Have Bayer Leverkusen found Erik ten Hag's replacement already? Talks with ex-Borussia Dortmund coach begin after former Man Utd boss sacked

Leverkusen have sacked head coach Ten Hag after a historically short tenure. The Dutch manager's time at the club has come to an abrupt end after just three competitive matches. Leverkusen have already begun their search for a replacement and are reportedly in contact with former Borussia Dortmund coach Terzic as a top candidate to take the team ahead, according to fussballtransfers.com. The club are considering another familiar name from the Bundesliga to take over - Marco Rose who has previous experience managing Dortmund and boast impressive stats that make him an ideal candidate for the role.

In his last spell in charge of Dortmund, Terzic guided his team to 55 wins in 96 matches in all competitions. Known for using a 4-2-3-1 formation his ability to integrate young talent, he led Dortmund to the DFB-Pokal title in 2021, at the end of his first spell in charge, and a Champions League final in his second.

Rose, also a former Dortmund coach, has a remarkable win rate of 60% across his coaching career. His experience includes successful stints at Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Leipzig, but he was sacked by the latter in March this year and, like Terzic, is without a club. 

Ten Hag’s sacking was a "painful" but, in the eyes of the club’s management, "necessary" decision, said sporting director Simon Rolfes. His dismissal came after only three matches due to significant concerns about his ability to rebuild the team following a summer exodus of key players. The team's poor start, which included a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim and a disappointing 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen where they squandered a two-goal lead, led the management to lose confidence.

Rolfes explained the club’s position: "This decision wasn't easy for us. No one wanted this step. But the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this lineup isn't going to be effective."

The speed of the decision is unprecedented in Bundesliga history, as no club has ever dismissed a summer-hired coach so quickly.

With the season already underway and the team needing to stabilise quickly, the club have to make a swift decision. The focus is on appointing a new manager who can get the team back on track and achieve their goals for the season. Both Terzic and Rose are strong candidates, and the club's quick move to begin talks suggests they are not wasting any time in finding a solution to a difficult situation.