Erik ten Hag’s appointment as Bayer Leverkusen’s coach is “a done deal”, according to football magazine Kicker, but it looks like the Dutchman will start his reign without star player Florian Wirtz.
Since the struggling English side sacked the former Bayern Munich reserves, Ajax, and Manchester United coach in October, he has been unemployed.
Ten Hag, who had an outstanding debut season in English football, was sacked as manager of Manchester on October 28, leaving the team after two-and-a-half years in charge.
Ten Hag led the team to third place in 2022/2023 and two major awards. He also won the league and cup double that season, earning him his first managerial accolades.
Six-year trophy drought
He led Man United to a spot in the UEFA Champions League and won the EFL Cup to break their six-year trophy drought. Additionally, they lost the 2023 FA Cup final as finalists.
United achieved their lowest-ever Premier League result of ninth in 2023–2024 during his second season as manager at Old Trafford. However, they defeated Man City 2-1 to win the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag, who appointed Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy as a strikers’ coach, will replace Xabi Alonso, who announced his Leverkusen exit ahead of his move to Real Madrid.
Kicker said on Sunday that Ten Hag is set to pen a two-year contract, which “just has to be drawn up and signed”.
The media had also linked Como coach Cesc Fàbregas with the Bundesliga runners-up.
While preparations are underway for ten Hag’s arrival, Wirtz’s departure to Liverpool appears even more likely.
Possible move to Liverpool
Even Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of Germany, supports the playmaker’s move to England, despite long-standing links with Bayern Munich.
“Liverpool would be a good step for him because he can play in his position there,” Nagelsmann told Sky late on Saturday.
Wirtz and Bayern’s Jamal Musiala have rarely played together for Germany because of injury, and some pundits have queried whether they could both play in the same Bayern team as number 10s.
English champions Liverpool do not have an obvious number 10 in their squad.
Ten Hag’s first season in English football was an impressive one, as he led them to a UEFA Champions League place and ended their six-year trophy drought with the EFL Cup.
They also lost the 2023 FA Cup final.
In his second season in charge at Old Trafford, United finished eighth in the Premier League in 2023/24, their lowest ever placing in the competition, but beat Man City 2-1 to win the FA Cup final. -DPA
