Former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag was officially dismissed on Monday by Bayer Leverkusen, as confirmed by the club. Ten Hag took the helm at Bayer Leverkusen this summer after Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid following a successful tenure. Despite the hope for a fresh start in the Bundesliga, he was axed after just two matches of the season. Leverkusen stumbled to a defeat in their season opener against Hoffenheim and then drew 3-3 with Werder Bremen, who played a man down.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect. Training will now be managed by the assistant coaching staff for the foreseeable future.

Managing Director Simon Rolfes mentioned, “It was not an easy decision for us. Nobody wanted to take this step. However, the previous weeks have shown that it is not feasible to build a successful team under this current arrangement. We believe in the quality of our team and will do all we can to advance with a new setup.”

CEO Fernando Carro added, “Ending our relationship this early in the season is painful but necessary. We remain focused on achieving our season goals and must establish the best conditions possible for our first team moving forward.”

The end of August has seen significant managerial shifts across Europe, particularly among former Manchester United coaches. Just last week, Ole Gunnar Solskjær was fired by Besiktas after their UEFA Conference League bid faltered, while José Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahçe after their elimination in the Champions League playoffs against Benfica. Following these events, Bayer Leverkusen has now turned its attention to finding a new head coach after a troubling start to the 2025-26 season.