Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the first person to be "dug up" by a group of former Manchester United coaches in just 4 days of the weekend. He was sacked by Besiktas after the team failed to qualify for the Europa Conference League this season.
Less than 24 hours later, it was Solskjaer's predecessor at Old Trafford - Jose Mourinho - whose contract was terminated by Fenerbahce after failing to qualify for the Champions League group stage.
These two decisions did not surprise much, as both Solskjaer and Mourinho experienced unforgettable losses in the European Cup. In particular, Mourinho has also made the atmosphere in Istanbul chaotic and controversial during his 12 months in power.
However, when Erik ten Hag became the third former "Red Devils" manager to lose his job in just a few days - sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just three games in charge - the surprise spread.
In fact, Ten Hag has entered a risky challenge. That was Xabi Alonso's arrival in the summer of the club's departure from a series of key players. Before that, Alonso and his team made a miracle with the first Bundesliga championship - a legacy that was too heavy for his successor.
German media described Ten Hag as " stubborn" and said he had lost his reputation with the Leverkusen board when publicly discussing the desired transfer deals.
In addition, the Dutch strategist also had difficulty communicating with players, staff and board members. At the same time, Ten Hag lacks enthusiasm - a factor that is characteristic of many German coaches.
This does not surprise experts, because during his time leading Man United, Ten Hag was often confused in conveying his views at press conferences. Many times, the club's coaching staff had to explain to the media on his behalf.
Ten Hag's lack of enthusiasm was also pointed out at Old Trafford. Former assistant coach Benni McCarthy commented last year: "In modern football, I believe that players want to see more passion in coaches.
They need to feel that the coach is always by their side and ready to fight with them. Tactically, I think Ten Hag is at his peak, but he lacks a little passion, a little passion."
In fact, Ten Hag was at a disadvantage from the start at Leverkusen, because he was not the number one choice. The person the BayArena team is really targeting is Cesc Fabregas - a young, attractive coach expected to recreate Alonso's image. However, Como did not accept Fabregas' departure, and so Ten Hag received a reluctant nod.
Man United were rewarded for their patience with Ten Hag in 2022. At that time, he took the team to third place in the Premier League and helped the "Red Devils" end 6 years without a trophy with the Carabao Cup championship.
However, by the summer of 2024, that trust had become a double-edged sword. Ten Hag was retained despite only finishing eighth in the Premier League, thanks to a surprise win over Man City in the FA Cup final.
Bayer Leverkusen's appointment of Ten Hag shows that he still receives a certain respect, despite the controversial end of his time at Old Trafford. Even his time at Old Trafford was seen as "easier" as the situation under Ruben Amorim worsened.
However, instead of restoring his reputation, Ten Hag continued to sink deeper and set an unwanted record. He is the first Bundesliga captain in history to be sacked after just two games in charge.
Ten Hag's future is currently extremely uncertain. Returning to Eredivisie - where he was a great success and also a favorite transfer market - is probably the most reasonable choice, although quite modest. Ajax, with new coach Johnny Heitinga not making an impression, will certainly always have a wide open door to welcome him.
