Bayer Leverkusen announced on Thursday the appointment of Spaniard Carles Martinez Novell as manager, replacing former coach Kasper Hjulmand with immediate effect.
42-year-old Martinez Novell, who resigned as coach of Toulouse at the end of the 2025/26 season, signed a contract until 2028.
The appointment continues the instability in the club’s coaching ranks since the departure of two-time winning manager Xabi Alonso at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Leverkusen appointed former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of last season, but the Dutchman lasted just two league games before being replaced by Hjulmand.
Hjulmand initially steadied the ship but failed to guide Leverkusen back to Champions League qualification, with German media reporting that the club was already looking for a successor during the season.
German sports channel Kicker had reported that Leverkusen was in the final stages of finalizing a deal for former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, but the Basque has since emerged as the leading candidate to take over the Liverpool job following the sacking of Arne Slot.
Martinez Novell was assistant to Philippe Montanier when Toulouse won the 2024 French Cup, the first major trophy in their history, before taking charge in the dugout.
The Spaniard guided Toulouse to ninth place in Ligue 1 this season, along with a run to the semi-finals of the French Cup.
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Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes praised Martinez Novell’s work with younger players and said he was the «most suitable» coach for the next phase of the club’s development.
«Carles is a coach with clear principles and a modern view of the game. We are convinced that he can give the right impetus to our sporting future,» he said in a statement.
Martinez Novell will speak at an introductory news conference on Friday.
Published on June 4, 2026
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