Sports
Bayer Leverkusen Sack Erik ten Hag After Three Games
Erik ten Hag’s stint as Bayer Leverkusen manager has come to an abrupt end after just three matches, with the club confirming his dismissal following a poor start to the season.
The 55-year-old Dutch coach arrived in the summer on a two-year contract, stepping in after Xabi Alonso left the Bundesliga champions to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
However, Ten Hag failed to convince either the players or the board that he was the right man to lead the team through a period of significant transition.
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Leverkusen’s competitive season began with a 4–0 DFB-Pokal victory over Sonnenhof Grossaspach, though their lower-league opponents had two players sent off.
A 2–1 Bundesliga defeat to Hoffenheim followed, before Saturday’s collapse against Werder Bremen, where Leverkusen squandered a 3–1 advantage and drew 3–3 despite Bremen being reduced to 10 men.
The club’s turbulent summer transfer window only added to the challenge.
Key figures Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong departed for Liverpool, captain Granit Xhaka joined Premier League newcomers Sunderland, while Lukas Hradecky and Amine Adli moved to Monaco and Bournemouth respectively.
Taking over from Alonso whose attacking philosophy and personality made him a fan favourite was always going to be a tough assignment.
Reports suggest the squad did not respond well to Ten Hag’s training style or man-management, prompting Leverkusen to make an early change.
A source close to the decision admitted: “The collapse against Werder Bremen did not help and, of course, the opening day loss at home to Hoffenheim was also an ugly way for the season to start, but this is really about what those results describe, rather than what they literally represent… this quick decision is not necessarily a wrong one.”
Ten Hag had previously been sacked by Manchester United in October 2024, leaving the team in 14th place despite winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.
Portuguese football tactician Carlos Queiroz has made a surprise return as head coach of Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars.
The Ghana Football Association announced the 73-year-old’s reappointment on Thursday, weeks after he appeared to signal his departure from the team following their exit from the FIFA World Cup.
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Queiroz took charge of Ghana in April and guided the Black Stars to the last 32 of the tournament before they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Shortly after the loss, the Portuguese coach appeared to announce his departure on social media.
However, following subsequent discussions, the Ghana FA has decided to bring him back for another spell.
The duration of Queiroz’s new contract was not disclosed, but the football association said he would be tasked with preparing the Black Stars for “a successful new phase on the international stage.”
The GFA said Queiroz’s extensive international experience, technical expertise and knowledge of the Black Stars made him the right man to lead the team into its next chapter.
Queiroz has managed several national teams, including Portugal, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, Colombia and Qatar.
He also had two spells as assistant manager at Manchester United under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
His immediate priority will be Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the qualifiers scheduled to begin later this month.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia, although the dates and venues for their opening two matches are yet to be announced.
The Ghana FA said further details on Queiroz’s mandate would be released in due course.
Nigerian winger Femi Azeez has completed a remarkable rise from non-league football to the Premier League after joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Millwall on a four-year contract.
The transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was completed after Brighton and Millwall submitted a deal sheet before the initial 11pm transfer deadline, extending the window until 1am on Wednesday.
Azeez, 25, joins Brighton following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Millwall, where he played a key role in the club’s push for the Championship play-offs.
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The Nigerian made 77 appearances for Millwall, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. His impressive performances also earned him places in the PFA and EFL Championship Teams of the Season.
Brighton sporting director Mike Cave welcomed Azeez to the club, describing him as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship.
“We are delighted to add Femi to the squad. He arrives off the back of an excellent season with Millwall, having played a key role for them as they finished in the playoffs,” Cave said.
“He was one of the most exciting attacking talents in the Championship, and we’re delighted to have finally agreed his transfer, and we now look forward to working with him.”
Azeez’s journey to the Premier League has been unconventional. After spending time in Watford’s youth setup, he moved into non-league football with Northwood before spells at Wealdstone and Hanwell Town.
He subsequently earned a move to Reading in 2019 before joining Millwall in 2024, steadily working his way up the English football pyramid.
The winger has also made a strong start to his international career with Nigeria. On his senior debut in June, Azeez scored both goals in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Four days later, he provided an assist as Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0.
Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has been convicted of drink-driving in Gran Canaria, Spain, after a court found him to have been driving with an alcohol level more than three times above the legal limit.
A court source confirmed the conviction to AFP on Wednesday, stating that the 23-year-old centre-back was fined €14,400 ($16,700) and had his driving licence suspended for eight months.
The case followed an incident on August 16 and was heard at a trial in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria.
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Asencio, who is from the Canary Islands, was not with Real Madrid’s squad at the time of the incident as he was recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of July.
The conviction comes amid another legal case involving the defender. Asencio is due to face a separate court hearing in Gran Canaria over the alleged non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023.
Spanish media reports say Asencio expects to be cleared in that case if the two women filmed in the video formally forgive him.
Three former Real Madrid reserve players are also on trial over allegations that they recorded and distributed the video. The trial is scheduled for September 3, 4 and 7.
The latest conviction adds to a difficult period for the young Real Madrid defender, who has been dealing with both injury and legal issues off the pitch.
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