LEVERKUSEN, Germany – Bayer Leverkusen has appointed former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.
The Bundesliga club said on Monday that the 55-year-old Ten Hag had signed a contract until 2027, making him returned to coaching after he was fired by United in October.
He inherits a team that finished second in the Bundesliga and reached the German cup semi -final this season. Leverkusen won both games under Alonso the year before and became the first unbeaten Bundesliga champion ever. Alonso left to take over as Real Madrid coach.
“In the past they were always innovative, they were always at the forefront, but in the last few years they took a step forward to win titles. That is what I have always lived my career. I want to win,” Ten Hag said at his presentation. “But I also want to win in a certain way … Dominant, play attractive football to make people enthusiastic.”
Leverkusen -Sports director Simon Rolfes said the club had tried to sign ten HAG at the beginning of 2021, when he was still a coach of Dutch heavyweight Ajax. Ten Hag led Ajax to three Eredivisie -Titels and the Champions League -and -half finals in entertainment style in 2019.
“It didn’t work out, but now,” said Rolfes, who said that the style of ten Hags football posts fits very well with Leverkusen.
“In the past he has also shown time and time again, whether it is (former Ajax stars) Frenkie de Jong or Ryan Gravenberch, that he can develop talents at international level and that is also important for us that we continue to rewrite these stories,” Rolfes said.
“It is important for the development that you always have a goal, and that is also our goal. Erik has proven that by winning titles in recent years, both very successful at Ajax and Manchester United. And that is something that always drives us to be successful,” Rolfes said.
Ten Hag won two domestic cups in the lead in the two and a half year, but was fired after the worst start of the club until a season, with four defeats in nine league games.
The subsequent problems of United among the successor of ten Hag helped Ruben Amorim to restore the reputation of his former coach. Ten Hag was United’s fifth manager in nine years when he took over.
“I came to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition that has been shown in recent years. It is an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and to develop an ambitious team,” Ten Hag said.
Allegedly, Ajax wanted to return ten HAG as the replacement of Francesco Farioli after the Meltdown allowed PSV Eindhoven in the late season to clinch the Eredivisie title.
At Leverkusen, Ten Hag will be responsible for maintaining the upward trajectory of the team under Alonso, although he has to do it with a much changed side. Rolfes, who said Leverkusen wants to end under the top four of the Bundesliga for participation of Champions League, said there will be changes in the team.
Captain Jonathan Tah leaves after he has not renewed his contract, star player Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are linked to Liverpool, and others have spoken about leaving the club.
Rolfes confirmed that Liverpool had been in contact with Wirtz, but could not say whether he would stay or go, nor did he give some indication about what other players could do with it – only that he is ahead of a busy summer.
Ten Hag said he enjoys the challenge of a new start.
“That always happens when a team is so successful. Players will always be interesting and it is good. Players will certainly go, some are already gone, but I am sure we will have to build a new team, and we will have to form a new team from it. That’s a fantastic process,” he said.
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