Bayer Leverkusen is making good progress in talks to hire Erik ten Hag as their new head coach, sources confirmed today.
The Bundesliga team had direct discussions with Ten Hag earlier this week, and the 55-year-old manager is ready to take the job after leaving Manchester United in October 2024.
Leverkusen wants to improve its coaching situation after a tough season, and Ten Hag, known for his smart strategies and success at Ajax, is seen as a strong choice to help the team in both local and European competitions.
While there is no agreed deal yet, people close to the situation are hopeful that both sides will come to an agreement soon. We expect to hear more about the appointment in the next few days as talks continue.
Erik ten Hag’s Achievements
Erik ten Hag, born on February 2, 1970, in Haaksbergen, Netherlands, has had a successful career as a football manager, winning several titles with different teams. Here are some important highlights of his career:
Go Ahead Eagles (2012–2013)
- Promotion: In his first job as a manager, Ten Hag helped Go Ahead Eagles move up to the Dutch Eredivisie, their first promotion in 17 years. This was an impressive start to his coaching journey.
Bayern Munich II (2013–2015)
- Regionalliga Bayern Title (2014): While managing Bayern Munich’s second team, he won the Regionalliga Bayern title in 2014. His time at Bayern influenced his coaching style, focusing on possession and attacking play.
FC Utrecht (2015–2017)
- KNVB Cup Final (2016): Ten Hag took Utrecht to the KNVB Cup final, where they lost to Feyenoord
- Europa League Qualification: In the 2016–17 season, he guided Utrecht to a fifth-place finish in the league, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League playoffs.
Ajax (2017–2022)
Ten Hag’s time at Ajax was very successful, where he won six trophies and became one of the top coaches in Europe:
- Eredivisie Titles: He won three Dutch league titles in 2018–19, 2020–21, and 2021–22.
- KNVB Cup: Ajax won the Dutch Cup twice during his time, in 2019 and 2021, and reached the final again in 2022.
- Dutch Super Cup (2019): They also won the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2019.
- UEFA Champions League Semi-Final (2018–19): Ten Hag led Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals, defeating strong teams like Real Madrid and Juventus before losing to Tottenham.
- Fastest to 100 Wins: In January 2022, he became the quickest manager to reach 100 wins in the Eredivisie with Ajax.
Manchester United (2022–2024)
During his time at Manchester United, Ten Hag experienced both successes and challenges:
- EFL Cup (2023): He ended a six-year wait for a trophy by winning the Carabao Cup, defeating Newcastle.
- FA Cup (2024): In his second season, he led the team to victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
- Third Place in Premier League: His first season resulted in a third-place finish in the league, qualifying the team for the Champions League.
However, his time at United also had difficulties. The 2023–24 season saw the team finish in eighth place, their worst performance in Premier League history.
They struggled in Europe, winning only one of their six Champions League matches that season.