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Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he wanted to “build something” after taking over as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen on Monday.

Ten Hag replaced the Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 while adding the German Cup.

Leverkusen were unable to keep up the same pace this season, but still finished Bundesliga runners-up to Bayern Munich and qualified for next season’s Champions League.

READ ALSO: Amorim Says Champions League Absence Could Benefit Man Utd

Ten Hag has worked in German football before, spending two years in charge of Bayern Munich’s reserve team from 2013.

The 55-year-old Dutchman won the FA Cup and League Cup in his two full seasons at United and led the club to third in the Premier League in 2022-23.

United launched a review last summer and interviewed other candidates after they finished eighth in the Premier League, only to decide to stick with Ten Hag.

But after a poor start to the season he was sacked on October 28 following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

Ten Hag rejected suggestions his time at United was unhappy, telling reporters his time at Old Trafford had been a “real pleasure”, but added: “It’s in the past. I want to look forward and build something, with new energy.”

“I want to win, but in a specific style and manner. Dominant football, attractive football, which excites people. That’s what we have here.”

Before United, Ten Hag helped Ajax to win three Dutch league titles.

Ten Hag has signed a two-year contract.

“With Erik ten Hag we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch,” Leverkusen’s sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said in a statement, calling his success at Ajax “exceptional”.

“With three league titles and two domestic cup wins he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.

“And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times,” added Rolfes.

German media reported Leverkusen were also interested in Cesc Fabregas, coach of Serie A side Como, but the former Barcelona and Arsenal player elected to stay in Italy.

 ‘Attractive challenge’ 

Real Madrid announced on Sunday that Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach in a long-expected move.

Alonso starred as a player for Real. He will take over on June 1 in order to lead the Spanish giants at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Alonso worked wonders at Leverkusen, taking the serial underachievers to the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history, despite having never managed at the top level.

Under Alonso, Leverkusen won the league title without losing a match in 2023-24; no club, not even the best Bayern sides or Jurgen Klopp’s barnstorming Dortmund side, had gone through a league season without defeat.

Ten Hag faces a summer rebuild in Leverkusen, with several Bundesliga-winning stars heading out of the door.

Centre-back Jonathan Tah has already confirmed his exit after 10 years at the club, with Bayern his likely destination.

Midfield playmaker Florian Wirtz and wing back Jeremie Frimpong also look set to leave, with Rolfes confirming on Monday that Liverpool had shown “concrete interest” in Wirtz.

Liverpool are reportedly also set to snap up Frimpong.

While Tah will leave on a free transfer, Wirtz and Frimpong will command high fees, giving the Dutchman money to work with.

Asked if he had already drawn up a transfer wishlist, Ten Hag said: “I have many wishes.”

Ten Hag will seek to rebuild Leverkusen alongside his own reputation, which took a hit during an unhappy time at United.

Calling Leverkusen “one of the best clubs in Germany,” Ten Hag said he wanted to “continue 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,” he added.

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he wanted to “build something” after taking over as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen on Monday.

Ten Hag replaced the Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 while adding the German Cup.

Leverkusen were unable to keep up the same pace this season, but still finished Bundesliga runners-up to Bayern Munich and qualified for next season’s Champions League.

READ ALSO: Amorim Says Champions League Absence Could Benefit Man Utd

Ten Hag has worked in German football before, spending two years in charge of Bayern Munich’s reserve team from 2013.

The 55-year-old Dutchman won the FA Cup and League Cup in his two full seasons at United and led the club to third in the Premier League in 2022-23.

United launched a review last summer and interviewed other candidates after they finished eighth in the Premier League, only to decide to stick with Ten Hag.

But after a poor start to the season he was sacked on October 28 following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

Ten Hag rejected suggestions his time at United was unhappy, telling reporters his time at Old Trafford had been a “real pleasure”, but added: “It’s in the past. I want to look forward and build something, with new energy.”

“I want to win, but in a specific style and manner. Dominant football, attractive football, which excites people. That’s what we have here.”

Before United, Ten Hag helped Ajax to win three Dutch league titles.

Ten Hag has signed a two-year contract.

“With Erik ten Hag we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch,” Leverkusen’s sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said in a statement, calling his success at Ajax “exceptional”.

“With three league titles and two domestic cup wins he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.

“And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times,” added Rolfes.

