Erik ten Hag has been out of work since leaving Manchester United back in October but the Dutchman has landed a new role and soon will be confirmed as Xabi Alonso's successor
Erik ten Hag
Erik ten Hag is on the brink of returning to the dugout(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United FC)
Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will be announced as the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen on Monday. The Dutchman, 55, will take over from Xabi Alonso, who has been appointed manager of Real Madrid.
Ten Hag, who has been out of work since being axed by United in October, has agreed terms with the German club who finished second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich after Alonso opted to stand down from his role ahead of the summer.
During his spell out of the game, Ten Hag has been linked with a number of vacancies despite the nature of his exit from United, who have continued to disappoint under his successor, Ruben Amorim.
The former Ajax chief has experience of working in Germany following his spell at the helm of Bayern Munich II across 2013 and 2015.
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While Ten Hag was given the boot by United, he did guide the club to a trophy in each of two full seasons at the helm, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 before following that up with an FA Cup triumph the following year.
Manchester United were 14th in the Premier League table after nine games when Ten Hag was given his marching orders - just months after being handed a one-year contract extension after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag's imminent arrival at Leverkusen could leave Jadon Sancho in no man's land amid speculation that the former German champions were looking to sign the winger this summer.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Manchester United FC at London Stadium on October 27, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United back in October(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Sancho, 25, was exiled at United by Ten Hag after the winger publicly called out his manager after Ten Hag questioned his efforts in training. The spat saw Sancho left out in the cold for months before heading out on loan to his former club, Borussia Dortmund.
He headed out on loan again this season, joining Chelsea for the 2024-25 campaign on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. However, the Blues can back out of a permanent deal if they are willing to pay a £5million penalty, which they look likely to do.
That means Sancho could be left in limbo, with Ten Hag unlikely to want the player if, as expected, he does succeed Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.
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