Erik ten Hag Fired as Bayer Leverkusen Coach After Three Games
LEVERKUSEN, germany – Erik ten Hag has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, the club announced Monday, after just three matches in charge. The dismissal comes amid concerns over the team’s ability to rebuild following a meaningful summer player turnover.
“This decision wasn’t easy for us,” Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes said in a statement. “Nobody wanted to take this step. But the last few weeks showed that building a new and successful team wiht this set-up could not be achieved effectively. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything in our power to take the next steps in our growth with a new constellation.”
Ten Hag, appointed in May as the successor to Xabi Alonso, oversaw a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim in his Bundesliga debut. He then saw Leverkusen surrender a two-goal advantage in a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday,a match were Bremen played with 10 men. Reports from Kicker magazine surfaced before the Bremen game indicating management’s growing doubts about Ten Hag’s performance.
“A parting at an early stage of the season is painful, but it was necessary from our point of view,” Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro stated.
Ten hag, 55, was tasked with integrating a revamped squad after Leverkusen’s 2024 Bundesliga title. He had previously acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating earlier this month, ”You can’t force the process. It’s impossible. No one is like Harry Potter.” He initially used the “Harry Potter” analogy during his time at Manchester United,following a loss to Liverpool in September 2024,to explain difficulties with player integration.
Leverkusen secured a 4-0 victory over Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the German Cup during Ten Hag’s tenure, but the win required two red cards for the fourth-tier opponent.
The club has not announced a replacement for Ten Hag. Leverkusen’s next match is at home against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 12 following the international break.
