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Manchester United began the process of finding a long-term successor for Erik ten Hag almost the same time their former manager signed a contract extension this summer, Telegraph sport learned.
United invoked an option on July 4 to extend Ten Hag’s contract by 12 months until 2026, after deciding not to fire the Dutchman following an internal review, which followed talks with at least half a dozen other managers.
But Telegraph sport It appears the ink was barely dry on Ten Hag’s new contract when United began laying the groundwork for a potential succession that ultimately ended in his dismissal on October 28 and the appointment of Ruben Amorim as new coach -head of the club four days later.
Sources have indicated that Ten Hag would likely have been given more time if United had started the season strong, but the former Ajax manager came out with the team 14th in the Premier League and 21st out of 36 teams in the league table. the Europa League.
United were criticized for sticking with Ten Hag and spending £200 million on five new signings that summer, only to sack him 115 days later.
The club had held talks with several managers, from Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna to Thomas Frank, Marco Silva and Mauricio Pochettino at the end of last season.
But insiders claim one of the main reasons the club chose to stick with Ten Hag was because they did not have their new football management team on the pitch and officially in place to make the duties and actively carry out due diligence necessary for replacement. As such, they would be hesitant to commit to something that had not been thoroughly researched by those designated to make such long-term decisions.
Although Jason Wilcox arrived as technical director in April, sporting director Dan Ashworth – who has since left the club – officially started work just three days before Ten Hag and general manager Omar Berrada signed their contract. He was officially in office only on July 13.
In their absence, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos advisers and United Football Club board members Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc had helped fill the void alongside Wilcox.
In the search for a new manager, United reportedly asked themselves who they would choose if they could choose anyone in an ideal, no-compromise world, and Amorim emerged as the standout candidate. They believe the Portuguese has the personality, mindset and technical and tactical skills needed to succeed in the long term.
This process ended up being driven by Berrada, but Telegraph sport understands that claims that Ashworth was not entirely on board with the decision are false and that the 53-year-old – who left United on December 8 after just 159 days in the job – did not recommend the former England manager Gareth Southgate, who was not on United’s shortlist.
The challenge facing Amorim was laid bare again on Sunday when United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth for the second season in a row.
