Bayer Leverkusen have made a swift change in the dugout, dismissing head coach Kasper Hjulmand and immediately naming Carles Martinez as his replacement. The Bundesliga club confirmed the moves in an official statement on Tuesday.
Martinez arrives at the BayArena from Ligue 1 side FC Toulouse, putting pen to paper on a contract that runs until 2028. The Catalan coach takes over a talented Leverkusen squad with immediate effect, leaving the French club to embark on a new challenge in Germany.
The departure of Hjulmand brings an end to his tenure at the club. While results under the Dane had been mixed, the Leverkusen hierarchy opted to go in a different direction to revitalize the team's campaign.
Martinez is seen as a coach with a modern, forward-thinking approach. His work at Toulouse garnered attention for developing young players and playing an attractive brand of football. The Spanish tactician now gets the opportunity to test his methods at one of the Bundesliga's most ambitious clubs.
The long-term deal underscores the faith Leverkusen have in Martinez, who will be tasked with guiding the team back into European competition and challenging for honours. Fans will be eager to see how his philosophy translates onto the pitch in the coming weeks.
With the coaching transition now complete, all focus now turns to the upcoming fixtures. Martinez faces a busy schedule as he looks to quickly imprint his style and rally the squad for a strong finish to the season.
Based on reporting from Kicker.