Bayer Leverkusen have sensationally parted company with manager Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga fixtures, making his dismissal the fastest in the league’s history.
The 55-year-old Dutchman, who signed a two-year deal in May following his exit from Manchester United, leaves the German club after a turbulent summer and a disastrous start to the new campaign.
Leverkusen confirmed the news on Monday morning, with managing director Simon Rolfes acknowledging that the decision was taken reluctantly but decisively.
“Building a new and successful team with this set-up is not feasible,” Rolfes said. “Nobody wanted to take this step, but the past few weeks have shown us that change was necessary.”
A Brutal Record
Ten Hag’s sacking after just two league matches breaks the previous Bundesliga record of five games for the shortest managerial tenure. It comes despite the Dutchman leading Leverkusen to a 4-0 win over fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the German Cup.
In the league, however, results have been deeply disappointing. On the opening weekend, Leverkusen surrendered a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at home against Hoffenheim. A week later, they twice squandered commanding advantages against 10-man Werder Bremen, conceding two late goals to draw 3-3. The collapse left fans frustrated and the club hierarchy alarmed at what they perceived as a lack of control and leadership.
A Summer of Upheaval
Ten Hag inherited a squad in transition. Leverkusen, last season’s Bundesliga runners-up under Xabi Alonso, lost several key players in the summer transfer window.
- Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool in a deal worth up to £116m.
- Jeremie Frimpong also left for Anfield, costing £29.5m.
- Captain Granit Xhaka joined Sunderland for £13m.
- Jonathan Tah moved to Bayern Munich, Amine Adli to Bournemouth, and long-serving goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky signed for Monaco.
In their place, the club spent more than £88m on reinforcements, including Malik Tillman from PSV, Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, and Monaco prodigy Eliesse Ben Seghir. Ten Hag was tasked with bedding in over a dozen new faces while keeping Leverkusen competitive in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
Club CEO Fernando Carro admitted the challenge proved too great.
“A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary,” Carro said. “We remain committed to achieving our goals for the season – and to do that, we need the best possible conditions at all levels and across the entire first team.”
A Week of United Casualties
Ten Hag’s dismissal caps a miserable week for former Manchester United managers. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by Besiktas on Thursday, while Jose Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce just a day later.
Ten Hag himself was removed by United last October after a turbulent two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford. Hopes of a fresh start in Germany have now ended prematurely.
What Next for Leverkusen?
For now, the club has not announced a permanent replacement. Training will be overseen by the assistant coaching staff while Rolfes and Carro consider options. The timing is critical: Leverkusen face Eintracht Frankfurt on 12 September after the international break, followed by Champions League clashes against Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Supporters will be anxious to see stability restored quickly. Last season, Alonso delivered the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title and German Cup double before leaving for Real Madrid. The rapid decline under Ten Hag has been a shock to the system.
Rolfes, however, insisted confidence remains in the squad’s potential.
“We firmly believe in the quality of our team,” he said. “We will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new set-up.”
Ten Hag departs Leverkusen with just three competitive games to his name, a single point in the league, and the unenviable record of the Bundesliga’s shortest-ever reign. For both manager and club, the painful decision underlines the unforgiving nature of elite football.
