Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has become the third ex-United coach sacked in just five days, following his dismissal from Bayer Leverkusen after a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen and a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim.
The Dutchman, who managed United from April 2022 to October 2024, joins José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær in facing the axe.
Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahçe on August 29 after a Champions League play-off defeat to Benfica, while Solskjær was dismissed by Beşiktaş on August 28 following a UEFA Conference League exit to Lausanne.
Ten Hag’s abrupt departure from Leverkusen, just two months into his tenure, underscores the intense pressure facing former United managers in their new roles.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Erik ten Hag has just been SACKED by Bayer Leverkusen.
Decision made by the club’s hierarchy this morning and manager informed right now. pic.twitter.com/WjraNnhntA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2025
A Week of Managerial Turmoil
The rapid dismissals of three former Manchester United managers within days have stunned the football world.
Ten Hag, appointed Leverkusen’s head coach on July 1, 2025, after Xabi Alonso’s departure, struggled to replicate his predecessor’s unbeaten 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign.
A 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim and a chaotic 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen, despite goals from Patrik Schick and Malik Tillman, left Leverkusen winless in their opening two Bundesliga matches.
According to reports, Leverkusen’s hierarchy was dissatisfied with Ten Hag’s coaching philosophy and his exclusion from key transfer decisions, such as the signing of Real Madrid’s Lucas Vázquez.
Captain Robert Andrich criticized the team’s lack of cohesion, stating, “We’re playing for ourselves, not as a unit.” With a two-week international break looming, Leverkusen acted swiftly, fearing further decline.
Mourinho’s sacking came after Fenerbahçe’s 1-0 loss to Benfica, failing to secure Champions League qualification, while Solskjær’s Beşiktaş tenure ended after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Lausanne, with Nathan Butler-Oyedeji’s goal proving decisive.
All three managers, who collectively won five trophies at United (two under Ten Hag, three under Mourinho), have faced relentless scrutiny in their post-United careers, highlighting the challenges of transitioning from Old Trafford’s high-pressure environment.
Implications for Manchester United’s Legacy
The sackings cast a shadow over Manchester United’s managerial legacy, with each coach struggling to match their Old Trafford achievements elsewhere.
His Leverkusen stint, marked by a 5-0 pre-season loss to Flamengo’s U20s, failed to inspire confidence.
Similarly, Solskjær, who managed United from 2018 to 2021, couldn’t sustain Beşiktaş’s early-season form, while Mourinho’s second-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig wasn’t enough to save him at Fenerbahçe.
Current United manager Ruben Amorim, himself under pressure after a Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby Town, faces a critical period with upcoming matches against Manchester City and Chelsea.
