Ten Hag's Leverkusen Tenure Ends in Record-Breaking Bundesliga Sacking

Bayer Leverkusen has terminated Erik ten Hag's managerial contract after just two Bundesliga matches, marking the quickest dismissal in league history. The Dutch coach condemned the club's 'unprecedented' decision, citing lack of trust and insufficient time to rebuild the squad.

By Chris Posiano

September 2, 2025 at 1:26 AM

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Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been abruptly dismissed by Bayer Leverkusen following just two Bundesliga fixtures, setting a new record for the fastest managerial sacking in German top-flight history. The 55-year-old Dutchman, who signed a two-year deal in May to replace Xabi Alonso, described the decision as "a complete shock" and criticized club leadership for undermining his authority.

In a scathing public statement, ten Hag revealed Leverkusen executives denied him the "time and space" required to reshape a squad undergoing massive turnover. "Building a cohesive team after losing multiple championship-caliber players demands patience and mutual trust—neither of which existed here," he declared. The manager specifically referenced the summer exodus of Florian Wirtz (to Liverpool for £116m), Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m to Liverpool), and Granit Xhaka (£13m to Sunderland), arguing such upheaval necessitated a longer adjustment period.

Leverkusen's disastrous start to the campaign sealed ten Hag's fate. After surrendering a 2-0 lead to draw 3-3 with 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday, the club sits with a single point from two matches. Their Bundesliga opener saw them squander a lead in a 2-1 home defeat against Hoffenheim. Despite a commanding 4-0 German Cup victory over lower-division side Sonnenhof Grossaspach in his debut, ten Hag failed to stabilize the team during a critical rebuild phase.

Managing director Simon Rolfes defended the controversial move, stating: "Nobody desired this outcome, but recent weeks proved constructing a successful squad under these circumstances was impossible." CEO Fernando Carro added the painful decision was "necessary to achieve our season objectives," emphasizing the club would immediately seek new leadership. The announcement places ten Hag alongside recently ousted ex-Manchester United bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Besiktas) and José Mourinho (Fenerbahçe) as Premier League alumni facing sudden dismissals within one week.

Leverkusen's ambitious summer transfer strategy—splashing £88.4m on Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, and Eliesse Ben Seghir while losing six key starters—created unprecedented pressure on ten Hag's tenure. Club officials confirmed assistant coaches will temporarily oversee training ahead of a crucial Champions League group stage featuring matches against Manchester City and Newcastle United. With Eintracht Frankfurt visiting BayArena on September 12, Leverkusen now races to stabilize its campaign amid growing uncertainty about its managerial future.