Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Erik ten Hag as the club's new manager.
He'll assume the role at the end of this season and has been handed a deal until June 2025, with the option of an extra year.
The Dutchman has seen his stock rise over recent years following his appointment as Ajax boss in 2017.
He led the Eredivisie side to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019 - a campaign that included wins over Juventus and Real Madrid.
They lost to Tottenham in the last four.
On the domestic front, Ajax have claimed two league titles under his stewardship as well as two KNVB Cups.
🇳🇱👔
The new First-Team Manager of Manchester United: Erik ten Hag.#MUFC || #WelcomeErik— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2022
He has also had spells with Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht, as well as a period in charge of Bayern Munich II.
As a player, the 52-year-old amassed over 300 appearances as a defender, the majority coming over the course of three spells with Twente in The Netherlands.
Speaking about his appointment, ten Hag says it was a "great honour" to take the Old Trafford role, and that he's "hugely excited" by the prospect.
"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.
“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.”
United's Football Director, John Murtough, described ten Hag as "one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.
"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.
“We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.”
Confirmation of the widely-expected appointment comes less than 48 hours after United experienced a 4-nil hammering at the hands of Liverpool in the Premier League.
Ralf Rangnick - their interim manager - will remain in that job until the end of the season, at which point he will move to an advisory role at Old Trafford.
In the meantime, ten Hag will attempt to deliver an Eredivisie title for Ajax before his departure.
They lead the standings by four points with five games to go.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
