Erik ten Hag to Lead Bayer Leverkusen as New Head Coach

Erik ten Hag will be the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen. He signed a two-year deal keeping him at the club until June 2027. The Dutch manager was linked with going back to Ajax, but he chose the Bundesliga side. He will officially sign his contract on Monday.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayer Leverkusen reached an agreement with Erik ten Hag. This ends their search for a new coach after Xabi Alonso left. Ten Hag comes back to Germany after coaching Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Alonso led Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title and domestic double in the 2023/24 season. But this year, they finished second, 13 points behind Bayern Munich. Ten Hag’s arrival starts a new chapter as Leverkusen aims to win the Bundesliga and compete in Europe next season.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Ten Hag brings a lot of experience, including three Eredivisie titles with Ajax. He also worked with Bayern Munich’s second team. His tactical skills and leadership are expected to help Leverkusen succeed. Leverkusen’s success under Alonso raised expectations, but not winning a trophy this season added pressure to hire a big-name manager. Ten Hag choosing Leverkusen over Ajax shows the club’s growing ambition. With Bayern Munich dominating this season, the club wants to close the gap in the next campaign.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Ten Hag will start in pre-season as Leverkusen gets ready for a tough campaign in the Bundesliga and Champions League. The club wants to win the league and do better in Europe after Bayern eliminated them in the Champions League. Their next competitive game is expected to be against Bayern in the DFL-Supercup. Leverkusen finished second in the league, far ahead of third-place RB Leipzig, but much work remains to catch Bayern Munich. Ten Hag’s main goal will be to implement his style and keep Leverkusen among the top teams in Germany and Europe.