Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has an ongoing losing skid following his management of his previous team in a testimonial match.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, has suffered his third consecutive defeat after overseeing a testimonial for his former team, Utrecht.

Ten Hag manages Utrecht in a testimonial match.
The Dutch team was defeated 2-1.
Ten Hag has not won in his last three matches.

Ten Hag’s Manchester United team has lost three of its first four official matches of the 2024/25 season, including consecutive defeats to Brighton and Liverpool before the current international break. Despite hopes for a relaxing break from club football, Ten Hag suffered another setback in a testimonial match against Utrecht.

The Dutch club organised a testimonial match for recently retired club legend Mark van der Maarel, who finished his storied 15-year career at the Galgenwaard Stadium. The match pitted current players against an XI of former stars, with Ten Hag in charge of the latter team. The 54-year-old’s team eventually fell 2-1, with Van der Maarel scoring the only goal for the side.

Ten Hag played for Utrecht in the Eredivisie for one season in 1995, then returned to the club as a manager in 2015, where he stayed for two and a half seasons before joining Ajax in the winter of 2017.

When Manchester United returns to Premier League action against Southampton on Saturday, September 14, the Dutchman hopes to break his run of straight defeats.