Eric Ten Hag has been appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga. Selected as the successor to Xabi Alonso, Ten Hag embarks on a new challenge with Leverkusen.
Leverkusen stated on the 27th (Korean time) through the club's official channel that 'Ten Hag has been appointed as the new head coach. The contract period is until June 30, 2027, and he will join the team from July 1 to prepare for the 2025-2026 season.'
Simon Rolfes, Director General of Leverkusen, noted that 'Ten Hag proved his outstanding leadership by leading Ajax to six championships. In particular, he dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022,' and added, 'He also achieved results in challenging situations at Manchester United.' He continued, 'The football philosophy of Ten Hag aligns with that of the club. We will maintain a technical and dominant style and strive for our highest goals in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League.'
Ten Hag drew attention across Europe by reaching the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League during the 2018-2019 season while leading Ajax. He then took charge of Manchester United in the summer of 2022, won the league cup (Carabao Cup) in his first season, and lifted two major trophies by winning the FA Cup in 2024. However, due to poor performance in the Premier League, he was dismissed during the season in October.
Leverkusen began the process of selecting a new coach after Xabi Alonso confirmed his move to Real Madrid, with Ten Hag emerging as a strong candidate early on. German media outlet Kicker reported earlier this month that 'Leverkusen had been negotiating with Ten Hag even before the official announcement of Alonso's departure,' adding that 'an agreement had essentially been reached.'
Alonso was officially announced as the new head coach of Real Madrid on the 25th. Real Madrid stated, 'Alonso will sign a contract from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, to lead the team.' Accordingly, Leverkusen promptly announced the appointment of Ten Hag and quickly began preparations for the next season.
Ten Hag expressed his excitement about the new challenge. He said, 'Leverkusen is one of the top clubs not only in Germany but also in Europe. It is a team with excellent facilities, systematic management, and a clear philosophy,' adding, 'I was deeply impressed during discussions with the management and was drawn to the team's ambitions.'
He also conveyed, 'It is an exciting challenge to be part of this time of change and to build a strong team. I will do my best to realize Leverkusen's goals.'
This season, Leverkusen achieved an unbeaten championship in the Bundesliga and won the German Supercup under Alonso's leadership while also showing impressive performances on the European stage. Ten Hag has taken on the responsibility of continuing the team's upward momentum.
[OSEN]