The football world is reeling from the news that Erik Ten Hag to be sacked by Bayer Leverkusen is a very real possibility, just two Bundesliga matches into the 2025/26 season. The former Manchester United manager, who took the helm at Leverkusen in May 2025 as Xabi Alonso’s successor, is reportedly on the verge of dismissal following a disastrous start to his tenure. This development, reported by outlets like Kicker and Bild, has sent shockwaves through the football community, raising questions about the Dutchman’s future and Leverkusen’s decision-making.
A Nightmare Start in the Bundesliga
Ten Hag’s time at Leverkusen began with promise, as the team secured a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal. However, the Bundesliga campaign has been a different story. Leverkusen suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim on the opening day, despite taking an early lead through ex-Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah’s goal. The second match was even more alarming—a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen squandered a 3-1 lead, conceding a 94th-minute equalizer. This left the club languishing in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table, a far cry from the expectations set by Alonso’s unbeaten domestic double in 2023/24.
The phrase Erik Ten Hag to be sacked began trending after German media reported internal criticism of his approach, structure, and communication. According to Kicker, Leverkusen’s hierarchy has withheld public support for Ten Hag, and Bild suggested that a decision on his future could come as early as Monday, September 1, 2025, following the close of the transfer window. The club’s management, led by sporting director Simon Rolfes and CEO Fernando Carro, is reportedly unwilling to tolerate further missteps, especially after Alonso’s transformative reign elevated expectations.
A Squad in Transition
To be fair to Ten Hag, he inherited a squad in significant flux. Leverkusen lost key players during the summer transfer window, including star attacker Florian Wirtz and right-back Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, captain Granit Xhaka to Sunderland, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky to Monaco, and midfielder Amine Adli to Bournemouth. These departures stripped the team of leadership and quality, making Ten Hag’s task of replicating Alonso’s attacking, cohesive style daunting. His pre-season was also rocky, with a 5-1 loss to Flamengo’s U20s setting a concerning tone, despite subsequent wins in friendlies.
Ten Hag himself has acknowledged the challenges, stating after the Werder Bremen draw, “The players aren’t ready. We have a new team, and some of the players aren’t fit enough to play. The team didn’t function at all during the final stage of the game.” However, his blunt criticism of the squad has not gone down well internally. Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich echoed the sentiment of disarray, noting, “We have too many people who are concerned only with themselves. Everyone played for themselves.” Such comments point to a lack of team unity, further fueling the narrative that Erik Ten Hag to be sacked is imminent.
Internal Strife and Tactical Mismatches
The reports of Ten Hag’s potential sacking highlight deeper issues beyond results. Sources like The Athletic suggest that the Leverkusen squad has struggled to adapt to Ten Hag’s coaching style and man-management, a criticism that echoes his final months at Manchester United. His tenure at Old Trafford ended in October 2024 after a 14th-place Premier League finish, despite earlier successes like the 2023 Carabao Cup and 2024 FA Cup. The Dutchman’s rigid tactical approach and perceived lack of warmth reportedly alienated players at United, and similar issues seem to have followed him to Germany.
A notable incident during the Werder Bremen match—where Exequiel Palacios and Patrick Schick argued over a penalty—underscored a lack of leadership and discipline, which Ten Hag called “unacceptable.” This moment, highlighted by The Independent, has been cited as evidence of his inability to unify the squad. With Leverkusen’s management reportedly viewing his appointment as a mistake, the phrase Erik Ten Hag to be sacked reflects not just poor results but a broader failure to align with the club’s vision.
What’s Next for Ten Hag and Leverkusen?
If Erik Ten Hag to be sacked becomes reality, Leverkusen’s assistant coaching staff will take over temporarily, with the club likely to seek a new manager to steady the ship before their next Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 12, 2025. Names like José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, both recently sacked from their respective clubs, have surfaced in discussions, though no concrete candidates have been confirmed.
For Ten Hag, a sacking after just two league games would be a significant blow to his reputation. His successful stints at Ajax, where he won three consecutive Eredivisie titles and reached the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, seem a distant memory. The Leverkusen job was seen as a chance to rebuild his stock, but the rapid unraveling of his tenure suggests he may need to reassess his approach before taking on another high-profile role.
A Harsh Lesson in Modern Football
The potential sacking of Erik Ten Hag underscores the brutal, results-driven nature of modern football management. While the loss of key players and a short pre-season provide some context, Leverkusen’s swift reaction reflects the high stakes at a club accustomed to success under Alonso. As fans and pundits await official confirmation, the trending topic of Erik Ten Hag to be sacked serves as a stark reminder that even proven managers are afforded little time to prove themselves in today’s game.
For now, Leverkusen must regroup and refocus, while Ten Hag faces an uncertain future. Will this be the end of his managerial journey in elite football, or can he bounce back from another high-profile setback? Only time will tell.