Erik Ten Hag takes over from Xabi Alonso: Bayer Leverkusen restarts!

Erik Ten Hag takes over from Xabi Alonso: Bayer Leverkusen restarts!

A new era begins at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The football club has signed Erik Ten HAG as the successor to Xabi Alonso, who has switched to Real Madrid. This step marks a return for the 55-year-old to the coaching post after being released by Manchester United in October 2024. Ten HAG wants to build on his success in Leverkusen and has set himself ambitious goals: the development of a powerful team and the striving for titles are at the top of his agenda. The club ended last season in a strong second place in the Bundesliga and reached the semi-finals in the DFB Cup. Under Alonso, Bayer even became the first unbeaten champion in Bundesliga history, a brilliant achievement for which Alonso's step in the country was incomprehensible.

"The objective is clear: we want to build a new team and stay among the top 4 of the Bundesliga so that we can play in the Champions League," emphasizes Ten HAG. In recent years, talent management at Leverkusen has become more important, and sports director Simon Rolfes praised Ten Hag as an experienced developer of talents, which is very important to the club.

new coaching team with fresh wind

to support Ten HAG, Andries Ulderink was also appointed to the coaching team. The former coach of Cape Town City FC, who also spent the last season at Royal Antwerp in Belgium, has international experience. During his time in Cape Town, he held the head coaching post interim and will now take on a key role in Leverkusen.

The changes in the squad are, however, essential. Captain Jonathan Tah has already announced not to extend his contract, which could result in a weakening of the defensive. Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are also the focus of Liverpool, with Rolfes confirming that contacts have already existed because of Wirtz. The possible new additions and your own player development are now intensively concerned with remaining sustainable in the fight for the upper table positions.

Change of coach in German football

The change of coaching posts is nothing unusual in the Bundesliga. According to statistics, the frequency of the change of coach has changed significantly since the 1963/64 season. This shows how fast -moving football has become in Germany. In the current context, it is remarkable that the decision for ten HAG and ULDERink results from the need for stability and development of the squad. Bayer Leverkusen is again looking for success and hopes that the new coaching team will bring the right mix of experience, strategy and talent management.

It remains exciting to see how the situation will develop in Leverkusen and whether ten HAG can implement his vision. The fans can look forward to an interesting season in which the potential for excitement and increases in blood pressure is high.