Leverkusen sack ten Hag after 2 games
Club cites tough start and high pressure after Alonso era
Bayer Leverkusen has dismissed manager Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga matches, marking one of the quickest managerial sackings in recent German football history. The decision follows a disappointing start to the season, including a 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen squandered a 3-1 lead despite Bremen playing with ten men.
Ten Hag, who took over on July 1, 2025, after Xabi Alonso's departure, faced immense pressure from the outset due to the high expectations set by Alonso, who led the team to an unbeaten Bundesliga title and a domestic double. Although Ten Hag began his tenure positively with a 4-0 win in the German Cup, his league performance quickly deteriorated.
The club's hierarchy acted swiftly, citing the challenges of rebuilding a squad weakened by the summer departures of key players such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka. Sporting Director Simon Rolfes acknowledged that the scale of change created an "unfeasible" situation for Ten Hag, while CEO Fernando Carro emphasized the need for the right conditions to meet the club's ambitious goals.
Critics argue that the decision to sack Ten Hag after only two league games reflects the intense pressure in modern football and Leverkusen's determination to maintain their competitive edge. This dismissal adds to a troubling trend for former Manchester United managers, as José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær also faced recent sackings at their respective clubs.
While questions remain about whether Ten Hag was given sufficient time to implement his strategies, his brief tenure underscores the unforgiving nature of top-level football. Bayer Leverkusen is now focused on finding a replacement who can stabilize the squad and help the club achieve its aspirations in both domestic and European competitions. Ten Hag's short-lived spell in Germany is likely to be remembered as one of the briefest in Bundesliga history, leaving uncertainty about his future in management.
