It’s official: Erik ten Hag will become the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, succeeding Xabi Alonso, who led the German club to a historic season.
A new chapter is about to begin — and this appointment is stirring both excitement and debate.

🧠 The Profile of a Builder

Erik ten Hag is, above all, a project manager. We all remember his legendary 2018–2019 Ajax team — young, fearless, and thrilling in the Champions League with their vertical, fluid, and attacking football. Ten Hag has a rare gift for developing talent, building long-term vision, and giving his teams a clear identity.

In that sense, his move to Leverkusen makes perfect sense. The club has always focused on youth development, technical football, and smart long-term planning. It’s easy to see why the club’s management saw Ten Hag as the right man to continue the momentum built by Xabi Alonso.

🤔 A Different Context, New Pressures

But let’s not forget: this is a very different context from what he had at Ajax. At Manchester United, Ten Hag experienced the brutal reality of coaching a global giant — intense scrutiny, unstable leadership, and a storm of media pressure. While he had some success, it was far from a smooth ride.

At Leverkusen, he’ll find a more stable environment, but… he’ll be stepping into very big shoes. Xabi Alonso led the club to its first Bundesliga title ever, with beautiful football and an almost unbeaten season. Expectations will be sky-high. There won’t be much room for a slow start.

⚖️ A Good or Bad Idea?

👉 A good idea, because Ten Hag is smart, demanding, and a strong developer of players. He fits Leverkusen’s identity well. With young talents like Wirtz, Frimpong, and Hincapié, he’ll have tools to work with. In a better-managed environment than Manchester United, he could rediscover what made him shine at Ajax.

👉 A bad idea? Maybe — if fans expect to see the exact same brand of football they enjoyed under Alonso. Ten Hag has a different approach: more tactical structure, sometimes more cautious. It will take time to build a team in his image. And time might be the one luxury he doesn’t have.

❤️🖤 In Summary…

Erik ten Hag to Leverkusen is a bold but logical move.
There are no guarantees of success, but one thing is clear: the club isn’t looking to tear everything down — it wants to keep growing with vision and discipline.
And sometimes, that kind of thoughtful bet is what keeps a team at the top… without losing its soul.