What can we learn from the recent sacking of Erik Ten Hag?

Prioritizing Performance Over Reputation: Previous achievements do not guarantee future success. Leaders should be evaluated based on recent performance that aligns with the team's objectives. For instance, while Erik ten Hag had a successful tenure at Ajax, he was unable to replicate the same success at Manchester United.

Emphasizing Adaptability: Football managers who are unwilling to adjust their tactics or fail to address their teams' evolving needs often face challenges. This highlights the importance of agility in leadership. Under Ten Hag, Manchester United lacked a clear identity or playing style, resulting in players going through the motions. Two years is generally sufficient time to establish a presence in the Premier League, as evidenced by managers like Arne Slot (Liverpool).

Ensuring Clear Communication: A lack of transparency can undermine trust. Effective managers actively communicate their vision and provide regular feedback. There were many instances of poor communication under Erik Ten Hag, starting with the situation involving Ronaldo and continuing with Jadon Sancho. He also had turbulent relationships with players like Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane.

Decision Making: Ten Hag made several questionable decisions that adversely affected team morale and stability, including:

• Costly transfers that didn't yield results
• Playing players out of position, such as Mazraoui in a number 10 role
• Ineffective use of substitutions, often waiting too long to make changes
• Consistently blaming injuries for poor performance instead of addressing the underlying issues

Managing Expectations Effectively: Establishing clear and realistic goals is crucial to prevent misunderstandings and foster stakeholder support, especially during high-pressure situations. Although Ten Hag won two domestic competitions, it fell short of expectations for a club like Manchester United. Senior stakeholders likely anticipated at least a top-four finish this season, which seemed increasingly unlikely given the team's performance.