Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Who Is Kasper Hjulmand? Bayer Leverkusen Announce New Head Coach

Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Bayer Leverkusen have announced Kasper Hjulmand as their new head coach. He has been brought on after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag after just three games in charge. The Bundesliga club confirmed that Hjulmand has signed a contract running until 2027.

This marks the start of a new chapter for the former Mainz coach at the BayArena. Ten Hag’s departure came only weeks after he succeeded Xabi Alonso. He left Leverkusen for Real Madrid following a historic double-winning campaign in the 2023-24 season.

Under Ten Hag, the team managed just one point from their opening two Bundesliga matches. This prompted swift action from the club hierarchy. Sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted that hiring Ten Hag was a mistake but said continuing with him would have been “an even bigger mistake.”

Our new head coach – Kasper Hjulmand takes charge of the Werkself until 2027! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/0anwKDo0Wq
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 8, 2025

Who is Kasper Hjulmand?

Hjulmand, 53, is widely respected for his tactical acumen and player development skills. He spent four years in charge of the Denmark national team. He guided them to the Euro 2020 semifinals and secured qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Before that, he made his mark in club football with Nordsjælland.

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He led that team to their only Danish Superliga title in the 2011-12 season. He also had a short spell in the Bundesliga with Mainz during the 2014-15 season. Leverkusen’s management expressed strong confidence in their new appointment. Speaking on the appointment, Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes said:

“We are delighted to have signed Kasper Hjulmand, whose work we have been following closely for a long time. He will now work with our team to develop a clear and dominant style of play once again. Kasper is the right person to develop our new Werkself back into a top team that will strive for the most ambitious national and international goals.”

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New Coach’s Vision for Bayer Leverkusen

Hjulmand will begin his tenure at the club at home against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. Leverkusen will be determined to secure their first Bundesliga win of the season under the guidance of their new coach. Ahead of that, Hjulmand has praised the club’s structure and ambitions. Speaking enthusiastically about the opportunity, he said:

“I’ve always regarded Bayer 04 as a very well-run, well-structured and highly ambitious club. This impression has been confirmed in recent days. It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team. After outstanding success in the past, I’m very motivated by the task of shaping the future of Bayer Leverkusen with both proven and exciting new players.”

Bayer Leverkusen

Kasper Hjulmand

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.