Manchester United announced on Thursday that Erik ten Hag has signed a contract extension, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026.
Following intense speculation about the Dutchman's future after a disappointing 2023/24 Premier League campaign, Ten Hag led the club to FA Cup victory against Manchester City, securing his position.
British media had widely leaked last month that, after a review by the club's new part-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Ten Hag would remain at the helm.
“Erik ten Hag has extended his contract as Manchester United men’s first-team manager until June 2026,” the club confirmed in a statement.
The former Ajax manager, whose previous deal was set to expire in 2025, acknowledged the challenges ahead in closing the gap with United’s Premier League rivals.
“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,” Ten Hag said. “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.”
Dan Ashworth, Manchester United's sporting director, praised Ten Hag's impact. “With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football. While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also concluded that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in driving up standards and outcomes.”
Ten Hag, 54, ended a six-year trophy drought for United in his first season by winning the League Cup in 2023 and finishing third in the league, sparking hopes of a Premier League title bid in 2023/24. However, the team lost 14 games and finished with a negative goal difference, trailing champions Manchester City by a substantial 31 points.
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