Bayer Leverkusen has fired Erik ten Hag after a mere three games in charge. The Bundesliga club officially confirmed the decision on Monday afternoon.

Ten Hag's brief tenure began with a promising 4-0 victory over fourth-tier side SG in the first round of the German Cup. However, Leverkusen had a disappointing start to their Bundesliga campaign, managing only one point from their initial two matches. They suffered a 1-2 defeat against Hoffenheim before drawing 3-3 with Werder Bremen after surrendering a two-goal lead despite Bremen playing with ten men. This collapse against Werder Bremen seems to have been a significant factor in the club's decision.

Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04's managing director for sport, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating that "This decision was not easy for us. No one wanted to take this step,". However, he added, "the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this lineup cannot be done effectively". Rolfes affirmed the club's belief in the team's quality and their commitment to "do everything possible to take the next steps in development with a new configuration".

CEO Fernando Carro echoed this sentiment, calling the separation "painful" but "necessary" at this early stage of the season. He emphasized the club's commitment to achieving its season objectives, which requires "the best possible conditions at all levels".

Ten Hag was appointed as Leverkusen manager in May, succeeding Xabi Alonso, and signed a two-year contract. The swift termination of his contract means that he is set for a huge payment.