Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag leaves on private jet after emotional airport farewell following Man United sacking
Following his dismissal as Manchester United manager on Monday, Erik ten Hag gave a heartfelt hug to an airport employee as he said goodbye to Manchester.
Ten Hag was fired after the team’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium, ending his turbulent two-and-a-half-year career and dropping United to a miserable 14th place in the Premier League rankings.
“Erik ten Hag has resigned from his position as United men’s first-team manager,” the club said in a statement announcing Ruud van Nistelrooy as the temporary manager. Since his appointment in April 2022, Erik has guided the team to two domestic championships: the FA Cup in 2024 and the Carabao Cup in 2023? We wish Erik the best of luck in the future and appreciate everything he has done while he has been with us.
Ten Hag retreated to the rear seat of a car leaving United’s Carrington training facility after the news, and he was hurried to Manchester Airport to board a trip back to the Netherlands, his native country. Before the jet took off for the Netherlands on Monday afternoon, he climbed on board and took a time to say farewell to the airport staff.
Erik Ten Hag
Erik Ten Hag, the former manager of Manchester United (photo courtesy of James Clarke and Eamonn)
In his remarks, United great Neville said he was not surprised by Ten Hag’s firing, pointing out that the move was unavoidable after the team’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham at home last month.
Following the revelation of Ten Hag’s resignation, Gary Neville offered his thoughts on Sky Sports, stating: “I felt I have seen this before and I know how it ends. That game against Tottenham a few weeks ago was not an exception.
“Obviously, it was a terrible day for United and Erik ten Hag, and I believe it caught everyone off guard. I believe it was the game that gave everyone hope that the season would begin and that they would bounce back from a rough start, but things have become worse. All things considered, I just believe that the owners have chosen to fire Ten Hag because to the difficulties with the performance and results, and I doubt that anybody would be genuinely surprised.”
