Manchester United a ‘Long-Term’ Project for Ten Hag

Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 4, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 4, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Reuters)
TT
20

Manchester United a ‘Long-Term’ Project for Ten Hag

Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 4, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 4, 2023 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Reuters)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he has a long-term plan to build a culture and to develop players at the club.

United appointed Ten Hag in April 2022 to succeed interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

The team sit third in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and have the chance to win their first trophy since 2017 when they face Newcastle United in the League Cup final on Feb. 26.

"I always think about the long term, in every club where I was, I have been thinking about long-term work to build a culture, to build a way of playing, to develop the players and the team, obviously," Ten Hag told reporters.

"I think in the long term obviously in contracts and in (transfer) windows because I think that is the (right) way.

"I am not here for one year, I am (here for) longer, I see it is a long-term project to build here and how long it is you can't see, I can't tell," he added.

United are due to host Leeds United in the league later on Wednesday.



Coach Ivankovic Fired by Chinese Following World Cup Elimination

Referee Rustam Lutfullin (R) talks with China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic (C) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification match between Indonesia and China in Jakarta, Indonesia, 05 June 2025. EPA/BAGUS INDAHONO
Referee Rustam Lutfullin (R) talks with China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic (C) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification match between Indonesia and China in Jakarta, Indonesia, 05 June 2025. EPA/BAGUS INDAHONO
TT
20

Coach Ivankovic Fired by Chinese Following World Cup Elimination

Referee Rustam Lutfullin (R) talks with China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic (C) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification match between Indonesia and China in Jakarta, Indonesia, 05 June 2025. EPA/BAGUS INDAHONO
Referee Rustam Lutfullin (R) talks with China’s head coach Branko Ivankovic (C) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification match between Indonesia and China in Jakarta, Indonesia, 05 June 2025. EPA/BAGUS INDAHONO

Branko Ivankovic has been fired as China's national team coach following his side's elimination from the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup this month, the Chinese Football Association announced on Friday.

The 71-year-old Croatian coach was removed from the post as a result of China finishing fifth in Group C of the continent's preliminaries for next year's 48-team finals, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"The Chinese Football Association expresses gratitude to Mr. Branko Ivankovic and his coaching staff for their dedicated efforts during their tenure with the men's national team and their contributions to Chinese football," Reuters quoted a CFA statement as saying.

"We wish Mr. Ivankovic all the best in his future work and life."

Ivankovic, who led Iran at the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, was appointed China's coach in February 2024, replacing Aleksandar Jankovic. He steered the country into the third phase of Asia's World Cup qualifying.

His team recovered from a poor start, which included a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Japan, to maintain their hopes of a place at their first World Cup since the nation's debut appearance at the finals in 2002.

Wins over Indonesia and Bahrain kept China in contention for a berth in the fourth round of qualifying, but losses to Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia were followed by a defeat against Indonesia on June 5 that ended any prospect of progressing.

The Chinese association said Dejan Djurdjevic, who led China to the quarter-finals of the Under 20 Asian Cup in Shenzhen in February, will take over on a caretaker basis for next month's East Asian Championship in South Korea.