Leverkusen dismisses coach Kasper Hjulmand, appoints Carles Martinez

Bayer Leverkusen has parted ways with Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand after just one season at the helm. The Bundesliga club announced the decision, stating that Carles Martinez will take over as the new head coach.

Hjulmand's tenure saw Leverkusen qualify for the DFB Pokal semi-finals and reach the round of 16 in the Champions League. However, the club's sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga was deemed insufficient, leading to the change in management. Leverkusen chairman Werner Wenning thanked Hjulmand for his "work and engagement" but noted that the "sporting goals were not fully met."

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First and foremost, we would like to thank Kasper Hjulmand for his work and engagement in the past season. With qualification for the DFB Pokal semi-final and the round of 16 in the Champions League, important marks were set, even if the sporting goals were not fully met.

The club's decision comes after a season where they failed to replicate the success of the previous year under Xabi Alonso, which saw them win the German league title. Hjulmand, who previously coached Denmark's national team, took over the Leverkusen coaching role last September, succeeding Erik ten Hag.

Martinez, the newly appointed coach, most recently managed in France with Toulouse. Hjulmand himself did not comment on the departure in Leverkusen's announcement, and the club's statement primarily focused on Martinez's appointment.

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We wish him all the best for the future, both professionally and personally.