The whistle has blown on one era, and a fresh chapter begins for Bayer Leverkusen. The German club made it official this Monday: Kasper Hjulmand, the former Denmark national team coach, is taking over as head coach. The 53-year-old manager steps into the role previously held by Erik ten Hag. Hjulmand put pen to paper on a two-year deal, keeping him at the club until June 30, 2027.
Hjulmand shared his thoughts on the move, speaking to the club’s official website. “I’ve always seen Bayer Leverkusen as a very well-run, structured, and ambitious club,” he said. “That feeling has only gotten stronger over the last few days.” He spoke of the honor of being trusted to lead such a team. “I’m really motivated. After all the great things this club has achieved, I want to help write the next part of Bayer Leverkusen’s story. We’ll do it together, with both seasoned players and bright young talents.”
Simon Rolfes, the club’s executive and sporting director, expressed his excitement. He confirmed that the club is “very happy” to have Hjulmand aboard. “We’ve been keeping a close eye on Kasper’s work for quite some time,” Rolfes explained. He revealed a deeper connection, noting that Ismael Camenforte, Hjulmand’s assistant with the Danish national team, had also worked with Leverkusen. “Kasper himself recommended Ismael to us back then,” Rolfes added. “So, we truly know his coaching methods in detail. He also got to know Bayer Leverkusen very well over these past few years.” Rolfes believes Hjulmand will bring a “clear and dominant” playing style to the team. “He’s the perfect person to turn our renewed Werkself into a top team. A team ready to chase the highest goals, both at home and on the international stage.”
Hjulmand isn’t a stranger to German football. He has a history in the Bundesliga, which means he’ll be reuniting with some familiar faces at Bayer Leverkusen. He coached Jonas Hofmann during their time together at Mainz. Also waiting for him is Keld Bordinggaard. Bordinggaard is now in charge of the Coach Academy at Bayer Leverkusen, but he was Hjulmand’s assistant back in their Mainz days.
The club extended a warm welcome on social media: