Ten Hag adds two fellow countrymen to Bayer Leverkusen's coaching staff

Bayer Leverkusen officially confirmed on Wednesday that Erik ten Hag has finalized his coaching staff as he prepares to begin his tenure at the Bundesliga club.

The announcement, made via the club’s official communication channels, ends speculation that had been circulating for weeks regarding Ten Hag’s desire to bring trusted compatriots Rogier Meijer and Andries Ulderink with him to Germany. That speculation has now become reality, with both Dutch coaches officially joining the Leverkusen technical team.

Andries Ulderink brings a wealth of experience to Leverkusen’s bench. Known for his tactical understanding and ability to develop players, he has previously worked as an assistant coach at clubs including FC Twente, Reading, and Rangers. Ulderink also collaborated with Ten Hag during their time together at De Graafschap and Jong Ajax, and their longstanding professional relationship is expected to be a strong foundation for the project at Leverkusen.

Rogier Meijer, meanwhile, is a more recent addition to the upper echelon of Dutch coaching. He spent the past few seasons as the head coach of NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie, where he was credited with steadying the club and implementing a progressive, possession-based playing style. His arrival adds further tactical nuance and recent head coaching experience to Ten Hag’s staff, a valuable asset as the club prepares for a challenging transition.

Another familiar face joining Ten Hag in Leverkusen is fitness coach Alesandro Schoenmaker. A highly regarded performance specialist, Schoenmaker previously worked with Ten Hag at Ajax and has experience across multiple European clubs, including Inter Milan and Crystal Palace. He will focus on optimizing player conditioning and injury prevention a key priority given the physical demands of Ten Hag’s high-intensity tactical system.

Joining the performance department is Miguel Angel Campos Vasquez, who has been appointed as Head of Performance. Unlike some of the other staff, Campos Vasquez has no prior working history with Ten Hag, but he brings extensive experience in sports science and player monitoring, having worked with top-tier clubs in Spain and beyond. His role will be pivotal in coordinating the physical data and recovery metrics across the squad, ensuring consistency in performance management.

The rest of the expanded technical and support staff includes several key figures who will continue their roles or take on enhanced responsibilities. These include David Thiel (goalkeeper coach), Markus Müller (rehabilitation), Jonas Rath (match analyst), Daniel Jouvin (set-piece coach), Marcel Daum (assistant analyst), Simon Lackmann (medical team), Malte Krüger (sports psychologist), and Prisca Volmary (nutritionist). The comprehensive nature of the staff highlights Leverkusen’s commitment to providing Ten Hag with all the tools necessary to implement his footballing philosophy at the highest level.

Ten Hag is set to begin preseason preparations with Bayer Leverkusen this coming Monday. The former Manchester United and Ajax manager inherits a side that has seen considerable success in recent years but is currently facing a summer of significant transition. The club has already lost three key players: attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and wing-back Jeremie Frimpong have both signed with Liverpool in big-money moves, while central defender Jonathan Tah has joined Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.

The departure of such influential figures marks a turning point for Leverkusen. Wirtz was not only one of the brightest young talents in German football but also the creative heartbeat of the team. Frimpong’s pace and dynamism on the right flank were central to the club’s attacking style, and Tah provided leadership and stability at the back. Replacing such pillars will be no easy task, but Ten Hag and his newly assembled staff have been brought in precisely to guide the club through this transitional phase.

Sources close to the club suggest that a number of new signings are expected in the coming weeks, with Leverkusen likely to reinvest a significant portion of the transfer income. Ten Hag is believed to be targeting technically gifted, tactically flexible players who can adapt quickly to his system, which emphasizes structured pressing, fluid movement, and positional discipline.

There is also speculation that Ten Hag may look to the Eredivisie for reinforcements, using his extensive knowledge of the Dutch market and player development system. Meanwhile, youth integration will remain a pillar of the club’s long-term strategy, with several academy prospects likely to be given chances to impress during preseason.

Despite the challenges ahead, there is a growing sense of optimism at Leverkusen. Ten Hag’s track record particularly his transformative work at Ajax has inspired confidence that he can build a competitive and exciting team, even amid squad changes. His ability to foster team identity, improve individual performance, and succeed with both experienced stars and young talents will now be tested in one of Europe’s most tactically demanding leagues.

With the coaching staff fully assembled and preseason about to begin, the stage is set for a new chapter at Bayer Leverkusen one shaped by Dutch influence, meticulous planning, and ambitious goals.