Following the disappointing events at The Hague, Hjulmand assumes control at Bayer Leverkusen

New Coach Kasper Hjulmand Takes the Reins at Bayer Leverkusen

Kasper Hjulmand, the former Danish national coach, has been appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, with a contract lasting until 2027. Hjulmand will officially be presented on Wednesday, following the departure of Erik Ten Hag just two league games into the season.

Hjulman's tenure at Bayer Leverkusen began on an auspicious note, as he led the team to a 3-1 win at home against Eintracht Frankfurt in his first game in charge, which took place in early September 2025.

The Danish coach has a history with Bayer Leverkusen, having been involved with the club for several years. In fact, it was Hjulmand who personally recommended Ismael Camenforte to the German club. Camenforte, who was previously an assistant coach to Hjulmand at the Danish national team, has been active with Bayer Leverkusen in parallel.

Bayer Leverkusen's CEO, Fernando Carro, was convinced by Hjulmand's principles of team leadership, and the sporting director, Simon Rolfes, has stated that Hjulmand will work towards restoring a clear and dominant playing style.

Many key players like Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, or Jeremie Frimpong have left Bayer Leverkusen and been replaced by new players. The first Bundesliga game under Hjulmand's leadership against Eintracht Frankfurt marks a new era for the club.

Hjulmand led the Danish national team to the semi-finals of the 2021 European Championship, which was postponed due to the corona pandemic. However, the Danish team exited the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Prior to his tenure at the Danish national team, Hjulmand coached in the Bundesliga for Mainz 05, but was released after three-quarters of a year. The 2024 Champions League winners, Bayern Munich's honorary president Uli Hoeness, questioned why Erik ten Hag wasn't given more time for the tricky overhaul in Leverkusen.

Hjulmand's last game as national coach was a 0:2 loss against Germany in the 2024 European Championship round of 16. Despite this setback, Hjulmand expressed enthusiasm about taking on the challenge at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, citing motivation from the task and looking forward to shaping the future of the club.

With Hjulmand at the helm, Bayer Leverkusen fans are hopeful for a successful season ahead. The first Bundesliga game under Hjulmand's leadership against Eintracht Frankfurt promises to be an exciting match, as the new coach begins his journey with the club.

Following the disappointing events at The Hague, Hjulmand assumes control at Bayer Leverkusen