Erik ten Hag has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2026, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday.
There was much concern about the Dutchman’s future following a disappointing 2023/24 Premier League season, but he led the club to an FA Cup victory over Manchester City.
Last month, the British media generally reported that Ten Hag will remain at the club following a review by the club’s new part-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
“Erik ten Hag has extended his contract as Manchester United men’s first-team manager until June 2026,” the club announced in a statement.
The former Ajax manager, whose contract expires in 2025, said work should be done to bridge the gap with United’s Premier League rivals.
“Looking back over the last two years, we can be proud of two trophies and many indicators of growth from where we were when I started,” he remarked.
“However, we must be clear that there is still a lot of hard work ahead of us to attain the heights expected of Manchester United, which includes competing for English and European titles.”
Manchester United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, stated: "With two trophies in the last two seasons, Erik has strengthened his reputation as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football.
“While the club’s analysis of last season identified areas for improvement, it also concluded unequivocally that Erik was the ideal partner for us to collaborate with in raising standards and outcomes.”
Ten Hag, 54, ended United’s six-year trophy drought in his first season by winning the League Cup in 2023 and finishing third in the league, giving fans hope that they will challenge for the Premier League crown in 2023/24.
However, they lost 14 games and finished with a negative goal differential, falling 31 points behind winners Manchester City.