Erik ten Hag the third ex-Manchester United manager to be sacked in four days

 Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager, has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen just two league games into the job with the Bundesliga club.

Ten Hag’s team were denied a win away at Werder Bremen on Saturday after a late equaliser, despite the home team having 10 men for 30 minutes. The concern among the Leverkusen hierarchy predated that, however, with suggestions that the relationship had become strained very early. Previously the team had lost their first league game of the season at home to Hoffenheim, all of which followed an underwhelming pre-season.

It means that Ten Hag is the third former Manchester United manager to be sacked in the last four days, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho – his two direct predecessors – losing their jobs at Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

Leverkusen have sold a number of key players this summer with sales – and agreed future sales – climbing towards £260m. Arsenal will sign Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié on a one-year loan for £4.3m that is part of a total obligation to buy deal next year for £53.7m. Leverkusen, who are in the Champions League this season, have also invested around £140m as per their trading model.

Ten Hag was a replacement for Xabi Alonso, with whom Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, an unprecedented achievement for the club. The Dutch coach was seen as an experienced operator who could steer the club through the transition. This was his first job since United sacked him in November having first agreed a contract extension in the summer of last year.

The club is run by sporting director Simon Rolfes and director of football Kim Falkenberg. The chief executive Fernando Cano is the third key figure.

It has been a huge summer of change at Leverkusen. Florian Wirtz was a record £116m sale to Liverpool, Jeremie Frimpong also went to Anfield and Amine Adli to Bournemouth. Granit Xhaka joined Sunderland as the title-winning team was broken up.