Bayer Leverkusen Parts Ways with Manager Erik ten Hag

Ten Hag's Leverkusen tenure ends in just three matches

Bayer Leverkusen confirms Erik ten Hag's departure after a disappointing start to the season. Leverkusen parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag after just three games in charge.

“A separation at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary...” 

Bayer Leverkusen has parted ways with manager Erik ten Hag after just three games in charge, citing ineffective team building and a lack of quality in rebuilding the squad. Ten Hag's tenure was marked by significant changes, including the departure of key players like Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Granit Xhaka, and the arrival of new signings.

The club's sporting director, Simon Rolfes, stated that the decision wasn't taken lightly, but the team's performance under Ten Hag wasn't up to par. Leverkusen's CEO, Fernando Carro, added that the move was painful but necessary for the club's growth. Ten Hag's exit comes after a 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen, where the team threw away a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes.

Ten Hag's dismissal makes him the third former Manchester United manager to be sacked in a short span, following Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The assistant coaching staff will temporarily take over training duties until a new manager is appointed. Leverkusen's statement reflected on the challenges of rebuilding the team, saying, “The past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible.”

Bayer Leverkusen had a decent preseason, winning three of their five matches, and kicked off the official season with a win over Grossaspach in the DFB Pokal. However, their Bundesliga campaign got off to a rocky start with a 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim.

After conceding a late equalizer against Werder Bremen, speculation about Erik Ten Hag's future at Leverkusen intensified. The uncertainty surrounding his tenure was short-lived, as Leverkusen confirmed his dismissal on Monday, September 1, 2025, citing the club's poor start to the season. Leverkusen parted ways with Ten Hag after just three matches in charge, including a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen and the loss to Hoffenheim.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect.

Training will be taken over by the assistant coaching staff for the time being. pic.twitter.com/aKrEtySB46

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 1, 2025

“This decision was not an easy one for us. Nobody wanted to take this step,” sporting director Simon Rolfes said in a club statement.

“However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this line-up is not feasible. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.”

Bayer Leverkusen's CEO, Fernando Carro, stated that the club's decision to part ways with Erik ten Hag was necessary, despite being painful so early in the season. “A separation at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary,” Carro said, adding that the club wouldn't have met their goals with Ten Hag in charge.

“Our goal remains to achieve the targets we set for the season – and to do that, we need the best possible conditions at all levels and across the entire first team. Now it's a matter of fully implementing and utilising these conditions again.”

Bayer Leverkusen's assistant coaches, Andries Ulderink isn't mentioned in the latest news, however, Rogier Meijer will join the current backroom staff to oversee training on an interim basis following Erik ten Hag's departure. The club's management has decided to part ways with Ten Hag after just three games in charge, and the assistant coaches will take over temporarily until a new manager is appointed. Rogier Meijer, who joined the club in July 2025, brings his expertise as an assistant coach. Let's hope the interim coaches can turn things around for Leverkusen.

Tricky Task Ahead for Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag faced a daunting challenge after joining Bayer Leverkusen this summer, tasked with replacing the highly successful Xabi Alonso, who led the team to a historic domestic double in the 2023/24 season before departing for Real Madrid. Ten Hag's tenure was marked by significant changes, including the departure of key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka, making his job even more demanding. Leverkusen's management ultimately decided to part ways with Ten Hag after just three games, citing his inability to effectively rebuild the team.

The challenge for Ten Hag was substantial, as Leverkusen had undergone significant changes during the transfer window. Key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Amine Adli, Odilon Kossonou, and Jonathan Tah departed, leaving big shoes to fill.

To rebuild the team, Leverkusen invested €173 million in new signings. The club brought in Malik Tillman and Jarell Quansah for €35 million each, acquired defender Loic Bade for €25 million, and signed goalkeeper Mark Flekken for €11 million to replace Lukas Hradecky. Despite the significant investment, the team's performance under Ten Hag didn't meet expectations.

Potential Return to Ajax?

Erik ten Hag's future is already being speculated about in the Netherlands, with Ajax struggling under John Heitinga after a poor start to the season. Interestingly, Ten Hag had been approached by the Ajax board earlier this year after Francesco Farioli's departure, but he chose not to pursue negotiations for a return to the club. With his Leverkusen stint now over, Ten Hag's potential return to Ajax is being discussed once again.