Bayer Leverkusen terminates Erik Ten Hag's contract
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Bayer Leverkusen Sack Erik ten Hag After Less Than Four Months in Charge
Bayer Leverkusen have officially parted ways with Erik ten Hag, bringing his brief spell at the Bundesliga club to an abrupt end after fewer than four months in charge. The decision was confirmed on Monday, September 1, 2025, through an official statement on the club’s website.
According to the club, the dismissal was not taken lightly but was deemed necessary to safeguard their ambitions for the remainder of the campaign.
The statement 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.”
Club sporting director Simon Rolfes also addressed the decision, saying:
“Nobody wanted to take this step. However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this set-up is not feasible.”
Why Was Erik ten Hag Sacked?
The Dutchman’s dismissal comes after a disappointing start to the new season. Leverkusen collected just one point from their first two league fixtures, raising concerns over both results and performances. They opened the campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim before throwing away a two-goal lead in a dramatic 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday, despite being 2-0 and later 3-1 ahead.
These early stumbles piled pressure on Ten Hag, particularly as expectations were sky-high following Xabi Alonso’s historic tenure. The Spaniard had guided Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title and a domestic cup double in the 2023/24 season, before leaving in May to take charge of Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.
Ten Hag was appointed as Alonso’s replacement on a two-year contract, arriving with a reputation shaped by his successes at Ajax and his turbulent but trophy-winning spell at Manchester United. However, his inability to stabilize Leverkusen’s performances quickly left the hierarchy unconvinced about his long-term suitability.
A Pattern for Ex-Man United Managers
Ten Hag’s dismissal also adds him to a growing list of former Manchester United managers struggling abroad. Ole Gunnar Solskjær was recently dismissed by Besiktas, while José Mourinho’s stint at Fenerbahçe also ended in disappointment.
For Leverkusen, the search for stability continues as the backroom staff take temporary charge, while speculation grows over who will be appointed to steady the ship. For Ten Hag, meanwhile, questions loom over where his managerial journey will take him next.
