Erik ten Hag sacked after just two games as Bayer Leverkusen release blunt statement

Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen, just three months after being chosen to succeed Xabi Alonso.

The 55-year-old, who became the Bundesliga's second-highest paid manager after signing a two-year contract worth €5.5 million (£4.7m) per year, endured a difficult start to his Leverkusen career.

His tenure began with victory over fourth-tier side Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal, but after failing to pick up a win in their opening two league games, Ten Hag has been dismissed with immediate effect.

Leverkusen confirmed the news on Monday morning alongside a short statement. "Bayer 04 has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect," it read. "The assistant coaching staff will temporarily take over training duties."

The news comes just days after Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead against Werder Bremen. Ten Hag would later criticise his players and urged them to take responsibility for their poor start to the campaign.

"The players aren't ready," he admitted. "We have a new team and some of the players aren't at all fit enough to play. The team didn't function at all during the final stage of the game. That's just the way it is."

Ten Hag added: "They need to bring more intensity and get fitter in order to meet my standards. After the international break, we face real competition and must perform as a team.

"That begins with taking responsibility and delivering individual performances. And they have to demonstrate to me that they want to work together."

The former Ajax boss penned a two-year deal with Leverkusen in May, and as mentioned above, the Dutchman was on around £4.7 million per year, meaning he could be owed more than £8 million in wages.

Exact details around a severance payout are yet to be confirmed.

Man Utd paid millions to sack Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff in 2024

After being dismissed by Manchester United in October 2024 following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, the club paid approximately £10.4 million in compensation to sack Ten Hag and his coaching staff, according to The Athletic.

Ten Hag expressed his frustration after their 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen. Image credit: Getty

He was said to be on an annual wage of around £6.75 million at Old Trafford, and was under contract until the summer of 2026.

Ten Hag, meanwhile, was left "completely devastated" by United's decision to sack him, according to former teammate Hans Kraay Jr, who played alongside Ten Hag at De Graafschap.

Speaking to Humberto Tan’s talk show, Kraay Jr said: “I understand that he is getting €17 million and then people say, ‘He will go somersaulting through Manchester’. No, he is completely, completely devastated, he is completely ruined.”

“At the moment you don’t think about money," he added. "That will come later. I also don’t have the impression that I have to call him tomorrow to ask, 'Can you still make ends meet, can you still get the groceries?' Not that, but now he’s in trouble.”