Erik ten Hag Wasn’t the Right Coach: Bayer Leverkusen Face Harsh Truth After Manchester United Warning Signs

The Erik ten Hag era at Bayer Leverkusen has come to an abrupt and dramatic end. Just three competitive matches into his reign, the Dutchman was dismissed following a chaotic 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen – a result that not only left fans scratching their heads but also confirmed the doubts that had surrounded his appointment from day one.

The decision was ruthless, but perhaps not shocking. Ten Hag, appointed in May on a two-year deal as Xabi Alonso’s successor, was supposed to steady the ship after Alonso’s departure and keep the Bundesliga champions competitive on both domestic and European fronts. Instead, he departs before autumn has even arrived, leaving behind more questions than answers.

Bayer Leverkusen Should Have Seen the Warning Signs

Germany legend Lothar Matthäus didn’t mince his words. In his Sky Sport column, the World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or recipient said plainly: “For me, Ten Hag was not the right coach. Erik ten Hag is already history at Leverkusen. He didn’t deliver the desired results at Manchester United. That should have been a warning to Bayer.”

The warning, Matthäus argued, was loud and clear. Ten Hag’s time at Old Trafford was turbulent, defined by flashes of progress but ultimately undone by inconsistency, tactical stubbornness, and dressing-room unrest. His FA Cup and League Cup triumphs couldn’t disguise United’s lack of identity under his watch. By the end, even his staunchest supporters admitted he looked like a man running out of solutions.

Leverkusen, Matthäus believes, should have read that as a red flag. Instead, the club gambled on a coach with baggage – and lost.

A Chaotic Start that Sealed His Fate

Ten Hag’s short-lived reign in Germany began with a straightforward DFB-Pokal win over Sonnenhof Grossaspach, which looked like business as usual. But the warning signs were immediate in the Bundesliga. A 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim on opening weekend deflated the optimism that had greeted his arrival.

Then came the Bremen debacle. Leading 3-1 against 10 men, Leverkusen inexplicably crumbled, conceding twice late on – including a stoppage-time equaliser that felt more like a defeat than a draw. By Monday morning, the shareholders’ committee had made up its mind. Stability was paramount, and Ten Hag, in their eyes, had already shown he couldn’t provide it.

Matthäus Names His “Ideal Replacement”

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v FC Bayern München – Bundesliga ten Hag

If Ten Hag wasn’t the right man, who should be? Matthäus was quick to provide an answer: Marco Rose.

“In my opinion, Marco Rose is a candidate for the successor. He can lead a team and also work with young players,” Matthäus said. “There’s a coach on the market who has already shown his quality. Marco is someone I would like to have on the Leverkusen sidelines.”

Rose, who has previously coached Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, has a reputation for tactical flexibility and for building trust with young squads. For a Leverkusen side rich in talent but in need of a new leader, he may indeed be the logical choice.

The Bigger Picture: Ruthless Ambition from Leverkusen

SV Werder Bremen v Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Bundesliga

Ten Hag’s sacking says less about his individual failings and more about the relentless demands of modern football. Alonso’s historic title-winning campaign last season raised expectations sky-high. The club’s shareholders and fans now expect nothing less than immediate competitiveness.

Leverkusen invested heavily this summer. They built a squad to defend their Bundesliga crown and make a serious run in Europe. They could not afford a repeat of United-style chaos, nor the tactical rigidity Ten Hag seemed intent on replicating.

Sticking too closely to Alonso’s blueprint without meaningful tweaks made him look more like a caretaker than a visionary. And at this level, being a caretaker is simply not enough.

Erik ten Hag’s Future: What Now?

For Ten Hag, the questions are painful. Two high-profile sackings inside a year – first Manchester United, now Bayer Leverkusen – do serious damage to a manager’s reputation. Elite clubs in Europe will hesitate before offering him another top job.

His insistence on sticking with his principles, while admirable in theory, has twice backfired in practice. Adaptability is the modern coach’s currency, and Ten Hag has been found lacking. He may have to take a step back, perhaps rebuilding at a mid-table club or abroad, before he gets another crack at the big stage.

Another Blow for Former Manchester United Managers

There’s also a broader irony here: Ten Hag became the third ex-United boss to be sacked in a single week. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed at Besiktas, while Jose Mourinho’s turbulent stint at Fenerbahce came to an end too. For critics of the Old Trafford hot seat, it was another reminder that Manchester United has become a graveyard for managers, where reputations go to die.

But while Solskjaer and Mourinho enjoyed longer spells before their downfalls, Ten Hag’s Leverkusen adventure was over before it even truly began.

What Comes Next for Leverkusen?

Attention now shifts to Leverkusen’s next Bundesliga clash – a tricky home tie against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 13. The club’s hierarchy must decide quickly whether to appoint an interim coach or move decisively for a long-term successor.

The smart money, as Matthäus suggests, might be on Marco Rose. He is available, proven, and familiar with the demands of top-level German football. Whoever takes over, though, will inherit a talented but unsettled squad. Restoring calm, unity, and momentum is the immediate challenge.

Conclusion: A Short, Brutal Chapter

Erik ten Hag’s time at Bayer Leverkusen will be remembered as little more than a footnote in Bundesliga history – three matches, one win, one draw, one defeat, and a dismissal. For a coach once billed as one of Europe’s brightest tactical minds, it’s a sobering reality check.

For Leverkusen, it’s a statement of intent. The Alonso era has raised the bar, and the club will not allow its standards to slip, even for a few weeks. Ten Hag may argue he was never given enough time, but the brutal truth is that in modern football, time is a luxury few managers can afford.

And so, the Ten Hag experiment is over. In its place, Leverkusen will look for stability, identity, and a coach capable of building on their new-found status as Bundesliga champions.