Erik ten Hag linked with stunning instant return to football with European giant after Manchester United sacking

Erik ten Hag has been linked with a stunning return to football management with a European giant just a matter of weeks after he was sacked by Manchester United.

The Dutchman's tenure at Old Trafford came to an end on October 28, the day after United's 2-1 defeat at West Ham which left them 14th in the Premier League table and followed a string of poor results.

Ten Hag's contract was extended by a year in the summer by new United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe following a takeover by his INEOS firm being completed earlier this year.

But he has subsequently been replaced at United by Sporting's Ruben Amorim, who took up his position as head coach yesterday after flying to England.

Between Ten Hag's sacking and Amorim's arrival, legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy took interim charge of United for four matches, winning three and drawing one of his quartet of games in the Old Trafford dugout.

Van Nistelrooy will not be part of Amorim's backroom staff after it was confirmed yesterday the Dutchman was leaving United.

Ten Hag was appointed United boss in the summer of 2022 after moving from Ajax and led United to a third-place finish in his first season to secure the return of Champions League football, as well as winning the Carabao Cup.

Though he oversaw an FA Cup win last season with victory over Manchester City, United experienced an otherwise dismal campaign in which they slipped to eighth in the Premier League, which represented the club's worst-ever final Premier League position.

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Though his deal was extended at United over the summer, this was the activation of an already existing clause and not a fresh contract provided by the club's new INEOS ownership, which now presides over all of the Old Trafford side's football operations.

Ten Hag is now back on the managerial market and free to join another club following his sacking from United.

And according to reports, the Dutchman has been in contention for a stunning switch to an Italian giant just weeks after leaving England.

Initially, it was reported Ten Hag was under consideration to take over at Roma, who are currently without a head coach and sit 12th in Serie A, being a colossal 13 points behind early league leaders Napoli.

However, Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport has subsequently reported that Ten Hag turned down the chance to manage Roma due to not wanting to be involved in the difficult situation the club currently finds itself in.

Though Ten Hag is now free to select another club, it seems he will be choosing wisely when it comes to his next challenge.