Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag with immediate effect and appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim head coach.

The Red Devils lost 2-1 at West Ham on Sunday, leaving them 14th in the Premier League table after nine matches. And that proved to be the last straw for the club’s co-owners, INEOS, who have opted to make a change.

United released an official statement on Monday confirming that Ten Hag had been dismissed after two-and-a-half years at the helm. INEOS then asked Van Nistelrooy, who was appointed to Ten Hag’s backroom staff ahead of this season, to take over on an interim basis.

Van Nistelrooy spent five years at Old Trafford as a player, scoring 150 goals in 219 games. His only previous managerial experience came with PSV Eindhoven, graduating from their reserve side in 2022 to spend just over a year in charge of the senior team.

Ten Hag was reportedly informed of United’s decision on Monday morning. The rest of his backroom staff remain in position, at least for now, and are set to continue alongside Van Nistelrooy.

INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe led an in-depth review into United’s managerial situation during the summer after Ten Hag led the club to an eight-place finish – their lowest in the Premier League era.

The former Ajax boss was kept on, with United triggering a one-year contract extension after interviewing other managers.

A number of new high-level appointments, including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, backed Ten Hag in the summer transfer window with a raft of expensive signings. That same trio are believed to have recommended a change following Sunday’s defeat at the London Stadium.

Senior United figures met in London during the international break earlier this month amid strong links with Thomas Tuchel. England ended up appointing the German and Ten Hag was given another chance to turn results around, only to be axed nine days after domestic action resumed.

Defeat against the Hammers was the latest in a series of dismal results this campaign, including a pair of 3-0 defeats at home to Tottenham and Liverpool.

Ten Hag may feel aggrieved that Sunday’s result was what pushed United chiefs over the edge, with his players missing a host of high-quality chances, and a contentious penalty decision leading to West Ham’s stoppage-time winner.