Bayer Leverkusen have sacked Erik ten Hag just two games into his Bundesliga tenure, marking one of the shortest managerial spells in the club’s history.
The decision followed a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen, in which Leverkusen surrendered a 3-1 lead despite holding a man advantage. The equalizer came from 18-year-old Karim Coulibaly, making his first senior start, who scored in the dying minutes after a chaotic sequence in the box.
Captain Robert Andrich described the situation as “misery versus misery,” highlighting the fractured squad mentality. Frustrations boiled over during a penalty dispute, with Andrich intervening to award the kick to Patrik Schick, only for Exequiel Palacios to kick the ball away in protest.
Ten Hag acknowledged the incident but admitted his authority had little effect: “It was very clear who the [penalty takers] were and they simply didn’t implement that. It was unacceptable.”
The club’s lack of support from above also contributed to the swift dismissal. Sporting director Simon Rolfes and CEO Fernando Carro chose not to publicly back Ten Hag after the Bremen game, leaving the coach isolated.
Ten Hag inherited a difficult situation, with over €200 million in player sales and the loss of key figures such as Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka. Pre-season results also added pressure, including a 5-1 defeat to Flamengo’s under-20s on a promotional tour in Brazil.
Despite Ten Hag’s previous successes, including his tenure at Manchester United, the combination of squad upheaval, internal conflicts, and high expectations proved insurmountable.
Leverkusen now face the challenge of appointing a new coach to guide a rebuilding squad back into contention for the Bundesliga’s top four, with significant transfer activity expected to accompany the managerial change.
