Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, excluded from attendee list at Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral

Only four members of Manchester United's current roster will attend today's funeral for Sir Bobby Charlton; the club's manager, Erik ten Hag, will not be present.

Chirag

November 13, 2023

Erik Ten Hag Not In The Attendees List In Sir Bobby Charlton's Funeral — Images via Getty Images

Manchester United has announced that Erik ten Hag will be absent from Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral. The guest list for the ceremony, scheduled for later today, was disclosed this morning.

Ten Hag’s absence is noteworthy, especially with several key members of the United first team present. The club explains that the Dutch manager has an “unbreakable and longstanding personal commitment in the Netherlands,” preventing his attendance.

Former Manchester United managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be present, alongside England manager Gareth Southgate.

Among the guests are four current United players—Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, and Tom Heaton—along with legendary former players like Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Roy Keane.

The funeral service for Charlton, widely regarded as one of England’s greatest players, is being held at Manchester Cathedral, commencing at 2 pm on Monday. Charlton passed away at 86 last month after a battle with dementia.

Ten Hag’s absence coincides with a challenging period for the Red Devils, marked by wins over Luton and Fulham but marred by defeats to Manchester City, Newcastle, and Copenhagen. The former Ajax boss is under pressure to secure positive results.

Notably, other senior United figures, including the Glazer family, opted out of the ceremony due to concerns about potential fan abuse, which could overshadow the funeral. However, CEO Richard Arnold, director David Gill, and honorary president Martin Edwards are expected to attend.

The funeral procession is anticipated to pass by the statues of Charlton, George Best, and Dennis Law outside Old Trafford, where Sir Bobby spent 17 years of his playing career.

Charlton’s illustrious career included 249 goals in 758 games for the club, winning the European Cup in 1968 and the Ballon d’Or in 1966. With 106 appearances for England and 49 goals, his passing leaves Sir Geoff Hurst as the sole surviving member of the Three Lions’ 1966 World Cup-winning team.