Bayer Leverkusen have turned the page on the Xabi Alonso era by appointing Erik ten Hag as their new head coach, marking a high-profile return to management for the former Manchester United boss.
Ten Hag arrives in Germany on a two-year deal, stepping into one of the Bundesliga’s most intriguing roles after months out of the game following his sacking by United in October. His appointment signals both continuity and reinvention at a club still riding the aftershocks of Alonso’s golden run.
The Dutchman inherits a squad that lifted the Bundesliga title in 2023-24, won the DFB-Pokal, and reached a Europa League final, a season of firsts that redefined Leverkusen’s stature. But the momentum waned the following campaign, with Alonso’s men finishing second, 13 points behind Bayern, and ending the season without silverware.
Ten Hag’s task is clear but daunting: maintain high standards, evolve the playing style, and navigate a summer of likely upheaval. With key stars like Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah already gone, and Florian Wirtz expected to follow, the rebuilding job looms large.
Yet Leverkusen’s squad still brims with quality as Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo, Patrik Schick, and Edmond Tapsoba remain top-tier assets. Add to that significant sales revenue and a sharp recruitment team led by Simon Rolfes, and Ten Hag has the tools for an ambitious reboot.
His pedigree is undeniable. A Champions League semi-finalist with Ajax in 2019, he masterminded wins over Real Madrid and Juventus. At United, despite systemic chaos, he claimed both the Carabao and FA Cups, rare glimmers in a turbulent tenure.
This is not a vanity appointment. It’s a strategic one. Ten Hag offers structure, tactical clarity, and experience from Europe’s biggest stages, all vital as Leverkusen seek stability after the flair and charisma of Alonso.
Crucially, Ten Hag arrives without Alonso’s shadow looming large. The squad is in transition, the expectations real but reset. For Leverkusen, this isn’t just a managerial change, it’s a reset of identity, ambition, and tone.
A new era beckons on the Rhine. And Erik ten Hag, steady yet unflinching, takes the wheel.
