Why was Erik ten Hag sacked as Bayer Leverkusen coach?

Reports have surfaced explaining why Bayer Leverkusen decided to sack Erik ten Hag.

On Monday, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the sacking of Erik ten Hag after just two league games in charge.

Bayer Leverkusen have made a poor start to their Bundesliga campaign, taking just one point from their first two games against Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen – but, unsurprisingly, the decision to sack ten Hag goes beyond just the results

According to De Telegraaf, one factor was differing views on squad planning, with the Dutchman frustrated that he wasn’t given the same influence on transfers as at his previous clubs.

The Dutch newspaper also reports that things weren’t running smoothly on the training ground, with several players unhappy with his methods.

The Athletic reports that tensions between the players and the coach had already emerged during the club’s pre-season camp in Brazil.

The shift in leadership style – from Xabi Alonso to the less communicative ten Hag – reportedly even led some players to leave the club, including Granit Xhaka, who moved to Sunderland.

These factors combined led to ten Hag’s dismissal – a costly decision for Leverkusen, with Sport Bild reporting that the coach will receive a severance payment of around €5 million.

Who will replace him is still unclear, but Edin Terzić and Marco Rose are among the names linked with the job.