Erik ten Hag was the unanimous choice for the Manchester United job by those entrusted with selecting the club's new permanent boss.
After a rigorous selection process, which also saw Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique interviewed for the job, Ajax boss ten Hag emerged as the outstanding candidate. The selection process was led by Football Director John Murtough and Technical Director Darren Fletcher, with United chief executive Richard Arnold involved in the final stages, when ten Hag became the overwhelming choice.
Of all the candidates, United felt 52-year-old ten Hag was the one most closely aligned with their identity and strategy, his status as a proven winner, commitment to youth and an attractive, attacking style of play impressing the club's hierarchy. Ten Hag's ability to improve players – something that has been sorely lacking among his United predecessors – and track record of developing teams was also seen as giving him the edge over other, more high-profile, candidates interviewed.
