Bayer Leverkusen has hired Erik ten Hag to take over from Xabi Alonso, who is set to join Real Madrid.

In a dramatic turn of events, Aston Villa’s hopes of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League have been dashed following a contentious defeat to Manchester United. The match, filled with controversy, has left Villa fans reeling as they miss out on a coveted place in Europe’s elite competition.

In other news, Erik ten Hag has been appointed as Bayer Leverkusen’s new manager, signing a two-year deal with the German club. This marks the Dutchman’s return to management after his dismissal from Manchester United in October last year.

During his time at Old Trafford, Ten Hag struggled to find his footing, leaving the Red Devils languishing in 14th place with just 11 points from their first nine matches. Despite lifting both the FA Cup and EFL Cup during his tenure, he was ultimately replaced mid-season by Ruben Amorim, having overseen United’s worst start to a league campaign since the 1989-90 season.

Upon his appointment, Ten Hag expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. “Bayer 04 are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe,” he stated on the club’s official site. “The club offers outstanding conditions, and I’ve been very impressed with the discussions of the management.” He added, “I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team.”

Ten Hag is no stranger to German football, having previously managed Bayern Munich’s second team from 2013 to 2015, where he won the Regionalliga Bayern title. He later returned to his native Netherlands to take charge of FC Utrecht before moving to Ajax in December 2017. At Ajax, he enjoyed considerable success, securing three Eredivisie titles and leading the team to a UEFA Champions League semi-final.

His predecessor, Xabi Alonso, made history by winning Leverkusen’s first-ever Bundesliga title in his inaugural senior managerial role, guiding Die Werkself to an unbeaten campaign in the 2023-24 season. The pressure is now on Ten Hag to build on that success and continue the club’s upward trajectory.