Erik ten Hag was sacked by Man Utd last year and he's taken his first job in football since his Old Trafford exit.
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Erik ten Hag has been appointed at Bayer Leverkusen.(Image: 2025 Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Erik ten Hag has been appointed as Bayer Leverkusen head coach on a two-year contract.
Ten Hag oversaw United's worst start to a Premier League season and managed to survive the October international break, but he was axed from his position shortly after domestic football returned.
The Dutchman's last game in charge of United was a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on October 27.
Ten Hag has been out of work since his departure from Old Trafford, but he has now taken his next job with Bayer Leverkusen, who have appointed him on a two-year contract.
Leverkusen confirmed the appointment on Monday morning, and Ten Hag said: "Bayer 04 are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe. The club offers outstanding conditions, I've been very impressed with the discussions of the management.
"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."
Ten Hag with his Leverkusen contract.(Image: Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
Leverkusen's sporting managing director, Simon Rolfes, said: "With Erik ten Hag we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch. His six title wins at Ajax were exceptional.
"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. Our ideas of football coincide.
"With technically demanding and dominant football, we want to carry on in the Werkself style and aim for the highest targets in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League."
A statement from the club read: "Ten Hag last worked in the Premier League as the head coach at Manchester United where he won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024."
Ten Hag was succeeded by Ruud van Nistelrooy on an interim basis after his United exit. Van Nistelrooy oversaw four games and Ruben Amorim was appointed permanently in November.
United extended Ten Hag's contract last summer after winning the FA Cup against Manchester City. The Dutchman oversaw 19 defeats in all competitions in 2023/2024 but the FA Cup win saw United chiefs U-turn on their decision to sack him.
However, Ten Hag was sacked just months into the 2024/2025 season after failing to stop the rot.
Leverkusen have appointed Ten Hag following Xabi Alonso's departure to manage Real Madrid. The German club won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and reached the Europa League final during Alonso's tenure.
Ten Hag inherits a Leverkusen side that finished second in the Bundesliga this season.
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