By Ghazali Ibrahim
Bayer Leverkusen has sacked head coach Erik ten Hag following a disappointing start to the 2025–26 Bundesliga season, marking one of the shortest managerial tenures in the club’s history.
The Dutchman, who previously managed Manchester United, was relieved of his duties after just two league games and a total of three competitive matches in charge.
Ten Hag’s brief stint began with a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof in the DFB-Pokal.
However, subsequent league performances raised concerns: a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen squandered a 3-1 lead and conceded a stoppage-time equalizer.
The club’s management cited the team’s inability to progress under the current setup as the primary reason for the dismissal.
Sporting Director Simon Rolfes stated, “The past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible.”
Leverkusen underwent significant changes over the summer, with key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, and Jonathan Tah departing.
The club invested approximately €170 million in new signings, including Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, and Mark Flekken, aiming to rebuild the squad.
Ten Hag’s appointment in May 2025 was seen as a fresh start following Xabi Alonso’s successful tenure.
However, internal issues, including reported disagreements over player sales and concerns about team fitness, compounded the challenges faced by the new coach.
This dismissal adds to a recent trend of former Manchester United managers facing early exits, with José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær also parting ways with their respective clubs in the past week.
Assistant coaches will temporarily oversee training sessions as Bayer Leverkusen searches for a new head coach to steer the team forward in the ongoing season.
