Bayer Leverkusen appoints former Denmark boss Hjulmand after Ten Hag dismissal
Bayer Leverkusen appoints former Denmark boss Hjulmand after Ten Hag dismissal
Bayer Leverkusen has appointed former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand as its new coach on a two-year contract following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, the Bundesliga club said on Monday.
Hjulmand, 53, guided Denmark to the semifinals of Euro 2020, where it lost in extra time to England, and stepped down after its 2-0 defeat by Germany in the last 16 of Euro 2024, ending a four-year spell.
The Dane previously coached Mainz 05 in the 2014-15 Bundesliga season and has now returned to German football to take over last season’s runner-up Leverkusen.
“I have always regarded Bayer Leverkusen as a very well-run, well-structured, and highly ambitious club. This impression has been confirmed in recent days,” Hjulmand said.
“It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team. The task greatly motivates me, and after outstanding successes in the past, I am eager to shape the future of Bayer Leverkusen together with both proven and exciting new players.”
Ten Hag was sacked after two Bundesliga matches. The Dutchman, who had been out of management since his sacking by Manchester United in October, replaced Xabi Alonso in May, after the Spaniard left to take over at Real Madrid.
Alonso had led Leverkusen to a double in the 2023-24 campaign, where it lifted its first Bundesliga title and its second German Cup without losing a game.
Hjulmand is now tasked with emulating Alonso’s successful spell, a challenge made all the more difficult by the close-season departures of several key players, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka.
Following their exits, Leverkusen spent around 170 million euros ($199.80 million) to rebuild its squad, bringing in Ibrahim Maza, Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, Mark Flekken, among others.
“A newly assembled and developing squad like ours needs clear direction and will benefit from Kasper’s transparent, communicative, and empathetic style,” Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said.
Leverkusen resumes its league campaign on Friday at home against Eintracht Frankfurt before visiting Copenhagen on September 18 in their Champions League opener.
Published on Sep 08, 2025
