Erik ten Hag Appointed Bayer Leverkusen Coach

Bayer Leverkusen has appointed Erik ten Hag as their new head coach, following the departure of Xabi Alonso.

The former Manchester United boss has signed a deal that keeps him at the club until June 2027.

The German side announced the news on Monday through a post on X, saying, “Let’s get started. Erik ten Hag signs with Bayer 04 as our new head coach until 2027.”

Erik Ten Hag takes over from Alonso, who led Leverkusen to a Bundesliga and German Cup double in the 2023/24 season.

Alonso has since left to manage Real Madrid, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, who is now in charge of Brazil’s national team.

This new role marks Ten Hag’s return to the dugout after being let go by Manchester United in October 2024.

His time at Old Trafford saw mixed results—he won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup but struggled in his final season, with United losing four of their first nine Premier League games.

Speaking at his unveiling, Ten Hag said he was excited about the opportunity, saying “Bayer is one of the best clubs in Germany and also belongs to the expanded European elite.

 “The club offers excellent conditions, and the discussions with the officials have impressed me greatly. I have come to Leverkusen to confirm the ambitions that have grown over the past few years.

“It is an appealing task to build something together in this phase of change and to develop an ambitious team.”

Erik Ten Hag first made a name for himself at Ajax between 2018 and 2022, winning three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups.

His success in the Netherlands earned him a move to United, where he managed to claim two domestic trophies despite challenges.

Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, praised the appointment: “With Erik ten Hag, we are relying on an experienced coach with impressive sports successes. His six title wins with Ajax Amsterdam were exceptional.

“And even through the subsequent successes with Manchester United under sometimes difficult conditions, Erik has proven his quality as a coach. Our visions of football align.

“With technically demanding and dominant football, we want to pursue the highest goals in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League.”

With Ten Hag now at the helm, Leverkusen hopes to stay at the top of German football and make a bigger impact in European competitions.

KanyiDaily recalls that in October 2024, Manchester United sacked Erik Ten Hag with immediate effect after a disappointing start of the season.