Kenya, Sept. 1 -- The football world was left reeling on September 1, 2025, as Bayer Leverkusen confirmed the sacking of Erik ten Hag after just three matches in charge, marking the third former Manchester United manager to be dismissed in a dramatic five-day span. This ex-Man Utd managers sacked wave began with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's abrupt exit from Besiktas on August 28, followed by Jose Mourinho's departure from Fenerbahce on August 29, and now culminates in ten Hag's downfall amid Leverkusen's winless start to the Bundesliga season.
The rapid-fire terminations highlight the precarious nature of managerial roles at high-pressure clubs, where even legends like these face swift repercussions for underperformance, sparking debates on patience levels in modern football and the lasting impact of their Manchester United legacies.
Ten Hag's brief stint at Leverkusen ended disastrously, with the club parting ways after a 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim and a chaotic 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen, where they squandered a two-goal lead against 10 men.
Appointed in May to replace Xabi Alonso, the Dutchman inherited a squad ravaged by departures, including Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool and Granit Xhaka to Sunderland, leaving gaps in creativity and leadership.
Despite a 4-0 DFB-Pokal win, internal criticisms over his rigid tactics, poor communication, and failure to integrate young signings like Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman sealed his fate.
In their statement, Leverkusen cited their inability to "build a successful team with this setup," with assistant coaches taking interim charge until they find a replacement.
Fans, still basking in Alonso's unbeaten title glory, expressed fury online, viewing ten Hag's appointment as a misstep in the club's post-success transition. The sequence started with Solskjaer's Besiktas dismissal on August 28, following a UEFA Conference League play-off exit to Lausanne-Sport on aggregate.
The Norwegian, who guided United to a second-place finish in 2020-21 before his own Old Trafford sacking, stabilised Besiktas to fourth in the Super Lig last season but couldn't deliver European progress, leading to a board decision to terminate his contract.
Just 10 hours later, on August 29, Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce following a loss to Benfica in the Champions League qualifying round.
The "Special One," United's 2016-18 Europa League winner, secured second place in the Turkish league but failed to end Fenerbahce's title drought, prompting a mutual parting despite his vocal defences.
These events, clustered around European setbacks, underscore Turkish clubs' impatience for continental success, with both managers receiving brief statements thanking their "efforts.
The wave of sackings among former Manchester United managers raises eyebrows about a potential 'curse' on United alumni, as three high-profile figures were dismissed within days, reflecting the club's post-Ferguson instability, during which eight managers have been hired since 2013.
Analysts point to the intense scrutiny these coaches face abroad, amplified by their United baggage, Solskjaer's interim heroics, Mourinho's trophies, and ten Hag's two domestic cups, yet all faltered under new pressures. For United, now managed by Ruben Amorim since November 2024, the irony is palpable, as their struggles (15th in the Premier League) mirror the turmoil that defined these ex-bosses' tenures.
Pundits like Gary Neville note the pattern of quick sackings reflects football's ruthlessness, urging clubs to grant more time for rebuilds amid squad overhauls.
The trio's predicaments also spotlight broader trends: Mourinho's Fenerbahce role highlighted his motivational prowess waning against tactical demands, Solskjaer's Besiktas spell showed his man-management strengths insufficient for European qualification, and ten Hag's Leverkusen flop exposed adaptation issues post-United.
As deadline day looms, Leverkusen eyes candidates like Hansi Flick, while Mourinho and Solskjaer attract Saudi interest. This saga serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring managers, emphasising that past glories at United don't guarantee longevity elsewhere.
In reflecting on this unprecedented wave of ex-Man Utd managers sacked, the events from August 28 to September 1, 2025, expose the volatile world of elite football management, where even proven tacticians like ten Hag, Mourinho, and Solskjaer face unforgiving timelines.
As clubs like Leverkusen, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas pivot swiftly, the focus shifts to rebuilding narratives, but the shadow of their United eras lingers, reminding all of the high stakes in the beautiful game.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.