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Bayer Leverkusen have made an unexpected managerial move by appointing former Toulouse manager Carles Martinez Novell as their new head coach on a two-year deal. The 42-year-old Spaniard steps in to replace Kasper Hjulmand at the BayArena after Leverkusen’s attempts to secure Andoni Iraola and Filipe Luis did not materialise.

Leverkusen confirm Hjulmand’s replacement

Following an intense summer search, Leverkusen have officially named Martinez as their next head coach. The Spaniard has signed a contract valid until June 2028 and will officially take charge of the Werkself in July. He succeeds Hjulmand, who departs after less than one full season at the helm. The Bundesliga club turned to the ex-Toulouse boss after negotiations with Iraola and Luis broke down.

Former Barcelona academy coach joins Leverkusen

Martinez, who previously worked as a goalkeeper, spent three years managing Toulouse. He initially joined as an assistant before taking over as head coach in 2023. Under his guidance, Toulouse finished 11th in Ligue 1 during his first season, then improved to 10th the following year and ended the 2025-26 campaign in ninth place.

The 42-year-old, who also gained coaching experience within the youth setups at Espanyol and Barcelona, inherits a Leverkusen squad looking to bounce back from a disappointing campaign. After Xabi Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid, the season began poorly under Erik ten Hag, resulting in his early dismissal. Hjulmand managed to stabilise results but could only guide the team to a sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga, confirming their participation in next season’s Europa League.

Leverkusen praise ‘modern’ managerial choice

Club executives highlighted Martinez’s tactical principles and background in youth development as key reasons behind his appointment. CEO Fernando Carro stated: “As Bayer 04, we have achieved substantial progress domestically and internationally in recent years. Our continuing aim is to remain competitive at the top level and strengthen our place among Europe’s elite clubs.

“We believe Carles Martinez, with his remarkable coaching credentials, matches this vision perfectly. He represents a modern managerial profile capable of nurturing our talented squad, maintaining high performance levels, and steering them toward concrete success.”

Managing Director for Sport Simon Rolfes added: “We carefully evaluated which coach best fits Bayer 04’s next stage of development. At Toulouse, Carles Martinez successfully shaped young players and built a cohesive, internationally diverse team.

“In addition to this, his technical expertise gained at FC Barcelona’s youth academy will be invaluable for Leverkusen. Carles is a coach with firm principles and a progressive football philosophy. We are confident he can provide the right direction for our future on the pitch.”

New era begins with European ambitions

Martinez now faces the immediate challenge of preparing his team for both domestic and European competitions.

He will aim to establish momentum before the summer transfer window closes, as Leverkusen’s management finally secure their preferred candidate following unsuccessful pursuits of Iraola, now at Liverpool, and Luis, who opted to join Monaco.