Erik ten Hag has been relieved of his duties at Bayer Leverkusen after just two league matches and the Dutchman may be considering a move to Serie A.
Why Did Bayer Leverkusen Sack Erik Ten Hag?
The former Manchester United manager was set for a fresh start in Germany after a reputation-ruining spell in England, however, his time in the Bundesliga only made matters worse.
The Dutchman built his name in the Netherlands, achieving huge success with Ajax, including that run in the 2018/19 Champions League before earning a move to Manchester.
After a strong opening season at Old Trafford, finishing third in the Premier League, winning the Carabao Cup and beating Barcelona in the Europa League – many fans were excited for the following campaign.
However, the 2023/24 season failed to live up to expectations despite winning the FA Cup, as United finished eighth in the Premier League and ten Hag kept his job by the skin of his teeth.
Poor performances in the 2024/25 campaign brought an end to the Dutchman’s time in Manchester and he was eventually replaced by Ruben Amorim.
Securing the Leverkusen role in July 2025, ten Hag began his reign by taking charge of a full pre-season and overseeing three competitive matches.
Leverkusen picked up a 4-0 win against Grossaspach in the DFB Pokal, before losing 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim and suffering a last-minute leveler against a 10-man Werder Bremen.
This was the final nail in the coffin for ten Hag, as the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions sacked the 55-year-old after two-months and Simon Rolfes, Managing Director at Bayer Leverkusen, revealed that success was not ‘feasible’ under ten Hag.
Rolfes said (Via Bayer Leverkusen): “This decision was not an easy one for us. Nobody wanted to take this step. However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible.
“We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.”
Leverkusen will now turn their focus to last minute additions before the summer transfer window comes to a close and ten Hag will begin his search for a new job.
Ten Hag’s future is not set in stone as some reports are suggesting that the Dutch coach may take some time away from the sport – however he may be looking towards a fresh start in Serie A.
Could Erik Ten Hag Manage In Serie A?
Erik ten Hag has worked in multiple countries during his managerial career so far, learning his trade in the Netherlands, Germany and England.
The Dutchman has worked in two of Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues, never taking the reins in Italy, France or Spain, meaning he may be looking to expand his knowledge for his next job.
A host of managers have taken the reins of new clubs in Serie A for the 2025/26 season, including Cristian Chivu, Ivan Juric, Gian Piero Gasperini, Massimiliano Allegri and Carlos Cuesta.
Such a huge overhaul of managers highlights how the leading role at a club is never certain and ten Hag could take advantage of the current conveyor belt system.
Jose Mourinho has been linked with a move to Serie A after parting ways with Fenerbahce and ten Hag joins the list of former Manchester United to be axed in recent weeks – with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also being sacked by Besiktas.
An opening could become available at Sassuolo after their poor start to the season, losing both matches and Fabio Grosso faces increased pressure from supporters.
Their have been no official talks over a new job for ten Hag, as the Dutchman is still dealing with the surprise departure from Bayer Leverkusen.
This post Could Erik Ten Hag’s Job Be In Serie A? Dutchman Searches For New Home After Shocking Bayer Leverkusen Dismissal appeared first on FootItalia.com.