Erik ten Hag Sacked by Bayer Leverkusen After Just Two Matches

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been dismissed as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen after only two Bundesliga games in charge. The decision, confirmed by the club on September 1 via social media, brings an abrupt end to Ten Hag’s tenure, making it the shortest managerial spell in Bundesliga history.

The Dutch coach had taken over in May following Xabi Alonso’s departure for Real Madrid, signing a two-year deal with hopes of continuing Leverkusen’s momentum after their league and cup double in 2023–24. Instead, his reign ended after just two competitive fixtures.

A Difficult Start

Leverkusen’s poor start under Ten Hag played a decisive role in the board’s decision. The team opened the new Bundesliga campaign with a disappointing 2–1 home defeat to Hoffenheim. A week later, they squandered commanding leads of 2–0 and 3–1 against 10-man Werder Bremen, eventually settling for a 3–3 draw.

The collapse in Bremen raised alarm bells inside the club, exposing structural flaws and a lack of cohesion in the squad. For Leverkusen’s hierarchy, the performance reinforced doubts about Ten Hag’s ability to shape a team capable of competing at the highest level.

Club’s Statement

“Nobody wanted to take this step,” managing director Simon Rolfes admitted in a statement on the club’s website. “However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this set-up is not feasible.”

CEO Fernando Carro echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the painful nature of the decision but defending its necessity. “A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary. 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.”

Record-Breaking Exit

Ten Hag’s departure after just two games sets an unwanted Bundesliga record, surpassing the previous shortest managerial spell of five matches. It also represents a dramatic shift in fortunes for the coach, who had previously enjoyed success at Ajax and guided Manchester United to a League Cup triumph before being dismissed by the Premier League side earlier this year.

For Leverkusen, the focus now turns to finding stability quickly to protect their ambitions of defending their domestic crown and performing in Europe. For Ten Hag, the abrupt dismissal marks another setback in what has become a turbulent period of his career.