Leverkusen hope to appoint Ten Hag successor soon

The 55-year-old Dutchman, who was hired in the summer to replace Xabi Alonso, was dismissed last Monday after just three games in charge, in a move described by club CEO Fernando Carro as “painful” but “necessary”.

While the first international break of the 2025/26 season has afforded the Leverkusen hierarchy more time to consider their next move, the Werkself want to have a new coach in place by the time they resume their Bundesliga campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt to the BayArena on Friday 12 September at 8:30pm CEST.

Assistant coaches Andries Ulderink and Rogier Meijer have been leading training since Ten Hag’s departure.

Watch: Leverkusen surrender 3-1 lead in Ten Hag's final game

“We're working hard on it. I hope we can announce something next week,” said Carro on Saturday 6 September. “We need coaches who can lead, who provide clarity and guidance, who have substance. These are definitely qualities the new coach should have.”

While Carro was in no mood to reveal any names in the frame to take charge of their nationality, he did say sporting director Simon Rolfes "generally always conducts discussions in German, English or Spanish."

After the Bundesliga resumes on Matchday 3, Leverkusen travel to FC Copenhagen for their UEFA Champions League opener on 18 September.

Former Ajax and Manchester United coach Ten Hag began his reign with a 4-0 DFB Cup victory over Sonnenhof Großaspach before suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga opener.

Leverkusen appeared to be heading for their first three points of the campaign at Werder Bremen last weekend, but the 10-man hosts staged a remarkable fightback from 3-1 down to salvage a 3-3 draw.

Bayer have endured a summer of upheaval, with Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Lukáš Hrádecký all departing the club.

They have also brought in 16 new players, including Lucas Vázquez, Malik Tillmann, Jarell Quansah and Mark Flekken.