Bayer Leverkusen sack Erik Ten Hag after just two Bundesliga matches

The 55-year-old Dutch coach, who replaced Xabi Alonso in July after Alonso’s move to Real Madrid, leaves his post less than two months into the job.

Ten Hag’s stint at Leverkusen was troubled from the start. His first outing ended in a heavy 5-1 defeat against Flamengo’s U-20s in a pre-season friendly, followed by a German Cup win over Sonnenh of Grossaspach. But in the Bundesliga, results failed to convince:

• Leverkusen 1-2 Hoffenheim after leading 1-0.
• Werder Bremen 3-3 Leverkusen after leading 2-0 and 3-1 against 10 men.

Related News: Xabi Alonso appointed Real Madrid Head Coach on 3-Year deal until 2028

These collapses left the club with just one point from their first two league games.

Club Statement

“This decision was not easy for us. Nobody wanted to take this step,” sporting director Simon Rolfes explained. “The past few weeks have shown that the steps to build a new and successful team have not been effective.”

CEO Fernando Carro described the move as “painful, but necessary.” Assistant coaching staff will oversee training while the club searches for a replacement.

Context: From United to Leverkusen

Ten Hag, who had been sacked by Manchester United last October after their worst start to a Premier League season, arrived in Germany tasked with managing a massive squad rebuild.

Leverkusen had just completed the most successful season in their 120-year history, winning a historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double under Alonso. But several key players departed this summer, including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Amine Adli, and Lukas Hradecky.

To fill the gaps, the club invested heavily in youth. Record signings Malik Tilmann, Jarell Quansah, and Eliesse Ben Seghir arrived for a combined €102m plus bonuses, but gelling such a new group proved challenging.

An Unwanted Record

Ten Hag now holds the dubious distinction of being the earliest Bundesliga manager sacked in history, surpassing the previous record of five games.

Key Takeaways

• Erik Ten Hag sacked after two Bundesliga matches in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
• Leaves after failing to secure a win, with just one point from two games.
• Club undergoing major rebuild after historic double-winning season.
• Assistant staff take over while search for new manager begins.

SportsLigue