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Bayer Leverkusen have sacked head coach Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga fixtures in charge, bringing an abrupt end to the Dutchman’s short-lived tenure in Germany.
The decision followed last weekend’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen surrendered a 3-1 lead despite Bremen being reduced to ten men.
The collapse is understood to have left the club hierarchy unconvinced about Ten Hag’s ability to carry forward the momentum built under his predecessor.
Erik Ten Hag had taken over in May, succeeding Xabi Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to their maiden Bundesliga crown in 2023-24 alongside a German Cup triumph before moving to Real Madrid.
The Dutch coach, however, managed just two league matches in the 2025-26 campaign before being shown the exit.
“This decision was not easy for us. Nobody wanted to take this step,” sporting director of Bayer Leverkusen, Simon Rolfes, said in a statement.
“The past few weeks have shown that the steps to build a new and successful team have not been effective,” Rolfes said.
Club CEO Fernando Carro said the decision was “painful, but necessary”.
The sacking means Erik ten Hag now has the unwanted record of being the coach to be fired so early into a Bundesliga season, breaking the previous mark of five matches.
For the unversed, this was not Ten Hag’s first stint in German football; he previously managed Bayern Munich’s reserve side between 2013 and 2015.
His managerial CV includes a successful spell at Ajax, where he lifted three Eredivisie titles, and two domestic cups with Manchester United, including the FA Cup in 2023.
However, his time at Old Trafford ended in October 2024 following a defeat to West Ham.
