Bayer Leverkusen has made the surprising decision to part ways with head coach Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga games into the 2025–26 season. The announcement came following a string of disappointing performances that left the club’s management concerned about the direction of the team under Ten Hag’s leadership. Despite being just weeks into the new season, the board concluded that a change was necessary to protect Leverkusen’s competitive ambitions domestically and in Europe.
The 2–1 home defeat against Hoffenheim was followed by a 3–3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, a game in which Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a last-minute equalizer. While the team had shown promise in the DFB-Pokal first round with a convincing 4–0 win over fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, it was deemed insufficient to offset the lackluster performances in the league. The club’s management made it clear that their expectations for performance and consistency were not being met under Ten Hag, despite his proven managerial credentials.
Erik ten Hag, who took over at Leverkusen in May 2025 following the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, faced immediate challenges. The squad underwent substantial changes during the summer transfer window, with key players such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka being sold for nearly £200 million combined. While these departures provided the club with significant financial resources, they also left gaps in the squad that Ten Hag needed to fill quickly. In response, Leverkusen signed several replacements, including goalkeeper Mark Flekken, defender Loïc Badé, and midfielder Malik Tillman. Integrating these new signings into a cohesive team proved to be a difficult task for the Dutch manager.
The club’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, addressed the decision publicly, acknowledging the difficulty of letting Ten Hag go but emphasizing the necessity for immediate change. He cited the team’s lack of readiness and the unviability of building a successful squad under the current circumstances as primary reasons for the dismissal. Rolfes noted that the club’s ambition to compete at the highest level required swift and decisive action, even if it meant terminating a contract with a highly respected coach.
In the interim, assistant coach Rogier Meijer has been appointed to take over training duties while Bayer Leverkusen searches for a permanent replacement. Meijer’s familiarity with the squad and ongoing projects provides a measure of stability as the club navigates this period of uncertainty. The decision to promote internally suggests the management’s desire to maintain continuity while actively seeking a new head coach capable of restoring confidence and performance on the pitch.
Ten Hag’s dismissal adds him to a growing list of former Manchester United managers who have recently lost their jobs. Alongside José Mourinho, who was dismissed by Fenerbahçe, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who parted ways with Beşiktaş, Ten Hag now joins a series of high-profile exits, highlighting the pressures and volatility associated with top-level football management.
Bayer Leverkusen, last season’s Bundesliga runners-up, now face a challenging period ahead. With the Champions League campaign approaching and the team already trailing Bayern Munich by five points, the timing of this managerial change underscores the urgency the club feels to stabilize results. Leverkusen’s management is keen to ensure that the team remains competitive and focused on achieving its goals both domestically and in Europe.
As the club searches for a new permanent manager, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how Leverkusen adapts to this sudden change. The club’s next steps will be crucial in determining whether it can recover from this early-season setback and challenge for titles in the 2025–26 season. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s career continues to be under the spotlight, with observers likely to monitor his next move closely in the world of European football.
