The ASTRONOMICAL cost of Man Utd sacking Erik ten Hag

Cameron Smith

• 28 Oct 2024 12:10 GMT
• 3 min read

Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Manchester United, but how much will it cost the club?

Ten Hag was finally axed by the Red Devils on Monday October 28 after months of hanging on to his job.

A statement by the club read: "Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.

"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."

The Dutchman won a domestic trophy in each of his two full seasons at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils fell to 14th in the Premier League table this term, and failed to win all three of their Europa League matches.

This led to Ten Hag getting the chop.

READ MORE: Why Man Utd CAN'T sack Ten Hag

Man Utd had decided to trigger the one-year extension option in Ten Hag’s contract after their FA Cup triumph in May, and that decision means they owe the Dutchman even more money now he has been sacked.

How much will it cost Man Utd to sack Erik ten Hag?

As per GOAL, it will cost Man Utd a whopping £17.5 million to sack Ten Hag. By comparison, they would’ve been forced to pay the Dutchman £10m if they had opted to get rid of him before his contract was extended.

Ten Hag had been expected to be sacked this summer after a generally miserable 2023-24 campaign in which - despite winning the FA Cup - Man Utd finished eighth in the Premier League and were dumped out of Europe at the Champions League group stage.

United held an internal review on Ten Hag’s future and even spoke to a number of potential managerial replacements, but in a shock development decided that the Dutchman would be staying at Old Trafford.

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That decision only delayed the inevetiable as Ten Hag has now finally been sacked just two months into the new season.

A number of top names have been waiting in the wings to replace Ten Hag permanently, including former England manager Gareth Southgate, Inter's Simone Inzaghi, ex-Juventus manager Max Allegri and Graham Potter.

Ruud van Nistelrooy could also get the job permanently if he impresses as caretaker.