Bayer Leverkusen have parted ways with manager Erik Ten Hag after only two league matches, in what has become one of the shortest managerial stints in Bundesliga history.
The Dutch coach, appointed just over two months ago to replace Xabi Alonso, was tasked with guiding the club through a major transition following their historic double-winning campaign. Instead, a shaky start to the season has prompted the board to act quickly.
“This decision has been extremely difficult for us,” sporting director Simon Rolfes said in a statement.
“However, it became clear in recent weeks that the steps we took to shape a new and successful team were not working as planned.”
Club CEO Fernando Carro described the dismissal as “painful but unavoidable,” acknowledging that the club needed stability at a crucial time.
Ten Hag, 55, now holds the unwanted record of being dismissed earlier in a Bundesliga season than any other coach, surpassing the previous mark of five matches.
The former Manchester United boss, who lifted both the FA Cup and League Cup during his tenure in England, arrived at Leverkusen following a turbulent period at Old Trafford, where he was fired midway through the 2024–25 campaign.
He inherited a Leverkusen squad stripped of many of its core stars, including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, Amine Adli, and Lukas Hradecky.
In their place came more than a dozen signings, including big-money arrivals Malik Tilmann, Jarell Quansah, and Eliesse Ben Seghir, a collective €102 million investment aimed at keeping the club competitive.
Despite a promising 4-0 German Cup win over Sonnenhof Grossaspach, the Bundesliga start faltered.
A 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim and a dramatic 3-3 draw with 10-man Werder Bremen, in which Leverkusen surrendered a two-goal lead late, left the board concerned about the team’s direction.
Adding to the unease was a humiliating 5-1 friendly loss to Flamengo’s U-20 side in Brazil during preseason, fueling doubts about Ten Hag’s suitability for the role.
For now, the club has not named a permanent successor. Leverkusen confirmed that assistant coaches will handle training and match preparations “until a new head coach is appointed.”
German outlets Bild and Kicker had already reported on Sunday that Ten Hag was on the verge of dismissal, signalling the rapid end to what was intended to be a long-term rebuild.