Bayer Leverkusen rule out Jose Mourinho, Xavi and Edin Terzic as possible Erik ten Hag replacements with ex-Borussia Dortmund boss on the list

After firing head coach Ten Hag just 60 days into his tenure, Leverkusen are on the hunt for a new coach to save their season following a huge rebuild over the summer. Edin Terzic had been seen as a candidate for the job, but Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger claims the former Dortmund coach has been ruled out, as have ex-Barcelona boss Xavi and Jose Mourinho, fresh off his Fenerbahce departure. Real Madrid legend Raul has also been reported as a candidate.

Rose, though, remains on the list. His experience includes successful stints at Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Leipzig, who sacked him in March amid a disappointing Bundesliga campaign. After winning the UEFA Youth League with Red Bull Salzburg's Under 19s, he went on to guide the senior team to the Austrian Bundesliga twice and the Austrian Cup. He then went on to lift the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup with Leipzig in his first season with Leipzig.

According to multiple reports, Ten Hag's sacking was a calculated move and wasn't an impulsive decision taken by the club. The club's hierarchy was reportedly disappointed with the quality of his training sessions and what they perceived as a lack of emotion and connection with the team. Ten Hag was also described as being resistant to advice and repeatedly trying to influence squad planning to suit his "agency." 

The decision came after only two league matches, a move the Dutch coach called "unprecedented" and a "complete surprise." Ten Hag said that he had taken the job with "full conviction and energy," but that the management was "not willing to give me the necessary time and trust." The club, however, paint a different picture, citing a rapid loss of trust due to Ten Hag's coaching style and behind-the-scenes behaviour. 

The criteria for the new manager remain same as before: they must be fluent in English, capable of implementing an attractive and technical style of football, and able to quickly transform the squad into a cohesive and effective team.