Manchester United have opted to retain Erik ten Hag as their manager, but a new report suggests that some of the potential replacements were less than impressed with the club’s offerings.
Despite United’s lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth, Ten Hag will remain at the helm for the upcoming season and has even entered into discussions about a contract extension. This decision follows an end-of-season review conducted by the club’s board, which concluded on a positive note with a surprising FA Cup final victory over favorites Manchester City.
Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, and Mauricio Pochettino were among those rumored to be in the running for the managerial position. However, according to The Times, two of the managers approached by United were less than enthusiastic about the proposal. One candidate was reportedly ‘astounded’ by the relatively low wage offered for such a high-profile role, while another found the transfer budget of approximately £35 million gross for the summer underwhelming.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a prominent figure in British sport, is said to have been involved in the decision to keep Ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s future at Manchester United had been a topic of intense speculation throughout the season, especially after the team’s dismal start, which included eight losses in their first 15 matches across all competitions. This was United’s worst start to a season since 1962-63. Ultimately, they finished eighth in the Premier League, suffering 14 defeats in 38 games, and were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage.
Ten Hag has endured a challenging first season at Old Trafford, but he has now secured his future with the club.
Many pundits predicted that the FA Cup final would be Ten Hag’s last game in charge, regardless of the outcome. However, the club has decided to stick with the former Ajax Amsterdam coach, who has now guided United to their second trophy in as many years.