‘Unprecedented’ - Erik ten Hag fired as Leverkusen coach after three games

DUESSELDORF, Germany:

Erik ten Hag said he was as stunned as the rest of the soccer world when Bayer Leverkusen fired him after three games in charge in an "unprecedented" move yesterday.

The former Manchester United manager was tasked with rebuilding Leverkusen after an exodus of key players since Bundesliga-winning coach Xabi Alonso's departure for Real Madrid.

It soon fell apart.

Discontent was clear as Ten Hag questioned club decisions in the transfer market, while players squabbled over who would take a penalty in his third and final game.

"The decision by Bayer Leverkusen's management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented," Ten Hag said in a statement released by his agency.

"I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust."

Ten Hag's task was to integrate a raft of new players including American forward Malik Tillman -- more new signings continued on Sunday and yesterday -- after stars from Leverkusen's 2023-24 title-winning season like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka all left.

There were signs of trouble before the season when Ten Hag spoke out publicly against Xhaka leaving, only for Leverkusen to allow the midfielder to join Sunderland anyway. Ten Hag's first friendly in July was a 5-1 loss to the youth team of Brazilian club Flamengo, a jarring result even if it wasn't a competitive game.

Leverkusen were beaten by Hoffenheim 2-1 at home in Ten Hag's Bundesliga debut -- it proved to be his only home game -- then squandered a two-goal lead to allow 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3 on Saturday.

Ten Hag's only other game was a 4-0 German Cup win over a fourth-division team.

"This decision wasn't easy for us," Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes said in a statement. "Nobody wanted to take this step. But the last few weeks showed that building a new and successful team with this set-up could not be achieved effectively. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything in our power to take the next steps in our development with a new constellation."

Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro said, "A parting at an early stage of the season is painful, but it was necessary from our point of view."

- AP