Bayer Leverkusen has dismissed manager Erik ten Hag after just two months in charge of the club. The decision was made internally on Sunday and officially announced by the club at noon on Monday.
Ten Hag’s tenure with last season’s Bundesliga runners-up ends abruptly, having officially started on July 1st. The dismissal follows a poor start to the season, with the team securing only one point from their first two league matches. The former Manchester United coach, who had signed a contract until 2027, reportedly lost credibility within the club quickly due to a series of missteps and a poor personal fit.
“This was not an easy decision for us,” said Sporting Director Simon Rolfes in an official statement. “Nobody wanted this step. However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team in this configuration was not proving to be productive.”
Assistant coach Rogier Meijer, 43, will take over training responsibilities. Meijer was previously head coach at NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie before ten Hag brought him to Leverkusen as his assistant.
Ten Hag’s appointment was not Leverkusen’s first choice to succeed the departing Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid. The club had initially reached an agreement with Como manager Cesc Fàbregas, but the Italian club refused to release him after prolonged negotiations. Leverkusen then turned to ten Hag in late May as their options narrowed.
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