Manchester United have named Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag as their new manager to succeed interim boss Ralf Rangnick from the end of this season.
United say the Dutchman has signed a three-year deal, running until June 2025, with an option for a one-year extension. The deal is subject to work visa requirements.
After David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ten Hag is the fifth permanent manager appointed by United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
"During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team's attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth," said United's football director John Murtough.
"In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that."
Rangnick took over as interim manager in November, after the sacking of Solskjaer and a brief caretaker spell for former player Michael Carrick.
Beaten 4-0 by Liverpool on Wednesday (NZ time), United are currently sixth in the Premier League and could miss out on qualification to next season's Champions League.
Ten Hag, 52, was appointed by Ajax during the 2017/18 campaign, and led them to the Dutch league title in 2019 and 2021, as well as the 2019 Champions League semi-finals.
The Dutchman, who previously worked with the reserve team of Bayern Munich, has long been linked with a move to United.
"It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead," he said.
"I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve."
Sources close to the club say the recruitment process was led by Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, with club chief executive Richard Arnold involved in the latter stages.
Although they spoke to several potential candidates, the trio believed Ten Hag was the candidate most closely aligned with United's vision and strategy for getting back to the top level.
On Tuesday, Rangnick said United were "six years behind" Liverpool and there could be up to 10 new players brought in as part of what he called a "rebuild".
When the German was hired as interim manager, the club says he has also agreed to a two-year consultancy with United.
Reuters
