Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen less than a year after he was dismissed by Manchester United, at which point he showed his class in a message to the Red Devils fanbase
Headcoach Erik ten Hag during the pre-match day press conference at the BayArena
Manchester United fans are reminded of Erik ten Hag's response to being sacked by the club after Bayer Leverkusen cut ties with him on Monday
(Image: Jörg Schüler, Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
Barely 12 months after his dismissal from Manchester United, Erik ten Hag has once again been given his marching orders, this time at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Dutchman has been axed in quick fashion after overseeing just two Bundesliga matches before being shown the door. Ten Hag's sole victory at Leverkusen arrived in the DFB-Pokal, with his team languishing in 12th position in the table following their failure to win either of their opening two league encounters.
It seemed circumstances couldn't deteriorate any more for Ten Hag after steering United to what was their worst-ever Premier League finish, yet they have done precisely that. The 55-year-old got the boot from United only a few months after his FA Cup triumph and steering the club to eighth in the league.
But given replacement Ruben Amorim's ongoing battles for form since taking over last year, some supporters might even wish Ten Hag had retained his position. Certain individuals may have experienced similar feelings of remorse upon reading Ten Hag's message to supporters following his departure.
The former Ajax and Utrecht boss composed a heartfelt letter to United's faithful shortly after his dismissal, explaining precisely what representing the Red Devils meant during his two-season spell. "Dear fans, let me start by thanking you," read the statement, which was released through his representatives, SEG.
"Thank you for always being there for the club. Whether it was at a game far away or a tough match at Old Trafford, your support has been unshakeable. The atmosphere at Old Trafford has always been electrifying, thanks to you."
Ten Hag went on to praise the fans for their unwavering support and "taking over opponents' stadiums." He also treasured the "sense of unity" he experienced from the Red Devils faithful wherever he travelled across the globe.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag looking dejected after a game
Ten Hag's career has suffered another crushing blow(Image: Christof Koepsel)
"That's what makes United supporters so special," he continued. "I want to thank you for giving me this feeling and for your support. I also want to thank the staff in every department of the club for their unwavering support in good times and bad.
"We won two trophies – achievements that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Of course, my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet. Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end.
"I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory. Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home. Thank you for this chapter in my life. Erik."
Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag kisses the trophy to celebrate their victory at the end of the English FA Cup final football match between Manchester City and Manchester United
Ten Hag's 2024 FA Cup win was the highlight of his stay at Old Trafford
(Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP)
Ten Hag becomes the third ex-United boss to lose his job within a matter of days. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was recently dismissed by Besiktas, whilst Fenerbahce parted ways with Jose Mourinho several days earlier.
The Dutchman has yet to issue a comparable statement concerning his departure from the BayArena. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes explained "nobody wanted to take this step," but continuing with the existing arrangement was no longer viable.
"A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary," added Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro. "We remain committed to achieving our goals for the season – and to do that, we need the best possible conditions at all levels and across the entire first team. Now it's a matter of fully implementing and utilising these conditions again."
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