Bayer Leverkusen: These trainers could follow on ten HAG

With the lightning flash of coach Erik Ten HAG, Bayer Leverkusen caused a novelty in the Bundesliga. So far, no other club has given a coach to a coach as quickly as the champions from 2024. With the separation, the term of office of the Dutch in Leverkusen ends after only two months.

On July 1, the 55-year-old officially took over as the successor to Xabi Alonso, and was already over on September 1st. “We just had the feeling that it was going in a direction that is not the right one,” said sports manager Simon Rolfes. “We have many new players and it is important that there is clarity in many points and the direction is clear. We missed this in some areas.”

The decision was not easy, said Rolfes. Ten Hag was surprised and disappointed, that was human. With his new club, Ten Hag had lost his first league game 1-2 against TSG Hoffenheim and had to accept a weak 3: 3 at Werder Bremen on the second matchday. In the Weser Stadium, Bayer 04 gave a 3-1 lead out of his hand.

Rolfes emphasized that the decision for ten HAG in the current constellation at Bayer was not the right one: “If you are responsible, you also make wrong decisions.” The separation was not a “short -circuit reaction” and did not depend on results last weekend. “Sometimes it is hard, but fairer when you draw a line early,” said the 43-year-old.

In addition to the athletic successes, it probably did not fit between him and the factory club. The public demands of further new additions, his communication with the team and above all the game preparation and the speeches should not have been well received within the association. His superiors had missed a commitment to the coach before and after the game in Bremen.

The commitment of Ten Hags, who had previously trained in his career, had trained Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester United, among others, was not a good star from the start. He was not the desired solution as the successor to the double winner Alonso, who went to Real Madrid. Bayer wanted CESC Fàbregas, but he canceled. In addition, there was the XXL squad break with exits from superstar Florian Wirtz and the top performers Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Jeremie Frimpong.

While the training work at Bayer is now temporarily taken over by the assistant coaching staff, the search for a successor starts. The hottest candidate is said to be Marco Rose, who is currently looking for a job and knows the Bundesliga from his times in Gladbach, Dortmund and Leipzig. The former Barcelona coach Xavi, who has been without a job since summer 2024, could also be a candidate and is said to have good contact with Bayer-Boss Fernando Carro.

After being at Benfica in September 2024, Roger Schmidt was also on the market. He trained the Leverkuseners from summer 2014 to the beginning of 2017 and led the club to the Champions League twice. Edin Terzić is also circulating as another name. Since his end at BVB in the summer of 2024, his name has been associated with many clubs. It is an open secret that he wants to start a new post promptly.