How Erik ten Hag's Bayer Leverkusen tenure unravelled quickly - lessons for Ruben Amorim
Erik ten Hag's tenure at Bayer Leverkusen ended abruptly after just three matches. His lack of passion and stubbornness, compounded by key departures, led to his downfall. This demise serves as a cautionary tale for Ruben Amorim.
The Dutchman was hamstrung by a raft of big departures, but his lack of passion and stubbornness rubbed his new employers up the wrong wayOle Gunnar Solskjaer was first up on the bonfire of former Manchester United coaches that took place in the space of four days around the weekend, sacked by Besiktas just minutes after they failed to qualify for this season's Conference League. Less than 24 hours later, his United predecessor, Jose Mourinho, was fired by Fenerbahce as they came to terms with missing out on reaching the Champions League league phase. Neither decision came as a huge surprises given the coaches had both presided over disastrous eliminations from European football, while Mourinho had caused chaos and controversy throughout his 12 months in Istanbul. But when Erik ten Hag became the third former Red Devils coach to lose his job in a matter of days, dismissed by Bayer Leverkusen on Monday after just three matches in charge, there was widespread surprise. Well, everywhere except from within Germany.The writing had been on the wall for some time for Ten Hag, who accepted the most poisonous of chalices by succeeding Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen's greatest-ever coach, in the same summer that the club also parted with a number of the players who had helped the charismatic Basque coach make history two seasons ago by winning the club's first Bundesliga title as part of an unbeaten domestic double.
The Writing on the Wall
Erik ten Hag took on the daunting task of following in the footsteps of Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen's most successful coach. This challenge was further complicated by the departure of key players who played pivotal roles in the club's recent Bundesliga triumph.
Unravelling of a Tenure
Despite high expectations, Ten Hag's tenure quickly fell apart owing to a lack of passion and stubbornness. His inability to connect with the club and its players, coupled with poor results on the pitch, led to his swift dismissal after just three matches in charge.
Lessons for Ruben Amorim
The downfall of Erik ten Hag serves as a stark warning for Ruben Amorim, highlighting the importance of adaptability, communication, and building strong relationships within the club. Learning from the Dutchman's mistakes can help Amorim navigate potential challenges in his own coaching career.
