The club who famously never used to win anything headlined the profile of their new manager: “Experienced trophy collector”. Erik ten Hag might like that, the manager who in his final outing as Manchester United manager insisted the season would be a success if they won the Carabao Cup, even though they were 14th in the Premier League then. Which, Ten Hag may note, means they actually slipped down the table after his sacking.
But now he is Bayer Leverkusen manager, a year after ‘Neverkusen’ ditched their unwanted tag. Their unbeaten German double, their maiden Bundesliga title, their run to the Europa League final all helped forge Xabi Alonso such a reputation that he was targeted by Bayern Munich, of interest to Liverpool and, a year later, hired by Real Madrid.
