Erik ten Hag has been named the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen following Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Ten Hag returns to management eight months after being sacked by Manchester United, where he won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during a mixed two-season spell.
He takes over a Leverkusen side that finished second in the Bundesliga last season and failed to lift silverware after a historic campaign the year before.
The 55-year-old has previous experience in German football, having coached Bayern’s reserve side from 2013 to 2015.
His appointment marks the beginning of a new era at Leverkusen following Alonso’s move to Real Madrid.
Ten Hag inherits a squad still packed with quality despite the expected departures of Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz.
Leverkusen are expected to be active in the transfer market, with major sales likely to provide the funds to reshape the team.
Key players such as Alex Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Piero Hincapie and Exequiel Palacios remain under contract, offering a strong foundation for the new manager.
Leverkusen struggled to replicate the form that saw them go unbeaten domestically in 2023–24 and fell short in domestic and European competitions last term.
Recruitment last summer focused on depth rather than raising the squad’s ceiling, a decision that contributed to their inability to defend the title.
Ten Hag will now be tasked with redefining a team that had grown closely aligned with Alonso’s tactical identity.
Unlike his predecessor, Ten Hag is not viewed as a glamorous figure in German football, but he arrives without the shadow of direct comparison.
He is expected to bring fresh ideas and a more structured style of play, reminiscent of his successful Ajax spell, where he won three Eredivisie titles and reached a Champions League semi-final.
This appointment offers both Ten Hag and Leverkusen a clean slate.
With financial backing and a strong core group, the Dutchman has the tools to lead a competitive rebuild.
The post-Alonso era may come with less fanfare, but it offers Ten Hag the chance to write a new chapter on his own terms.
