Premier League managers have expressed sympathy for Erik ten Hag after he was sacked by Manchester United on Monday, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot describing his compatriot’s dismissal as “a pity” and Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe saying he felt “sadness.”
Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford came to an end after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium and he leaves with the club 14th in the Premier League table and without a victory in Europe in more than 12 months.
“He is a Dutch manager so that makes it even harder for me, for us as Dutch people,” Slot told a news conference on Tuesday. “Always your first thoughts are with the person. We are all in this job so we know that it can happen but if it happens … Especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it, and then to get this news for him is of course a pity.
“But we also know, especially us coming from Holland, how well he did at Ajax and that he won two trophies over here so we will see him I think in the near future at a big club again, but at this moment for him and his family it’s of course … Tragedy is maybe a bit too much to say but it’s a big disappointment.”
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said that he feels sorry for Ten Hag, who won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his two full seasons at the helm at United.
“I think it is always sadness when a manager loses his job, you always have empathy. Every club is different. “A job at the very highest level never gets easier. I feel for him.”
Ruben Amorim has emerged as the leading contender to take over from Erik ten Hag at United, a source has told ESPN.
The Sporting CP coach is aware of the interest, according to the source, as is his club, with United attempting to move quickly to name a new permanent manager after appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as the caretaker.