Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been named as the new Bayer Leverkusen coach on a deal until 2027, the Bundesliga club announced on Monday.
The 55-year-old Dutchman replaces Spaniard Xabi Alonso, who is joining Real Madrid.
Leverkusen finished second to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga season just finished having won a league and cup double under Alonso the season before.
Ten Hag, who had success with Bayern reserves and Ajax Amsterdam, was sacked by United in October after a difficult two years in charge of the struggling English club.
"Leverkusen are one of the best clubs in Germany and are also part of the European elite," he said in a statement. "I was very impressed by the talks I had with the people in charge."
Sporting director Simon Rolfes added: "With Erik ten Hag, we are appointing an experienced coach with an impressive track record. His six trophies with Ajax Amsterdam were exceptional."
These included three Dutch titles in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
His United tenure was less successful as he struggled to impose the style of play which had made his Ajax team so easy on the eye.
He did win a League Cup and an FA Cup while fans will point to the fact that United slid further down the Premier League table once he was permanently replaced by former Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.
He will immediately have to deal with expected big name departures at the BayArena, with right back Jeremie Frimpong and playmaker Florian Wirtz both being linked in the media with Liverpool.
Germany defender Jonathan Tah is also among those leaving at the end of their deals.
Leverkusen have acted fast to recruit their new coach after Alonso announced before the end of the season that he was leaving. His Real Madrid move was confirmed on Sunday.
The Werkself have been hit-and-miss with their coaching appointments over the last decade.
They took a punt on Alonso and he delivered their first ever Bundeslia title but the appointment of Dutchman Peter Bosz (2018-2021) did not bring trophies, while Swiss Gerardo Seoane stayed just over a year before his sacking in October 2022.
Ten Hag will hold a news conference later on Monday.
- Erik ten Hag
- Coach
- Bayer Leverkusen
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
