Leverkusen Sack Ten Hag After Just Three Months in Charge

Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen have dismissed head coach Erik ten Hag, ending his tenure just three months after succeeding Xabi Alonso.

The Dutchman, appointed in May on a two-year contract, struggled to find stability in Germany. His reign began with a home defeat on the opening day and culminated in Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead in the closing stages.

In a statement on Monday, the club announced:
“Bayer 04 Leverkusen have parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag. This was decided by the shareholders’ committee on the recommendation of management. Training will be overseen by the current backroom staff on an interim basis.”

Simon Rolfes, the club’s Managing Director of Sport, described the move as a painful but necessary step.
“This decision was not an easy one. Nobody wanted to take this step. However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible. We firmly believe in the quality of our squad and will now do everything possible to continue our development with a new setup,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer Fernando Carro assured supporters that the club’s long-term ambitions remain intact, confirming that efforts to appoint a permanent replacement are already underway.

Ten Hag, 55, previously managed Ajax and Manchester United, where he was sacked in October 2024. His brief spell in Leverkusen was intended as a fresh start but instead ended prematurely due to poor results.

Remarkably, he becomes the third former Manchester United manager to lose a job within a week, following the dismissals of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.