Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag becomes Bayer Leverkusen manager
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been appointed as the new boss of Bayer Leverkusen, the German club announced on Monday, May 26. This is the first job that Ten Hag is taking after being sacked by United in October last year. Ten Hag will replace Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen after the Spaniard left to join Real Madrid as their new manager. advertisementTen Hag made a name for himself with his managerial style at Ajax Amsterdam and moved to United in 2022, guiding them to a League Cup win and a third-place finish in the 2022/23 season. However, the 2023-24 season was a rough one for United as they slipped down the points table and questions were raised about the Dutchman's position at the club. The FA Cup win that season secured his spot for one more campaign, but United decided to let him go in October as the Red Devils were in the 14th spot in the league. Ten Hag was replaced by Ruben Amorim at United. In a statement released by the club's website, Leverkusen said that Ten Hag has signed a contract until June 30, 2027 and will start his work with the club from July 1. advertisement
"Bayer 04 has appointed Erik ten Hag as its new head coach. The 55-year-old Dutchman signed a contract with the club until June 30, 2027. Ten Hag, who most recently worked as coach of Manchester United in the Premier League and won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 with the traditional English club, will begin preparations for the 2025/26 season with Bayer 04, starting on July 1," read the statement. "With Erik ten Hag, we are relying on an experienced coach with impressive sporting success. His six title wins with Ajax Amsterdam were extraordinary," emphasises Bayer 04 Sporting Director Simon Rolfes.What Ten Hag said about his appointmentTen Hag expressed his delight at joining Leverkusen and said that it will be exciting to build a new ambitious team as the club undergoes a phase of change. "Bayer 04 is one of the best clubs in Germany and also belongs to the extended European elite. The club offers excellent conditions, and the discussions with the management have impressed me greatly," said Ten Hag. "I came to Leverkusen to confirm the ambitions that have grown in recent years. It's an exciting task to build something together in this phase of change and to develop an ambitious team."Leverkusen finished second in the points table behind champions Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season. Must Watch
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