A seismic change is set to sweep through the BayArena in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season.
Just 12 months ago, delirium reigned in Leverkusen as Xabi Alonso, a man who arrived as a rookie manager, had etched his name into Die Werkself folklore by leading the club to its maiden German title without losing a single game.
Now, however, he has departed for the bright lights of Real Madrid, and replacing him in the white-hot glare of expectation is Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman comes armed with an up-and-down resume: architect of Ajax’s revival before embarking upon a tumultuous reign with Manchester United.
The challenges ahead of him now are nothing short of mountainous.
Leverkusen have lost four of their elemental forces—Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah—taking with them the very core of the team identity built under Xabi Alonso.
Online sports betting sites are also acutely aware of the task at hand.
The latest Bovada sports betting odds currently price Bayern Munich as the overwhelming 2/7 favourites to win the Bundesliga this season.
Leverkusen?
Way out at 7/1.
So, can Ten Hag match, let alone surpass, the soaring benchmarks set by his predecessor?
Let’s break down exactly what Leverkusen fans can expect as this new chapter unfolds.
A Tactically Disciplined Machine
Expect Leverkusen’s football to become sculpted, structured, and, above all, controlled.
At Ajax, ten Hag’s teams averaged 58% possession in Eredivisie title years, boasting pass completion rates north of 86%.
His approach is chess, not checkers: rapid combinations, shifting triangles, and surgical pressing.
What will this mean at Leverkusen?
The midfield and back four become staging grounds for relentless pressure.
Ten Hag’s blueprint is to compress space and regain the ball high, reducing opponents to mere spectators—a style as draining to play against as it is mesmerising to watch.
The data supports it: in his final full Ajax season, his team posted a staggering 11.8 recoveries per game in the opposition half, a hallmark of coordinated pressing.
Expect similar statistical fingerprints at the BayArena.
A New Generation Awaits
If there’s an area where ten Hag truly distinguishes himself, it’s his ability to unearth and develop young talent. Remember Ajax’s 2018/19 Champions League run?
Six of their regular starters were 23 or younger.
At Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho became a breakout sensation.
Ten Hag’s commitment is more than philosophy—it’s in the numbers: more than 40% of minutes at Ajax went to U23 players during his tenure.
For Leverkusen, this is a silver lining to the exodus.
Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane, and especially Jeanuël Belocian are ready to snatch the spotlight.
With Belocian and Arthur expected to step in where Tah and Frimpong departed, youth development will shift from a club slogan to a bottom-line necessity.
If patterns hold, at least two of these players will emerge as Bundesliga starters by midseason—a transition that could define the club’s title ambitions for years.
Malik Tillman: The New Conductor
All great Ten Hag teams orbit a creative force: Ziyech at Ajax, Fernandes at United.
With Wirtz departed and Leverkusen’s attack in flux, the baton is handed to Malik Tillman.
The American international arrives after a stellar campaign at PSV with 16 goals and five assists across all competitions, and the evidence is clear: Ten Hag wants his teams built around a technical, line-breaking No. 10.
MALIK TILLMAN GOALLLL 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) June 15, 2025
What makes Tillman stand out?
His ability to operate in tight pockets, break defensive lines with a drop of the shoulder or a quick one-two, and deliver in the final third.
Among midfielders in the Eredivisie last year, Tillman ranked in the top five for final-third entries and key passes per 90.
Expect Leverkusen’s attacks to flow through him—he’s more than just a replacement; he’s the new focal point.
Relentless Work Rate
Ten Hag doesn’t merely talk intensity—his training sessions are laboratories of endurance and tactical drilling.
Preseason in Rio wasn’t just a photo-op: GPS tracking showed players logging up to 20% more high-speed meters than the previous summer, according to team insiders.
Sessions are split: tactical sequences are rehearsed on repeat until every movement is automatic, then sandwiched with conditioning bursts designed to expand physical and mental limits.
The numbers paint a vivid picture: Ten Hag’s Manchester United consistently ranked in the Premier League’s top third for distance covered and sprints per match.
The gauntlet is clear—Leverkusen will not only out-think opponents, but also grind them down physically, a shift eager supporters will recognise in late-game performances.
Dominant, Spectacular Football
Ten Hag doesn’t just preach possession—he demands purpose
His Ajax sides led the Eredivisie in shots, expected goals, and goals scored; at United, Bruno Fernandes led the league in shot-creating actions.
What does this suggest for Leverkusen?
All signs point to high-octane, attacking football. Victor Boniface is set to become one of the Bundesliga’s must-watch strikers, as if he weren’t already: athletic, deft, and with elite movement off the ball.
Data reveals Boniface averaged 0.6 expected goals per 90 minutes last term—a top-six mark in Germany.
In midfield, Aleix García brings a passing range few can match: at Girona, only Toni Kroos completed more progressive passes per match among Europe’s top five leagues.
Expect their partnership to spark relentless transitions and unlock packed boxes, delivering football defined by clarity, precision, and a touch of drama.
The BayArena faithful, craving both results and spectacle, should brace for a campaign packed with highlight-reel moments.
