After just two matchdays into the 2025–26 Bundesliga season, Erik ten Hag will be leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen immediately due to discontent among supporters and owners regarding his tactical style and the team’s poor results.
After suffering a 1-0 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach and a 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim, the Dutch manager, who took over for Xabi Alonso in May 2025, could leave Leverkusen without a win.
Even though a decision has not yet been made, the Erik ten Hag Leverkusen exit rumour scenario has generated a great deal of speculation regarding his job security.
Ten Hag, whose contract expires in 2027, is adamant about staying and is requesting more time to undertake a significant squad rebuild after important players like Jonathan Tah left for Bayern Munich and Florian Wirtz left for Liverpool.
Although a separation is not currently planned as the September 1 deadline approaches, the former Manchester United manager may experience increased pressure due to upcoming fixture analysis. Leverkusen praised Ten Hag’s appointment as a daring move, considering the team had just won the 2023–24 Bundesliga title undefeated under Alonso.
With Granit Xhaka moving to Sunderland and Jeremie Frimpong joining Liverpool, the summer exodus has left Werkself in flux, leaving gaps in leadership, defence, and creativity.
In response, the team undertook a youth-focused rebuild, bringing in experienced players like Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken along with young players like 19-year-old Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin, US midfielder Malik Tillman from PSV, and 22-year-old English centre-back Jarell Quansah from Liverpool.
Ten Hag stressed a possession-based, high-pressing style during preseason, reflecting his success at Ajax, where he won three Eredivisie titles and advanced to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals.
However, preliminary results indicate that he may have trouble integrating with the young team. Following the Hoffenheim upset, where Leverkusen dominated possession but failed to convert chances, giving up twice from set pieces, fan ire erupted on social media and forums with cries of “Ten Hag out.”
After a 5-0 preseason loss to Flamengo’s reserves, which indicated defensive weaknesses, the owners, led by managing director Simon Rolfes, who hailed Ten Hag’s “impressive success” at his unveiling, are now under scrutiny for the hire.
Despite Rolfes openly supporting the rebuild and stating the need for four to five more players before the window closes, rumours of internal meetings suggest that patience is dwindling.
Ten Hag’s prior employment at Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and EFL Cup but was fired in October 2024 due to a subpar start, raises questions about his capacity to manage high standards in a significant position.
Critics have been especially critical of Ten Hag’s tactical setup, claiming that, despite keeping players like Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick, who stayed until 2030, his inflexible 4-3-3 lacks the fluidity of Alonso’s system and results in sterile attacks.
The average squad age falling below 24 is cited by supporters as a long-term benefit, but in a competitive Bundesliga where Bayern is making a comeback and Dortmund is aiming high, immediate results are required.
In a post-match interview following the Gladbach defeat, Ten Hag urged unity, saying, “This is a process; we’ve lost irreplaceable talents, but with time, we’ll dominate again.”
Ten Hag’s tenacity is reminiscent of his Ajax days, when youth development flourished, but Leverkusen supporters, who have been spoilt by recent success, want a quicker adjustment.
The club is under increasing pressure as it considers targets like Loïc Badé of Sevilla for defensive reinforcement and possible loans for midfield depth before a pivotal DFB-Pokal match and league matchup with Union Berlin.
While a dismissal prior to the deadline is unlikely, analysts predict that a string of losses could quicken board discussions and possibly look at alternatives like former Bayern assistant Hansi Flick.
The Ten Hag episode highlights the dangers of post-success transitions in contemporary football, where even seasoned managers have to deal with ownership aspirations and fan expectations.
The situation is still unclear for those following Erik ten Hag’s Leverkusen exit rumours, as Ten Hag’s determination to manage the reconstruction is at odds with growing dissatisfaction. His ability to unite the team will determine whether this is a passing storm or the precursor to an early departure as Leverkusen looks to regain Bundesliga contention.
