Erik ten Hag has officially taken the reins as the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen, a notable club in Germany’s Bundesliga.
Having been without a coaching position since his dismissal from Manchester United last October, Ten Hag steps in to succeed Xabi Alonso, who has moved on to Real Madrid.
Leverkusen, which secured second place in the Bundesliga this past season, retains much of the squad from their remarkable unbeaten title-winning campaign in 2023-24.
Reports from ESPN revealed that Ten Hag and his representatives engaged in fruitful discussions with the club, culminating in this official announcement.
The 55-year-old coach spent over two seasons at Manchester United but faced termination after a series of disappointing results, just five months post-FA Cup victory. Meanwhile, Manchester United has struggled significantly since his exit.
His successor, Ruben Amorim, managed only seven wins in the Premier League, resulting in a lackluster 15th place finish, while the team also fell short in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Prior to his time at Manchester United, Ten Hag achieved three Eredivisie titles with Ajax and reached the Champions League semifinals in 2018-19. His previous coaching stint in Germany includes managing Bayern Munich II from 2013 to 2015.
“With Erik ten Hag, we are bringing on board a seasoned coach who has achieved remarkable success on the field. His six titles with Ajax were truly outstanding,” stated Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s sporting managing director.
He highlighted Ten Hag’s dominance in Dutch football between 2018 and 2022, which included three league titles and two domestic cups, while also noting his coaching prowess at Manchester United amid challenging circumstances.
In his new position, Ten Hag may be without star player Florian Wirtz, who is rumored to be eyeing a transfer this summer. Reports suggest Liverpool is at the forefront of the competition for the talented German international.
Ten Hag expressed his enthusiasm for joining Leverkusen, stating, “This is one of the premier clubs in Germany and ranks among Europe’s elite. The club presents exceptional conditions, and I have been truly impressed by the management’s discussions.”
He added, “I’m here in Leverkusen to build upon the ambitions demonstrated in recent years. It’s an exciting opportunity to create something special during this transformative period and to develop a competitive team.”