In a show of support from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Erik ten Hag’s contract with Manchester United has been extended until June 2026. The Dutchman’s future as manager appeared uncertain at the end of last season after a disappointing campaign in which the club finished eighth, their worst Premier League performance.

United, on the other hand, defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final, earning Ten Hag his second trophy in two years and ensuring Europa League qualification. As a result, the club extended his contract for one year, which was set to expire in 2025.

 Ratcliffe’s extension is a vote of confidence in Ten Hag, who commissioned a comprehensive analysis of United’s football department to identify areas for improvement. The club interviewed potential replacements, including Thomas Tuchel, but decided to stick with Ten Hag, who is looking to refresh his coaching staff, with former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dutch coach René Hake being considered.

“I’m delighted to have reached an agreement with the club to continue working together. Looking back over the last two years, we can be proud of two trophies and many examples of progress from where we were when I started,” Ten Hag said.

 “However, we must be clear that there is still a lot of hard work ahead of us to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which includes competing for English and European titles. In my discussions with the club, we have reached complete agreement on our vision for achieving those goals, and we are all deeply committed to embarking on that journey together.”

The new football leadership team at Old Trafford will provide Ten Hag with additional support. Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, began work this week after moving from Newcastle, while Jason Wilcox, the technical director, has been in place for several months.

 “With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football,” Ashworth told reporters. “While the club’s review of last season identified areas for improvement, it also determined that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in raising standards and outcomes.