Key takeaways: 

• He's like a chess player - supporters of Erik ten Hag.
• Manchester United have signed Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as their next boss.

The Dutchman, 52, will take over from interim manager Ralf Rangnick at the end of this season on a three-year deal which can be raised by a year.

Rangnick, who substituted the fired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, is set to move into a consultancy position.

Ten Hag will become United's fifth permanent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

"It is a remarkable honor to be appointed coach of Manchester United, and I am hugely thrilled by the challenge ahead," said Ten Hag.

"I know the past of this outstanding club and the fans' passion, and I am committed to creating a squad capable of delivering the triumph they deserve."

United is sixth in the Premier League with five matches remaining this season, three points behind Tottenham, the fourth Champions League place.

Ajax is top of the Dutch Eredivisie - four points ahead of PSV Eindhoven - with five games left, although their rivals defeated them in the Dutch Cup final.

Ten Hag, who carried over as Ajax's head coach in December 2017, led them to the league and cup double in 2018-19 and 2020-21.