Bayer Leverkusen Fires Coach Erik ten Hag After Just Three Games

Bayer Leverkusen has dismissed Erik ten Hag as their head coach after only three matches in charge. The Dutch manager was appointed in May to replace Xabi Alonso, who left to manage Real Madrid.

Ten Hag’s time at Leverkusen started poorly, with the team earning just one point from their first two Bundesliga games. They lost their opener 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim, despite initially leading with a goal from former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah.

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Leverkusen had previously won 4-0 against fourth-tier side SG in the DFB-Pokal, but things took a turn when they squandered a 3-1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen, ending in a 3-3 draw.

Following this disappointing performance, the club decided to part ways with Ten Hag, effective immediately after just 62 days on the job. Simon Rolfes, the club’s managing director of sport, stated, “This decision was not easy, but recent weeks have shown that building a successful team with this setup is not feasible. We believe in the quality of our team and will now take the next steps with a new setup.”

After the draw with Werder Bremen, Ten Hag expressed concerns about his players’ readiness, stating, “We have a new team, and some players aren’t fit enough. The team didn’t function well in the final stages of the game. They need to bring more intensity and improve their fitness.”

Leverkusen faced significant challenges this summer, losing key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka. Ten Hag’s pre-season also began poorly, with a 5-1 loss to Brazilian side Flamengo’s under-20 team. Although the team won three of their next four pre-season matches, they suffered another loss to Chelsea, Daily Mail reports.

This dismissal follows Ten Hag’s previous stint at Manchester United, where he was sacked in October after a disappointing start to the season,