Erik ten Hag's tenure at Bayer Leverkusen has come to an abrupt end, with the club reportedly dismissing him after just three competitive games. This decision follows a rocky start to the season, including a home defeat and a draw where Leverkusen surrendered a two-goal lead.
Ten Hag, who took over from Xabi Alonso in May 2025, faced a challenging situation from the outset. The team's core had been significantly altered, with key players like Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, and Florian Wirtz departing. These departures undeniably weakened the squad, leaving substantial gaps to fill.
Leverkusen's pre-season form offered little encouragement, highlighted by a shocking 5-1 loss to Flamengo's U20 side. Their competitive matches began with a narrow victory against fourth-tier Sonnenhof Großaspach in the DFB Pokal. However, Bundesliga play saw them suffer a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim and a calamitous 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen. In the latter match, Leverkusen squandered a 3-1 lead with only 15 minutes remaining, playing against a team with only 10 men.
The draw against Werder Bremen seemed to be the final straw. Ten Hag openly criticized his team's performance, stating that they "didn't function as a team anymore". Club captain Robert Andrich echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the immediate need for teamwork. The lack of public backing from Leverkusen's management following the game further fueled speculation about Ten Hag's imminent departure.
This dismissal marks a swift downturn for Ten Hag, who previously managed Manchester United. Appointed in April 2022, he led the Red Devils to an EFL Cup victory and an FA Cup title. However, the team's Premier League performance and European progress remained unsatisfactory. After a string of poor results, United sacked Ten Hag in October 2024.
Notably, Manchester United had extended Ten Hag's contract until 2026 just months before his dismissal. The club also sanctioned significant spending on player transfers during his tenure. His successor at Manchester United has not been confirmed.
Some reports suggest that Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United as interim head coach.
Ten Hag's next steps remain uncertain. However, his brief and unsuccessful stint at Bayer Leverkusen raises questions about his immediate future in top-flight management.
