Bayer Leverkusen have parted ways with Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga games, making him the fastest managerial casualty in the league’s history, Afrosport reports.
The 55-year-old Dutchman was appointed in May following his exit from Manchester United last October, but his reign in Germany has ended abruptly. He had signed a two-year deal to succeed Xabi Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to a domestic double before joining Real Madrid.
He becomes the third former United manager to lose his job within a week, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was removed by Besiktas and Jose Mourinho parted ways with Fenerbahce.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect.
Training will be taken over by the assistant coaching staff for the time being. pic.twitter.com/aKrEtySB46
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 1, 2025
“This decision was not an easy one for us,” Leverkusen’s managing director Simon Rolfes said. “Nobody wanted to take this step.
“However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.”
Leverkusen’s poor start played a key role in his dismissal. Die Werkself have taken only one point from their first two league matches, losing 2–1 at home to Hoffenheim after leading, and drawing 3–3 with 10-man Werder Bremen despite being two goals ahead.
Their only win this season came in the German Cup, where they defeated fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof Grossaspach 4–0 victory on 15 August.
Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro added: “A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary. We remain committed to achieving our goals for the season – and to do that, we need the best possible conditions at all levels and across the entire first team. Now it’s a matter of fully implementing and utilising these conditions again.”
Leverkusen sit 12th in the Bundesliga standings and will host Eintracht Frankfurt on 12 September on their return from the international break.
