BERLIN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Bayer Leverkusen has appointed Carles Martinez Novell as its new head coach, handing the Spaniard a contract until 2028 after parting ways with Kasper Hjulmand, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Thursday.
The 42-year-old will take charge on July 1 after leaving Toulouse, after his contract expires at the end of June.
Martinez guided Toulouse to ninth place last season and arrives without a transfer fee at the 2024 domestic double winners, who are seeking fresh momentum after missing out on Champions League qualification.
Hjulmand leaves after one season, although his deal had run until 2027. The Dane steadied Leverkusen after Erik ten Hag's difficult spell, but a sixth-place Bundesliga finish and a disappointing second half of the campaign fell short of the club's targets.
Leverkusen did reach the German Cup semifinals and the Champions League last 16 under Hjulmand, but frustration over limited playing time affected several squad members, including Eliesse Ben Seghir, Loic Bade and Malik Tillman.
"First of all, our thanks go to Kasper Hjulmand for his work and commitment last season," said Werner Wenning, chairman of Bayer Leverkusen's shareholders' committee. "At the same time, we are delighted to have secured Carles Martinez, an ambitious and modern football coach, for Bayer Leverkusen."
Chief executive Fernando Carro said Leverkusen wanted to remain competitive at the highest level and strengthen its position among Europe's leading clubs. "We are convinced that Carles Martinez, with his convincing profile as a coach, fits this ambition very well," Carro said.
"He embodies a modern type of coach who can develop our highly talented squad, lift it to a consistently high level and lead it to tangible success."
Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said Martinez had developed numerous young players at Toulouse and forged an international squad into a strong unit. Rolfes also pointed to Martinez's expertise from Barcelona's youth academy, saying the Catalan had clear principles and a modern playing idea.
