Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag sacked by Bayer Leverkusen
11:11, 01 Sep 2025Updated 11:30, 01 Sep 2025
Erik ten Hag(Image: Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just two Bundesliga games. The Bundesliga giants had appointed the former Manchester United manager as a replacement for Xabi Alonso ahead of the new season.
But following a tricky start to life in Germany, collecting just one point from his opening two Bundesliga games, Ten Hag has now been relieved of his duties.
A statement from Leverkusen read: “Bayer 04 Leverkusen have parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag. This was decided by the shareholders’ committee, the club’s supervisory body, on the recommendation of the management of Bayer 04. Training will be overseen by the current backroom staff on an interim basis.”
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While the club’s managing director of sport, Simon Rolfes, said: “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 setup is not feasible.
“We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.”
Leverkusen lost their first game 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim despite taking an early lead through Jarell Quansah’s goal.
And on Saturday they threw away a 3-1 lead away against 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3 and leave themselves languishing in the bottom half.
Speaking after Saturday’s disappointment, he told Sky: “The players aren’t ready. We have a new team and some of the players aren’t at all fit enough to play.
“The team didn’t function at all during the final stage of the game. That’s just the way it is. They need to bring more intensity and get fitter in order to meet my standards.”
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