Ten Hag Appointed on July 1, Sacked Today After Just 62 Days in Charge

Bayer Leverkusen officially announced the dismissal of manager Erik ten Hag, who became the first coach to leave his post in the top five European leagues this season.

Ten Hag, who took office on July 1, was relieved of his duties today after a tenure spanning just 62 days. The club confirmed in a statement: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted ways with head coach Erik ten Hag with immediate effect. Training will be temporarily overseen by the assistant coaching staff".

Despite leading the team to a 4-0 victory over a lower-league side in the DFB-Pokal, Ten Hag's side managed only one draw and one loss in the first two Bundesliga matches, including a 3-3 home draw against 10-man Werder Bremen after squandering a two-goal lead. This underperformance triggered his dismissal, setting a new record for the fastest managerial exit in Bundesliga history.

Ten Hag's appointment on July 1 followed Xabi Alonso's departure for Real Madrid, but his short-lived spell failed to stabilize a squad undergoing significant restructuring. The club now faces the challenge of regrouping quickly to maintain its Champions League qualification aspirations.