Two Games And Out: Why Erik Ten Hag Was Fired From Bayer Leverkusen Within A Month

Last Updated:October 16, 2025, 23:40 IST

Leverkusen sacked Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga matches, with Simon Rolfes citing poor fit. Leverkusen instantly improved after his exit, raising doubts about Ten Hag.

Erik Ten Hag during his extremely brief stint at Leverkusen (AFP)

Better late than never? No, even better when it was sooner than later for Leverkusen.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has opened up about the club’s decision to sack Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga matches — the shortest managerial stint in the league’s history.

Ten Hag, who joined Leverkusen in May 2025 after his high-profile dismissal from Manchester United, was handed a contract until 2027 to succeed Xabi Alonso, who left to take over at Real Madrid.

But his reign in Germany lasted barely a month.

“If It’s Not a Good Fit, It’s Better to Split"

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rolfes explained that the club’s leadership felt compelled to act swiftly rather than prolong an untenable situation.

“If you have the feeling that you’re going in the wrong direction, you shouldn’t wait until you get there," Rolfes said.

“If it’s not a good fit, it’s better to split."

Leverkusen’s disastrous pre-season signaled early warning signs — a 5-1 defeat to Flamengo’s U20 side in Brazil — followed by a home loss to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw with 10-man Werder Bremen, despite leading 3-1.

“You need a bit of time to adapt," Rolfes added. “But the feeling was we were not making progress. The team lacked stability, and that comes from the head coach and staff — we didn’t feel that."

Rolfes revealed he even spoke with Xabi Alonso while Ten Hag’s tenure was unraveling.

“We wanted to be fast with this decision," he said. “Most of the time you wait too long, waiting for bad results."

Since Ten Hag’s departure, Leverkusen have gone unbeaten, with three wins and three draws in all competitions, climbing to fifth in the Bundesliga.

From Manchester to Misfit: Ten Hag’s Turbulent 12 Months

Ten Hag’s brief spell in Germany capped off a rough year for the Dutch tactician, who was sacked by Manchester United in October 2024 after months of underperformance and dressing-room unrest.

His move to Leverkusen was seen as a fresh start — a chance to restore his reputation after his 2022-23 League Cup triumph at Old Trafford.

However, his abrupt exit has now raised fresh doubts about his coaching adaptability outside the Eredivisie and Premier League.

(with AFP inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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