Erik ten Hag said he was shocked by Bayer Leverkusen’s decision to remove him after only two Bundesliga matches. He also claimed the club did not give him the trust he needed.
Leverkusen lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in their opening game. They then drew 3-3 against a 10-man Werder Bremen side on Saturday. The poor start led to the 55-year-old Dutchman’s departure on Monday.
Ten Hag had been without a job since Manchester United sacked him in October last year. He took over at Leverkusen in May on a two-year deal, replacing Xabi Alonso, who left to join Real Madrid.
“The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented,” Ten Hag said in a statement posted by his agency on social media.
Alonso guided Leverkusen to a historic 2023-24 season. The club won their first-ever Bundesliga title without losing a game, lifted the German Cup, and reached the Europa League final.
But Ten Hag faced a difficult task after the club sold several stars. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, and Amine Adli all left in the summer.
“Building a new, cohesive team is a careful process that requires both time and trust …,” Ten Hag said. “I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust.”
Ten Hag’s best spell as a coach came at Ajax between 2018 and 2022. He won three Eredivisie titles and reached the Champions League semi-final in 2019.
“Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware,” he added.
