… Hag sacked by Leverkusen after two league games
Toluwani Lasisi
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just two league matches in charge.
The club said it was a painful decision but they had to take it.
The 55 years old was only appointed by the German club in the summer having been fired by United in October.
The Dutchman is the third former United boss to be sacked in a week – after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed by Besiktas on Thursday and Jose Mourinho exited Fenerbahce on Friday.
”Nobody wanted to take this step,” Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes told the club website., external
”However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this set-up is not feasible.”
Ten Hag’s sacking is the fastest in Bundesliga history, breaking the previous record of five matches.
Leverkusen have earned one point from their first two league games.
They let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim and on Saturday conceded two late goals against 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3, having led 2-0 and 3-1.
On 15 August, they beat fourth-tier side SG Sonnenhof Grossaspach, external 4-0 in the German Cup.
Ten Hag signed a two-year contract to succeed Xabi Alonso as head coach in May after the Spaniard, who led Leverkusen to a league and cup double in 2023-24, was appointed Real Madrid boss.
”A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary,” said Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro.
”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.”
