Bayer Leverkusen Appoints Kasper Hjulmand as New Manager
Kasper Hjulmand is the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen, tasked with implementing a bold style of play and maintaining the club's push for domestic and European honors.
“The task motivates me greatly - to shape the future of Bayer 04 Leverkusen with both proven and exciting new players...”
Bayer Leverkusen has confirmed the appointment of Kasper Hjulmand as their new manager, handing him a two-year contract until 2027. This move comes after the club parted ways with Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed last week due to a poor start to the Bundesliga season.
Hjulmand's appointment is a significant development for the German champions, who had a turbulent start to the season under Ten Hag. The Danish coach is expected to bring stability and a clear playing style to the team, with sporting director Simon Rolfes expressing confidence in Hjulmand's ability to develop the squad.
🇩🇰 Welcome to Leverkusen, Kasper Hjulmand! ⚫️🔴 pic.twitter.com/gr93SwmBe0
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 8, 2025
The 53-year-old Dane has a wealth of experience in football, having guided Denmark to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the last 16 of Euro 2024. He also won the Danish Superliga title with Nordsjaelland in 2011-12 and had a brief stint with Mainz in the Bundesliga during the 2014-15 season.
Hjulmand will take charge of his first game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday and will then lead Leverkusen into their Champions League opener against Danish champions Copenhagen. “It's an honour to be entrusted with such a team,” Hjulmand said, expressing his motivation to shape the future of Bayer Leverkusen.
Kasper Hjulmand is set to begin his new role as Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, taking over after Erik ten Hag's dismissal. He'll have his first training day on Wednesday and lead the team for the first time on Friday against Eintracht Frankfurt at home.
“I've always seen Bayer Leverkusen as a very well-run, structured, and ambitious club,” Hjulmand expressed. “That feeling has only gotten stronger over the last few days. I’m really motivated. After all the great things this club has achieved, I want to help shape the next part of Bayer Leverkusen’s story. We’ll do it together, with both seasoned players and bright young talents.”
In his new position, Hjulmand will aim to rebuild the squad following key player departures, including Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka. Leverkusen has invested around $199.8 million in new signings like Ibrahim Maza and Malik Tillman.
Hjulmand signed a contract until June 30, 2027, and has previously managed Denmark, leading them to the Euro 2020 semifinals and World Cup qualification in 2022.
“The task motivates me greatly - to shape the future of Bayer 04 Leverkusen with both proven and exciting new players, following the club’s outstanding successes in the past.”
Bayer Leverkusen parted ways with Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga games, citing a lack of progress in building a new and successful team. Ten Hag's tenure was marked by internal issues, including disagreements with players and coaching staff, which ultimately led to his dismissal. Despite winning his first match in charge, a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the German Cup, Leverkusen's poor start to the season, including a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, sealed his fate.
Ten Hag took over at Leverkusen in July, replacing Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid. The Dutch manager had a tough task ahead, guiding a team that lost key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jeremie Frimpong during the summer transfer window. Ten Hag's own experience has been marked by short-lived stints at top clubs, including his dismissal from Manchester United in October 2024.
Kasper Hjulmand has since been appointed as Leverkusen's new manager, signing a contract until 2027. The Danish coach brings valuable experience, having guided Denmark to the Euro 2020 semifinals. Hjulmand's first challenge will be to restore confidence and unity to the squad, which has endured significant upheaval. Leverkusen's sporting director expressed confidence in Hjulmand's ability to develop the team and re-establish a clear playing style.
“The task motivates me greatly - to shape the future of Bayer 04 Leverkusen with both proven and exciting new players, following the club’s outstanding successes in the past.”
Bayer Leverkusen parted ways with Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga games, citing a lack of progress in building a new and successful team. Ten Hag's tenure was marked by internal issues, including disagreements with players and coaching staff, which ultimately led to his dismissal. Despite winning his first match in charge, a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the German Cup, Leverkusen's poor start to the season, including a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, sealed his fate.
Ten Hag took over at Leverkusen in July, replacing Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid. The Dutch manager had a tough task ahead, guiding a team that lost key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jeremie Frimpong during the summer transfer window. Ten Hag's own experience has been marked by short-lived stints at top clubs, including his dismissal from Manchester United in October 2024.
Kasper Hjulmand has since been appointed as Leverkusen's new manager, signing a contract until 2027. The Danish coach brings valuable experience, having guided Denmark to the Euro 2020 semifinals. Hjulmand's first challenge will be to restore confidence and unity to the squad, which has endured significant upheaval. Leverkusen's sporting director expressed confidence in Hjulmand's ability to develop the team and re-establish a clear playing style.
“His assistant coach with Denmark, Ismael Camenforte, was also active with us for several years. Kasper personally recommended him to us back then. His training methodology is therefore well known within our club, and Kasper himself is familiar with Bayer 04 from recent years.
“He will now work with our team to re-establish a clear and dominant playing style. Kasper is the right person to develop our new Werkself into a top team again - one that will pursue the most ambitious national and international goals.”
Bayer Leverkusen had a mixed start to the season, winning three of their five pre-season games. However, their Bundesliga campaign began on a sour note with a 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen. Despite this, they did kick off their official season with a convincing 4-0 win over Grossaspach in the DFB Pokal.
“We're very pleased about the appointment of Kasper Hjulmand, whose work we've followed closely over a long period,” said Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes. This familiarity likely played a role in Hjulmand's appointment as the new manager, replacing Erik ten Hag who was dismissed after just two league games. Rolfes expressed confidence in Hjulmand's ability to establish a clear and dominant style of play, stating that the new manager will “set up a clear and dominant style of play with our team” and “strive for the most ambitious national and international goals.”
Hjulmand, who has signed a contract until 2027, brings valuable experience to the role, having guided Denmark to the Euro 2020 semi-finals. His first challenge will be to restore confidence and unity to the squad, which has endured significant upheaval, including the departures of key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jeremie Frimpong.
Key Highlights of Kasper Hjulmand's Appointment:
- Contract Details: Two-year deal until 2027
- Previous Experience: Former Denmark national team coach, guided Denmark to Euro 2020 semi-finals
- First Game: Against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday
- Champions League Debut: Against Copenhagen in the group-stage opener
With Hjulmand at the helm, Leverkusen aims to turn their season around and make a strong push for national and international success. Hjulmand expressed his motivation, saying, “It's an honour to be entrusted with such a team. I'm motivated to shape the future of the club.”
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