Sport

Manchester United announces Erik ten Hag will take over as manager

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st April 2022

Manchester United has officially announced that Erik ten Hag will be the club’s next manager.

Ten Hag, 52, will officially take over at United from the end of this season and has signed a three year contact until 2025, with the option to extend for a further year.

The Dutchman is currently head coach and Ajax and has a ‘vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at’.

Erik ten Hag said: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.

“I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.

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“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.”

Read more: Ricky Hatton announces return to the boxing ring at 43 years old

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John Murtough, Football Director, said: “During the past four years at Ajax, Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe, renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.

“In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that.

“We wish Erik the best of luck as he focuses on achieving a successful end to the season at Ajax and look forward to welcoming him to Manchester United this summer.”

Featured image: AJAX

Sport

Manchester City reveal world-first third kit… designed by AI

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester City reveal world-first third kit... designed by AI

Manchester City have just revealed the club’s third kit for the season, and it’s a world-first AI-designed kit.

The new Man City and Puma kit was revealed in full this morning after days of teasing on billboards across Manchester.

For the first time in professional football history, the kit is designed by a fan, using AI.

180,000 fans submitted designs through the Puma AI Creator, with the winning design now projected on some of the city’s biggest digital billboards – on Market Street, and at Printworks.

Created by lifelong Cityzen and stills photographer Elliott, the final design is inspired by Manchester City’s iconic 13/14 season away shirt.

Elliott’s creative interpretation was crowned in January 2025 after a global fan vote.

The digital billboards show each different stage of the AI design process, from prompt to finished design, with the tagline ‘designed by one of us, chosen by all of us’.

The AI Man City kit reveal
The AI Man City kit reveal

Eagle-eyed Man City fans may have noticed a cryptic ‘loading’ screen in town on Tuesday, with just a hint of the shirt visible.

Then on Wednesday, the screens displayed: “AI prompt accepted. Fan vote confirmed. Final Manchester City 26/27 Third Kit design processing.”

Then the full reveal has taken place today, Thursday 27 August, finally unveiling the full shirt with the words: “Designed by one of us. Chosen by all of us”.

Reacting to live images of the billboards, Elliott said: “Seeing my complete design revealed on billboards in the city centre this morning was unbelievable.

“City has been part of our family’s life for as long as I can remember, so this is as good as it gets for me.

“Creativity is naturally part of my everyday life as a photographer, but it was good to turn my hand to something else and see what could be created with the use of AI.

“The 13/14 away shirt was always my favourite, so it felt like the natural starting point for my prompt. From there, it was amazing to see the technology take that spark of an idea and turn it into something I could actually shape and refine.

“To know that a shirt I designed on my lunch break will now be worn by the players is something I still can’t quite get my head around!”

The 26/27 Manchester City Third Kit will be available at mancity.com/shop and Manchester City Official Stores, with 10% off for Members and Seasoncard holders (automatically applied when logged in with a Member account online).

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Sport

Iconic Manchester United pub reopens after major £400k refurb

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Iconic Manchester United pub The Tollgate has reopened after a major refurb

An Old Trafford pub that’s long been a favourite with Manchester United fans has reopened its doors after a major refurbishment.

The Tollgate has had a £400,000 investment to become a ‘Grandstand’ sports pub, with gigantic HD screens throughout, tiered seating so you always have a great view of the action, and a menu of classic pub bites to pair with your pint.

There’ll be a big event atmosphere with all key sporting fixtures shown throughout the week, including football, rugby, cricket, tennis, F1, darts, horse racing – you name it, The Tollgate will show it.

The enormous outdoor area has also been refurbished, with new outdoor TV screens and Marston’s ‘Order & Pay’ app letting you order a round from your seat without missing a goal.

You’ll even find screens outside the loos…

Soon, local artist Pic One will be painting a mural onto the side of the pub, making it even more of a landmark boozer for Old Trafford.

The huge new main HD screen
The huge new main HD screen
Inside The Tollgate after its refurb
Inside The Tollgate after its refurb
The Tollgate's installed a TV box outside
The Tollgate’s installed a TV box outside

Back inside, you’ll find a regulation dart board and a pool table, with new competition leagues and ‘free to play’ recreational sessions taking place throughout the week.

As well as a smart new interior packed with local sporting memorabilia, The Tollgate has installed market-leading technology, including one particularly gigantic HD screen, along with multiple other HD screens in every area, and a state-of-the-art sound system.

As you pass by, you might spot a huge TV box outside the pub, which has been installed to reflect how big the screen inside is.

The Tollgate is offering fans and customers a chance to shape its future – they’re calling out for locals to provide more photographs and merchandise to decorate the space, including mementos to celebrate the achievements of local sports stars and teams.

United memorabilia on the walls
United memorabilia on the walls
Inside the new-look The Tollgate
Inside the new-look The Tollgate
A cosy corner of The Tollgate
A cosy corner of The Tollgate

On the menus, you’ll find a new menu of perfect pub bites, including sharing combo boxes, chicken wings, nachos, and burgers.

There’ll be bottomless fries on offer for local sports teams who manage to get their hands on a ‘Black Card’, with even more rewards if they win their game.

And all draught beer (and there’s a lot of it) is now available in two-pint cups.

To celebrate its launch, the pub invited a fellow Manchester United icon Ying-Hoi Soo (affectionately known to Reds as ‘Mr Miyagi’) to pull the first pint and officially mark the pub’s opening.

Ying is recognised for his selfless charity work, and The Tollgate plans to work closely with Ying in the future to support this.

The new Grandstand pub concept has been introduced after research revealed that 86% of sports fans prefer to watch games at sports pubs, thanks to their livelier atmosphere, better screens, and community feel.

A huge two-pint beer
A huge two-pint beer
There's a pool table
There’s a pool table
And dart board inside
And dart board inside
The food offering
The food offering

Marston’s picked Tollgate as one of the pubs to receive the Grandstand makeover due to its involvement with local sports teams, community groups and charities.

Pub Partner, Michael McLoughlin, said: “We’ve loved welcoming the community back with open arms!

“The response has been fantastic to our food and drink offers, as well as the new technology to watch all kinds of sports – we’re thankful that our pub is always full of good vibes, and real community spirit.”

The Tollgate is officially open for business now.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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