By L A Adithya
Erik Ten Hag, manager of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and former Manchester United manager, was shown the doors on Monday by the club just three games into the season, registering only one win. This disappointing start to the season led to speculations as to it being the reason for his sacking. This sacking has raised many eyebrows due to the impulsive and radical nature of the decision of the club’s authorities.
He’d been at the club for a mere two months before he was dismissed, which came after Leverkusen blew away a 3-1 lead against Werder Bremen on Saturday, letting the score go to 3-3 despite being a man up, barely salvaging a draw.
There are speculations that Ten Hag struggled to unite with the club and its players, wherein it was difficult to establish common ground in decisions. This started when he had decided to reschedule a preseason game 4 days earlier, which they went on to lose 5-1 against Flamengo.
Ten Hag is also believed to have shown dismissal to Granit Xhaka leaving the club Sunderland, as the club was in a restructuring and rebuilding phase, selling several of their best players, notably Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah. Unfortunately, he seemed to have lost the dressing room before the season even properly got going.
Ten Hag’s side only won one game, which was against a fourth-division side in the German League Cup, and lost to Hoffenheim before finally drawing to Bremen and him getting shown the doors.
He was appointed as the manager after Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid in May after leading them to win an invincible Bundesliga season in 2024 and finishing second last season.
Drawing contrast to the previous manager, he is said to have lacked the charisma to hold and bring together the players and the whole of the dressing room.
The assistant coach and his staff will handle the training sessions for the time being.