The Dutch manager’s tumultuous reign ends abruptly as the club admits the “painful” decision was necessary, failing to fill the void left by the departed Xabi Alonso.
In a stunning and decisive move, Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have fired manager Erik ten Hag after he presided over just three official matches. The club confirmed the dramatic dismissal on Monday, ending the Dutchman’s brief and ill-fated attempt to succeed the legendary Xabi Alonso.
Ten Hag, who had been out of work since being let go by Manchester United in late 2024, was tasked with one of the most daunting jobs in football: rebuilding a champion squad decimated by transfers. The task proved too great, too fast. After a narrow cup win, Leverkusen’s Bundesliga campaign began with a disappointing home loss to Hoffenheim, and speculation exploded after the team conceded a heartbreaking 93rd-minute equalizer to Werder Bremen.
The club’s leadership acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. Sporting director Simon Rolfes stated, “This decision was not an easy one for us. Nobody wanted to take this step… However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this line-up is not feasible.”
The shadow of Xabi Alonso’s historic double-winning tenure loomed large. Ten Hag was not only tasked with following an icon but doing so after the departures of a spine of key players, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and captain Granit Xhaka. Despite a €173 million spending spree on new talent, the new project has been deemed a failure before it truly began.
Club CEO Fernando Carro called the early-season separation “painful” but insisted it was necessary to meet the club’s seasonal targets. Assistants Andries Ulderink and Rogier Meijer will take temporary charge as the search for a permanent successor begins.
The news immediately sparks speculation about Ten Hag’s next move, with his name already being discussed in his native Netherlands, where his former club Ajax is struggling under current manager John Heitinga.
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