Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed the appointment of Erik Ten Hag as their new coach ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The Dutchman is expected to replace Xabi Alonso, who was announced as the coach of Real Madrid on Sunday.
Ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United’s coach in October following a disappointing start to the season after winning two trophies for the club since joining in 2022.
The 55-year-old Dutchman has signed a two-year contract running through to June 2027.
Bayer Leverkusen confirmed his appointment in a statement on their website on Monday.
The statement read: “With Erik ten Hag, we are relying on an experienced coach with impressive sports successes. His six title wins with Ajax Amsterdam were exceptional.
“With three championships and two cup victories, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football unchallenged from 2018 to 2022. And even through the subsequent successes with Manchester United under sometimes difficult conditions, Erik has proven his quality as a coach.
“Our visions of football align. With technically demanding and dominant football, we want to pursue the highest goals in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League.
Ten Hag was delighted at the opportunity to lead Bayer Leverkusen while looking forward to the challenges ahead.
He said: “Bayer is one of the best clubs in Germany and also belongs to the expanded European elite.
“The club offers excellent conditions, and the discussions with the officials have impressed me greatly.
“I have come to Leverkusen to confirm the ambitions that have grown over the past few years. It is an appealing task to build something together in this phase of change and to develop an ambitious team.
Ten Hag will take over a Bayer Leverkusen team that finished second behind Bayern Munich, and a team that won a domestic double in 2024.
