Simon Rolfes (L) and Erik ten Hag (R) during his unveiling

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has officially taken over as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, signing a two-year deal with the German club.

The 55-year-old Dutchman steps into the role vacated by Xabi Alonso, who was unveiled as the new Real Madrid boss on Sunday, May 24, 2025.

This appointment marks Ten Hag’s return to the dugout after his departure from Manchester United in October.

During his two-year spell at Old Trafford, he led the team to Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs but was dismissed with the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

Before his stint in England, Ten Hag enjoyed a highly successful period with Ajax, where he became known for his tactical acumen and player development.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes welcomed the appointment with high praise, citing Ten Hag’s track record of domestic dominance and resilience in challenging conditions.

"With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch. With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022. And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times,” Rolfes said.

Leverkusen enter a new chapter after a historic season under Alonso, which saw them claim a domestic double in 2023-24.

They followed up with a second-place finish in the Bundesliga this term, trailing only Bayern Munich.

Ten Hag is set to begin his new role officially on July 1, 2025. Reflecting on the opportunity, he expressed admiration for the club’s recent progress and shared his vision for the future.

"Leverkusen are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe. I've come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It's an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team,” he said.

FKA/MA

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