Erik ten Hag endured a harsh dismissal at Bayer Leverkusen, where club insiders reportedly ranked him among the most disappointing managers they’ve had in the last twenty years.
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His tenure lasted just three matches before the Bundesliga side decided to part ways. ..Continue Reading
Sources indicate that Ten Hag’s relationship with the club’s leadership quickly soured due to disagreements over transfer decisions and the strategic direction of the team.
Sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed that the club no longer believed the partnership could succeed.
Ten Hag had stepped in to replace Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid earlier in the summer. However, the transition was rocky.
Leverkusen lost several key players during pre-season, including Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Piero Hincapie, and Granit Xhaka.
Despite overseeing the full pre-season, Ten Hag criticized the squad’s fitness levels, which raised eyebrows internally.
His first two Bundesliga outings were far from convincing. A 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim was followed by a frustrating 3-3 draw against a ten-man Werder Bremen side, despite Leverkusen holding a two-goal lead.
According to Bild, long-serving staff members mocked Ten Hag’s brief spell, placing him high on their list of managerial failures.
The report claimed that signs of trouble were visible early on, with players reportedly confused about tactics and direction—even when leading matches.
Tensions extended beyond the pitch. Ten Hag’s rapport with both staff and players was described as distant, and his decision to skip a pre-match speech before the season opener shocked many within the club.
His frustration with the club’s transfer activity was also evident. He opposed the sale of Granit Xhaka to Sunderland, but the move went ahead regardless.
Later, Leverkusen signed Lucas Vazquez from Real Madrid without informing Ten Hag, who only acknowledged the player after the deal was finalized.
Rolfes later admitted that hiring Ten Hag had been a mistake, but insisted that keeping him on would have been an even bigger one.
The former Leverkusen midfielder said: “From the impressions from preseason, from the first games, we had the feeling that we had to do it now. You can make bad decisions, but if you then believe you’ve reached the point where it can’t work in the future, it’s an even bigger mistake to let it continue.”
Ten Hag had earlier criticised his “unprecedented” dismissal, stating: “A new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play. I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret.
“The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented.”