Erik ten Hag Declines Twente Offer, Prioritising Bayer Leverkusen Severance Package

Key Takeaways:

• Erik ten Hag reportedly rejected an approach from his boyhood club Twente following his recent dismissal by Bayer Leverkusen
• Ten Hag stands to retain a Bayer Leverkusen severance package of approximately £4.3 million if he remains out of management for now
• Twente are currently seeking a new manager, sitting 13th in the Eredivisie after five matches this season

Ten Hag Turns Down Twente Amid Severance Considerations

Erik ten Hag has declined the opportunity to lead Eredivisie side Twente, despite his affection for the club, in the aftermath of his abrupt sacking by Bayer Leverkusen. According to SportingPedia sources, the Dutchman’s decision comes as he seeks to safeguard the severance payout he is due from the Bundesliga club.

Only two matches into his tenure with Bayer Leverkusen, Ten Hag was relieved of his duties, with the German outlet Bild estimating his severance to be around £4.3 million – equating to roughly £69,000 per day worked. The terms of this compensation stipulate that it will be paid out over time, but accepting another managerial position would reportedly jeopardise these payments.

🚨 #FCTwente
Erik ten Hag has received a formal offer from FC Twente.

🔺Some clubs have also held talks, but Twente’s offer is the only one on the table. pic.twitter.com/PjoAAeNpbi

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) September 16, 2025

Twente’s approach comes at a challenging moment for the club. Currently positioned 13th in the Eredivisie, just two points clear of the automatic relegation zone after five fixtures, they are searching for a new manager to steer them away from the lower reaches of the table.

Deep Roots Between Ten Hag and Twente

Twente’s disappointment is heightened by Ten Hag’s longstanding ties to the club. An academy graduate, he made 262 appearances across three separate stints as a player, captaining them to KNVB Cup success in 2001 – a feat achieved only three times in the club’s history. His affection is well documented as the former Manchester United manager described Twente as his “big love”.

His managerial journey began shortly after retiring as a player at Twente in 2003, working with the club’s under-17s and later leading the under-19s before becoming an assistant to the senior side. Though he moved on before Twente’s 2008 league triumph under Steve McClaren, he had already established a reputation for his tactical acumen and leadership.

Ten Hag’s Career Highlights and Influences

Prior to his stint at Manchester United, Ten Hag built a formidable record at Ajax, winning three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups and guiding the club to the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League. He last managed in the Netherlands in 2022 before moving to Old Trafford.

Ten Hag’s outlook on football has been shaped by mentor Epi Drost, his youth-team coach at Twente, remembered for championing creativity and adventurous play. Drost’s untimely death in 1995 had a profound impact on Ten Hag, as did the tragic fireworks disaster in Enschede during his third spell as a Twente player, which claimed 23 lives and injured 950 people.

In a 2021 interview, Ten Hag reflected on the deep connection between Twente’s 2001 cup triumph and the healing of the city after the Enschede tragedy, saying: “When I think of the cup final, I think of the euphoria, the happiness, the sensation. It is a prize that is inextricably linked to the fireworks disaster”. He added, “Without wanting to overestimate the importance of football, winning the cup gave the city back some pride a year after the disaster.”

Current Twente Situation and Ten Hag’s Future

Despite having long expressed a desire to return to Twente, Ten Hag has opted not to take up the reins, leaving the club to seek alternative solutions during a difficult campaign.