Erik ten Hag announced as new Bayer Leverkusen manager

Erik ten Hag has been named the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, signing a two-year contract to succeed Xabi Alonso at the German club.

The 55-year-old Dutchman takes on his first managerial role since leaving Manchester United in October 2024. Ten Hag’s departure from Old Trafford came after a turbulent start to the 2024-25 season, where United found themselves 14th in the Premier League.

Despite this, Ten Hag had previously led the club to success, winning both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup during his tenure.

Before joining United, Ten Hag enjoyed considerable success at Ajax, where he secured three league titles and two domestic cups between 2018 and 2022.

Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director, Simon Rolfes, praised Ten Hag’s track record, stating, "With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch. He dominated Dutch football with Ajax, and his ability to succeed under challenging circumstances at Manchester United is an asset for Leverkusen."

Under Alonso, who recently took over as manager of Real Madrid, Leverkusen had a stellar 2023-24 season, winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.

However, the club finished second in the 2024-25 Bundesliga, trailing champions Bayern Munich by 13 points.

Ten Hag, who will begin his new role on 1 July, expressed his excitement at the opportunity, saying, "Leverkusen are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe. I’ve come here to continue the ambition shown in recent years and develop an ambitious team during this period of change."

As Ten Hag steps into the role, he will look to build on Leverkusen’s recent success and take the club to greater heights in both domestic and European competitions.