Why Man Utd is offering Erik ten Hag a contract extension despite a poor 2023-24 season?

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is set to receive a contract extension as the club plans to retain him for the 2024-25 season. Despite earlier rumors of his potential dismissal, it was confirmed on Wednesday (June 12) that Ten Hag will remain with the team after meeting with the club owners in France at the beginning of the month. Here are the key reasons behind Manchester United’s decision to extend his contract:

### Lack of a Suitable Replacement
Initial reports indicated that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a minor stakeholder in Manchester United, was searching for a new manager, having already made several changes at the board level, including appointing Dan Ashworth as Sporting Director. However, the search for a suitable successor to Ten Hag proved challenging. While Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, both experienced in the Premier League, were considered, Tuchel reportedly declined the offer, and Pochettino did not gain unanimous support from the board.

Other potential candidates included Zinedine Zidane, Graham Potter, and Roberto de Zerbi. Zidane was reluctant to take on a role in England due to language barriers, which led to his exclusion. Both Potter and De Zerbi were evaluated, but concerns about their potential success at a club of United’s stature, especially given Potter’s previous failure at Chelsea, led the board to reject them.

### Success in Winning Trophies
Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United had not won trophies in consecutive seasons until Ten Hag’s tenure. The Dutch manager led the team to an FA Cup victory against arch-rivals Manchester City in the final in May and secured the League Cup title in the 2022-23 season. These achievements were significant factors in the decision to retain him, despite the club finishing eighth in the Premier League and experiencing their worst goal-scoring season since 1988-89.

### Development of Young Players
Ten Hag has a strong reputation for working with young talent and promoting them to the first team, a quality that has been highly valued during his time at Manchester United. While his relationship with Jadon Sancho has been strained, leading to potential financial loss for the club, his success in developing young players like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo has been a highlight. Both players scored in the FA Cup final against City, with Mainoo enjoying an impressive season that earned him the FA Cup Player of the Season award.

These factors collectively contributed to Manchester United’s decision to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract, recognizing his achievements and potential for future success with the club.