Ex-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag takes over at Bayer Leverkusen
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Erik ten Hag speaks during a press conference to announce his appointment as Bayer Leverkusen head coach.
PHOTO: AFP
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BERLIN – Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he wanted to “build something” after taking over as coach of Bayer Leverkusen on May 26.
The Dutchman signed a two-year contract with Leverkusen as he replaced the Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 while adding the German Cup.
Leverkusen were unable to keep up the same pace this season, but still finished Bundesliga runners-up to Bayern Munich and qualified for next season’s Champions League.
Ten Hag has worked in German football before, spending two years in charge of Bayern’s reserve team from 2013.
The 55-year-old won the FA Cup and League Cup in his two full seasons at United. The Red Devils launched a review last summer and interviewed other candidates after they finished eighth in the English Premier League, only to decide to stick with ten Hag. But, after a poor start to the season, he was sacked in late October.
Ten Hag rejected suggestions his tenure at United was unhappy, telling reporters his time at Old Trafford had been a “real pleasure”, but added: “It’s in the past. I want to look forward and build something, with new energy. I want to win, but in a specific style and manner. Dominant football, attractive football, which excites people. That’s what we have here.”
Before United, ten Hag helped Ajax Amsterdam win three Dutch league titles and two domestic cups.
“With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch,” Leverkusen’s sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said, calling his success at Ajax “exceptional”.
“With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022. And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times.”
German media reported Leverkusen were also interested in Cesc Fabregas, coach of Serie A side Como, but the former Barcelona and Arsenal player elected to stay in Italy.
Real announced on May 25 that Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach in a long-expected move.
Alonso, who starred as a player for Real, will take over on June 1 to lead the Spanish giants at the Club World Cup in the United States.
He had worked wonders at Leverkusen, taking the serial underachievers to the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history, despite having never managed at the top level.
Under the Spaniard, Leverkusen won the league title without losing a match in 2023-24. No club, not even the best Bayern teams or Jurgen Klopp’s barnstorming Borussia Dortmund side, had gone through a league season without defeat.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, faces a summer rebuild, with several stars heading out of the door.
Centre-back Jonathan Tah has already confirmed his exit after 10 years at the club, with Bayern his likely destination.
Midfield playmaker Florian Wirtz and wing-back Jeremie Frimpong also look set to leave, with Rolfes confirming that Liverpool had shown “concrete interest” in Wirtz. Liverpool are reportedly also set to snap up Frimpong.
Asked if he had already drawn up a transfer wish list, ten Hag said: “I have many wishes.”
Calling Leverkusen “one of the best clubs in Germany”, he added that he wanted to “continue the ambition shown in recent years”.
“It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team,” he said. AFP
