Erik ten Hag sacked LIVE: Ruben Amorim ‘in talks’ as Manchester United line up next manager

Only Ipswich Town (47 minutes and 9 seconds) have been in the lead for less time in the Premier League this season than Manchester United (108 minutes and 5 seconds).

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund has posted on his Instagram story after Erik ten Hag’s sacking.

He wrote: “Thanks for everything boss. Wish you all the best in the future.”

With Ruud van Nistelrooy now operating as interim head coac for Manchester United here’s what he faces in his first few games.

First up are Leicester City in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford. The match takes place on Wednesday evening which is an incredibly short turn around.

After that, they play Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend and PAOK in Europe next week before another home game against Leicester in the league.

Four matches in quick succession is certainly a test but Van Nistelrooy could come out of it with credit in the bank if he wins all those games.

There was a time when Manchester United came to West Ham, Wayne Rooney took aim from 57 yards and scored. Many a comparison with the past can damn this United side but, a decade on, Diogo Dalot came to West Ham, took aim at an unguarded goal from eight yards and missed. Whether it was excruciating or merely amusing depends on your perspective, but it was costly, summing up Manchester United’s self-destructive streak.

They contrived to lose a game in which they had been absurdly, astonishingly dominant before the break. Dalot was the worst offender but not the only one. “I collected six or seven 100 percent chances we should have scored,” said Erik Ten Hag. “But in football the best team does not always win.” And United’s finest half of the season still led to a fourth defeat.

BBC Sport are reporting on the net spend each Manchester United manager has had since Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club with the figures broken down below.

Erik ten Hag has the highest net spend (money spent minus money recouped from sales) of any Manchester United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson.

David Moyes (2013-14) £60.7m - Total: £60.7m

Louis Van Gaal (2014-16) £110m + £41.3m - Total: £151.3m

Jose Mourinho (2016-2018) £104m + £135m + £49m - Total: £288m

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2019-21) £143m + £66.5m + £97.4m - Total: £306.9m

Erik Ten Hag (2022-24) £187.8m + £118.20m + £95m - Total: £401m

(Figures provided by FootballTransfers.com for BBC Sport)

Thomas Frank said he is “very, very happy” at Brentford but did not rule out leaving the club in the future if there was an “opportunity” that interested him after Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United.

Frank has developed a reputation as one of the most innovative coaches in Europe since taking Brentford to the Premier League and was reportedly one of several managers to hold talks with United over the summer as the club sounded out potential replacements for Ten Hag.

United instead opted to back Ten Hag and trigger a one-year contract extension, but results failed to improve and the Dutchman was dismissed on Monday after the club’s worst start to a Premier League season.

Erik ten Hag has been relieved of his duties at Manchester United head coach following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday 27th October.

Ten Hag’s team sit 14th in the Premier League with three wins, two draws and four defeats from their first nine games of the season. It is the worst start to a Premier League campaign at this stage in the club’s history.

The Dutchman’s two seasons in charge have brought a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup to Old Trafford but a lack of style and a failure to imprint his own vision on the team has led to his downfall.

Gary Neville insists the beginning of the end for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United came after the humbling defeat to Tottenham last month.

The Dutch coach was sacked on Monday with the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table following a damaging defeat at West Ham.

And Neville has claimed the decision may have been ultimately made after the 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford.

Asked if he fancied taking over from Erik ten Hag the Brentford boss said: “I’ve got a big responsibility to Brentford Football Club, the fans, the leadership, players and staff. One focus, to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.

“I’m very happy here, one of the best clubs in the world. What happens in the future who knows, but I am very happy here.

“Right now I’m just here and enjoying life here. I always try to be as transparent as possible, I am very happy here and I can see myself being here for a long, long time in the future.

“I just want to focus on Sheffield Wednesday, get on with the game, try to win.”

Brentford manager, Thomas Frank. is one of the names being touted as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag. The Bees take on Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup tomorrow and he’s been speaking at a press conference.

On Ten Hag’s sacking Frank said: “Of course, I feel for Erik. He is a great coach and has a great career. He did a good job at Man United, two trophies in two years.

“It’s a non-stop developing world and that is more than acceptable. At these big clubs, there are massive expectations but there has to be a reality check... You feel for guys who lose their jobs and I’m sure Erik gave everything.

“There are better people to judge that (improvement). He had a very good first season and had more than a few injury problems.”