Erik ten Hag joins Bayer Leverkusen as replacement for Xabi Alonso

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen has appointed former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag as Xabi Alonso’s replacement.

The Bundesliga club said Monday that the 55-year-old Ten Hag had signed a contract through 2027, making his return to coaching after he was fired by United in October.

He inherits a team that finished second in the Bundesliga and reached the German Cup semifinals this season. Leverkusen won both competitions under Alonso the year before and became the first unbeaten Bundesliga champion ever. Alonso left to take over as Real Madrid coach.

“In the past they were always innovative, they were always at the forefront, but in the last years they took a step forward to win titles. That’s what I’ve always lived by throughout my career. I want to win,” Ten Hag said at his presentation. “But I also want to win in a certain way ... playing dominant, attractive football to get people excited.”

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said the club had tried to sign Ten Hag already in early 2021, when he was still coach of Dutch heavyweight Ajax. Ten Hag led Ajax to three Eredivisie titles, and the Champions League semifinals in entertaining style in 2019.

“It didn't work out, but now,” said Rolfes, who said Ten Hag's style of attacking soccer fits at Leverkusen very well.

“He has also shown time and again in the past, whether it is (former Ajax stars) Frenkie de Jong or Ryan Gravenberch, that he can develop talents to a top international level and that is also important for us, that we keep rewriting these stories a little bit,” Rolfes said.

“It's important for development that you always have a goal, and that’s our goal too. Erik has proven that by winning titles in recent years, having been very successful both at Ajax and Manchester United. And that’s something that always drives us to be successful,” Rolfes said.

Ten Hag won two domestic cups in his two and a half years in charge at United but was fired after the club’s worst start to a season, with four defeats in nine league games.

United’s subsequent troubles under Ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim helped restore its former coach’s reputation. Ten Hag was United’s fifth manager in nine years when he took over.

“I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team," Ten Hag said.

Ajax wanted to bring Ten Hag back as Francesco Farioli’s replacement after his team’s late-season meltdown allowed PSV Eindhoven clinch the Eredivisie title, but Ten Hag said talks with Leverkusen were at such an advanced stage that he didn't consider a return.

At Leverkusen, Ten Hag will be charged with maintaining the team’s upward trajectory under Alonso, though he will need to do it with a much-changed side. Rolfes, who said Leverkusen aims to finish among the Bundesliga's top four for Champions League participation, said there will be changes to the team.

Captain Jonathan Tah is leaving after not renewing his contract, star player Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have been linked with Liverpool, and others have talked about leaving the club.

Rolfes confirmed Liverpool had been in touch about Wirtz but couldn't say whether he will stay or go, nor did he give any indication about what other players might join – just that he faces a busy summer ahead.

Ten Hag said he is relishing the challenge of a fresh start.

“That always happens when a team is so successful. Players will always be of interest and it's good. Players will definitely go, some are gone already, but I am certain we will have to build a new squad, and from that we will have to form a new team. That's a fantastic process,” he said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Erik ten Hag arrives for his presentation as new head coach of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Erik ten Hag arrives for his presentation as new head coach of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Erik ten Hag talks to the media during his presentation as new head coach of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Erik ten Hag poses during his presentation as new head coach of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Erik ten Hag smiles during his presentation as new head coach of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, Germany, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Manchester United's head coach Erik ten Hag leaves the pitch at half time during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Brentford at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — With the start of the New Year squarely behind us, it's once again time for the annual CES trade show to shine a spotlight on the latest tech companies plan on offering in 2026.

The multi-day event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association, kicks off this week in Las Vegas, where advances across industries like robotics, healthcare, vehicles, wearables, gaming and more are set to be on display.

Artificial intelligence will be anchored in nearly everything, again, as the tech industry explores offerings consumers will want to buy. AI industry heavyweight Jensen Huang will be taking the stage to showcase Nvidia's latest productivity solutions, and AMD CEO Lisa Su will keynote to “share her vision for delivering future AI solutions.” Expect AI to come up in other keynotes, like from Lenovo's CEO, Yuanqing Yang.

The AI industry is out in full force tackling issues in healthcare, with a particular emphasis on changing individual health habits to treat conditions — such as Beyond Medicine's prescription app focused on a particular jaw disorder — or addressing data shortages in subjects such as breast milk production.

Expect more unveils around domestic robots too. Korean tech giant LG already has announced it will show off a helper bot named “ CLOiD,” which allegedly will handle a range of household tasks. Hyundai also is announcing a major push on robotics and manufacturing advancements. Extended reality, basically a virtual training ground for robots and other physical AI, is also in the buzz around CES.

In 2025, more than 141,000 attendees from over 150 countries, regions, and territories attended the CES. Organizers expect around the same numbers for this year’s show, with more than 3,500 exhibitors across the floor space this week.

The AP spoke with CTA Executive Chair and CEO Gary Shapiro about what to expect for CES 2026. The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

Well, we have a lot at this year's show.

Obviously, using AI in a way that makes sense for people. We’re seeing a lot in robotics. More robots and humanoid-looking robots than we’ve ever had before.

We also see longevity in health, there’s a lot of focus on that. All sorts of wearable devices for almost every part of the body. Technology is answering healthcare’s gaps very quickly and that’s great for everyone.

Mobility is big with not only self-driving vehicles but also with boats and drones and all sorts of other ways of getting around. That’s very important.

And of course, content creation is always very big.

You are seeing humanoid robots right now. It sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t.

But yes, there are more and more humanoid robots. And when we talk about CES 5, 10, 15, 20 years now, we’re going to see an even larger range of humanoid robots.

Obviously, last year we saw a great interest in them. The number one product of the show was a little robotic dog that seems so life-like and fun, and affectionate for people that need that type of affection.

But of course, the humanoid robots are just one aspect of that industry. There’s a lot of specialization in robot creation, depending on what you want the robot to do. And robots can do many things that humans can’t.

AI is the future of creativity.

Certainly AI itself may be arguably creative, but the human mind is so unique that you definitely get new ideas that way. So I think the future is more of a hybrid approach, where content creators are working with AI to craft variations on a theme or to better monetize what they have to a broader audience.

We’re seeing all sorts of different devices that are implementing AI. But we have a special focus at this show, for the first time, on the disability community. Verizon set this whole stage up where we have all different ways of taking this technology and having it help people with disabilities and older people.

Well, there’s definitely no bubble when it comes to what AI can do. And what AI can do is perform miracles and solve fundamental human problems in food production and clean air and clean water. Obviously in healthcare, it’s gonna be overwhelming.

But this was like the internet itself. There was a lot of talk about a bubble, and there actually was a bubble. The difference is that in late 1990s there were basically were no revenue models. Companies were raising a lot of money with no plans for revenue.

These AI companies have significant revenues today, and companies are investing in it.

What I’m more concerned about, honestly, is not Wall Street and a bubble. Others can be concerned about that. I’m concerned about getting enough energy to process all that AI. And at this show, for the first time, we have a Korean company showing the first ever small-scale nuclear-powered energy creation device. We expect more and more of these people rushing to fill this gap because we need the energy, we need it clean and we need a kind of all-of-the-above solution.

A Coro breastfeeding monitor is pictured at a Coroflo booth during the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Yonbo X1 robots are pictured at the X-Orgin booth during the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

A Tombot robotic puppy is pictured at a Tombot booth during the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

People arrive at the CES Unveiled tech show Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)