payoff after a turbulent 2½-year spell and is the fifth manager sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down after 27 years in 2013.
United chiefs had extended Ten Hag’s £6.5million-a-year deal until June 2026 just 166 days ago.
Fellow Dutchman and ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 48, who was his assistant, has taken over as interim boss.
A club insider said: “The dressing room has been like a morgue recently — and it is no wonder Ten Hag has gone.
“The owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has told people he acted with his heart not his head when he gave him the extension in the summer. Now he is acting with his head.”
United are currently 14th in the Premier League with 11 points from nine games. Andy Mitten, from fanzine United We Stand, said: “I would never celebrate United sacking a manager but this season has been a nightmare and finishing eighth last year is not good enough.
“It is a very expensive move after what happened in the summer – and that is the last thing the club needs at the moment and when we’ve made huge pay-offs to managers in the past.”
Club owner Ineos handed Ten Hag the extension after a shock FA Cup Final win over rivals Manchester City in May.
A separate United source said of the sacking: “This is long overdue and no one could be that shocked the hierarchy have finally acted.
“But the way it has been done is chaotic and shows the club is in a mess from top to bottom.
“The worst thing the club did was extend Ten Hag’s contract after the FA Cup win. While that was a great achievement, it was so obvious that it glossed over a dreadful season. And it has now cost the owners potentially over £10million.
“While there may be room for negotiation, Erik is not going to go without a hefty pay-off.
“It is not the first time it has happened recently either with former managers like Jose Mourinho getting huge payouts as well.
“It is a symptom of the chaos that has gripped the club since Sir Alex Ferguson left.”
Announcing the sacking, United said: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.
“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”
Names in the frame to take over include Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, ex-Barcelona manager Xavi and Germany’s national team boss Julian Nagelsmann.
Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate, who recently hired Jimmy Worrall, a close associate of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as his agent — and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also contenders for the Old Trafford job.
In 2019, United paid £19.6million in compensation after axing Jose Mourinho and backroom staff.
Two weeks ago it was revealed Sir Alex is leaving his £2million-a-year role as a United ambassador at the end of the season.
That decision was branded scandalous by club legend Eric Cantona and came amid an Ineos-led economy drive and after 250 staff lost their jobs in the summer.
Ten Hag has faced criticism over his management of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who criticised him after leaving in 2022.
Many of his recruits came from the Dutch league or played under him at previous clubs.
Some signings like £85million Brazilian winger Antony have under-performed.
RUUD van Nistelrooy deleted an old social media post of him in black make-up hours after his appointment as interim boss.
The 11-year-old image, inset, of him dressed in jewelled headdress and robe as King Balthazar at a charity event in Marbella, Spain, had been re-shared thousands of times.
Van Nistelrooy had visited a hospital to mark the Spanish Parade of the Three Kings. In a caption with the picture, he wrote: “In hospital with presents for the young and old.”
The source added: “There has definitely been a divided dressing room recently. A lot of players did not like Ten Hag and quite a few will be happy with this news.
“His man-management has not been great, and the way he has handled stars has got to be called into question.
“No one doubts Erik was a likeable and honourable man who worked extremely hard and loved the club. But he could be dogmatic and inflexible — and that is one of the things that caused friction. The players who are happy he has gone are pleased because they didn’t think his tactics would work.
“It is not because they didn’t like him as a person.
“There is a new energy now Ruud is in charge, and a growing feeling that – if he does well – he will get the job permanently.
United captain Bruno Fernandes, 30, said of the news: “Thanks for everything, boss. I appreciate the trust and moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.”
Pundit and former United defender Rio Ferdinand said: “Erik ten Hag recruited a large part of this squad.
“But some of these players have been here for one, two, three managers and we’ve still had the same results.
“Someone’s got to come in and change that now.”
ERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.
5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023
The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.
4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023
It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.
3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022
Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag's second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.
2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024
The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.
1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023
Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club's worst defeat in 92 years.