German media reported Leverkusen were also interested in Cesc Fabregas, coach of Serie A side Como, but the former Barcelona and Arsenal player elected to stay in Italy.

 ‘Attractive challenge’ 

Real Madrid announced on Sunday that Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti as coach in a long-expected move.

Alonso starred as a player for Real. He will take over on June 1 in order to lead the Spanish giants at the Club World Cup in the United States.

Alonso worked wonders at Leverkusen, taking the serial underachievers to the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history, despite having never managed at the top level.

Under Alonso, Leverkusen won the league title without losing a match in 2023-24; no club, not even the best Bayern sides or Jurgen Klopp’s barnstorming Dortmund side, had gone through a league season without defeat.

Ten Hag faces a summer rebuild in Leverkusen, with several Bundesliga-winning stars heading out of the door.

Centre-back Jonathan Tah has already confirmed his exit after 10 years at the club, with Bayern his likely destination.

Midfield playmaker Florian Wirtz and wing back Jeremie Frimpong also look set to leave, with Rolfes confirming on Monday that Liverpool had shown “concrete interest” in Wirtz.

Liverpool are reportedly also set to snap up Frimpong.

While Tah will leave on a free transfer, Wirtz and Frimpong will command high fees, giving the Dutchman money to work with.

Asked if he had already drawn up a transfer wishlist, Ten Hag said: “I have many wishes.”

Ten Hag will seek to rebuild Leverkusen alongside his own reputation, which took a hit during an unhappy time at United.

Calling Leverkusen “one of the best clubs in Germany,” Ten Hag said he wanted to “continue 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,” he added.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said on Tuesday that missing out on Champions League football could be a blessing in disguise in his attempts to rebuild the fallen giants.

The Portuguese coach addressed the media in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, fresh from United’s worst season since 1974, having come 15th in the Premier League.

They missed out on a Champions League lifeline — and with it a financial windfall — by losing to fellow strugglers Spurs 1-0 in the Europa League final last week.

“I have to say that for us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform better, to prepare better for games, to build that core that we need for the future”, said Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag during the season but failed to spark a turnaround.

“So I think it’s a good thing for us to take advantage not to have European games”, added Amorim, whose phone alarm went off during the press conference ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against a Southeast Asian XI, sparking laughter among members of the media.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, This ‘ Chapter Is Over’, Ronaldo Hints At Al-Nassr Exit

With money tight to get the right players in over the summer for his favoured formation, Amorim faces a stiff task to get United back among the elite next season.

“The target for now is to win the first game. We have a lot to do during this summer. We have to prepare the team”, he said.

“When you are Manchester United, people are going to expect us to be at the top. But we have to understand the context.

” I don’t want the team to think about a big target, just a small target by winning the first game and then to the second game, “added Amorim, who hinted he could give the fringe players a chance in their first post-season friendly.

United hope friendlies in Malaysia and against Hong Kong on Friday will bring in some much-needed revenue, with the BBC reporting that the trip will generate about $10 million (£7.8m) for the club.

Midfielder Mason Mount insisted he was delighted to arrive in steamy Kuala Lumpur despite jetting off just hours after the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Fans gathered at Kuala Lumpur’s airport to welcome the team on Monday evening.

” We got off the plane, there were hundreds of people waiting for us to take pictures and welcome us to the country. We’re excited to be over here and obviously looking forward to the game tomorrow, “he said.

This week, Kuala Lumpur is forecasting temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit), and the 84, 000-capacity Bukit Jalil national stadium will have thunderstorms on the day of the game.

Before Euro 2025 begins, England women’s goalkeeper Mary Earps announced on Tuesday that she would be retiring from international football.

The 32-year-old assisted the Lionesses in winning the Euro 2022 championship and was involved in their subsequent World Cup run.

Earps, who left Manchester United for Paris Saint-Germain last season, has made 53 starts for England.

In recent months, Chelsea’s 24-year-old Hannah Hampton has faced stiff competition for the England shirt.

Earps said on Instagram, “I have made the difficult decision to retire abroad.”

Ronaldo’s “Chapter Is Over,” hints at Al-Nassr Exit, is also worth reading.

“This decision has so many dimensions, some of which aren’t important right now,” he said, “but what it boils down to is this is the right time for me to step aside.”

You can trust that I wouldn’t be doing this unless I thought it was the right thing to do, even though it hurts, she said.