Breaking: Bayer Leverkusen Sack Erik ten Hag After Two Bundesliga Games

In a surprising move, Bayer Leverkusen has decided to part ways with head coach Erik ten Hag this afternoon. The club plans to appoint an interim coach while they search for a suitable permanent solution.

This news has shocked the Bundesliga fans, especially considering the manager had only been in charge for two Bundesliga matches and one DFB-Pokal cup game in recent weeks. His dismissal stands as one of the fastest managerial dismissals in the history of German professional football, second only to Jörg Berger’s departure from Arminia Bielefeld back in 2009.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect.

Training will be taken over by the assistant coaching staff for the time being. pic.twitter.com/aKrEtySB46

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 1, 2025

For now, Bayer is expected to actively monitor the market for available coaches with experience in top European competitions. One name frequently linked to the vacancy is Thiago Motta, who last managed Juventus during the 2024/25 Serie A season.

A complicated matter

Major German news outlets like Bild and Kicker have reported that Ten Hag’s shocking dismissal was triggered not only by his approach to the transfer market but also by his communication with the Bayer club executives his treatment of players.

As many have known, Leverkusen lost most of its key players after Xabi Alonso decided to return to Spain and joined Real Madrid by the end of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Key contributors to Bayer’s historic previous success—such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka—then decided to leave the Bundesliga, and the club failed to find adequate replacements under Ten Hag’s leadership.

Even worse, the former Manchester United manager was reportedly involved in a dispute with Bayer’s executives over the sale of Xhaka, which he considered a major blunder. This heated conflict subsequently spilled over into the dressing room, where he was also said to have had issues handling several senior players, including Patrik Schick and Exequiel Palacios.

After the second matchday of the Bundesliga, Bayer finds itself languishing in 12th place with one loss (vs. Hoffenheim) and one draw (vs. Werder Bremen). Given the solid starts from competitors like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and FC Köln, it seems a major overhaul will be necessary for Bayer to regain the respect they commanded over the past two seasons.