Former Danish coach Kasper Fujlmand was hired to lead Bayer Lebakusen on Monday Erik Ten Hag Alternatives Following Dutchman’s sudden firing last week.
Hjulmand has left his job since leaving the Danish national team after four years of responsibilities following the final 16 exits at the 2024 European Championships.
Less than a year after Mainz in the 2014-15 season, it will be Hjulmand’s second stint at Bundesliga.
“I have always thought Bayer 04 was a very well managed, well structured, and very ambitious club,” said Hjulmand, 53. “This impression has been confirmed recently, and it’s an honor to entrust this team.”
After unbeaten entire domestic campaigns in the 2023-24 season, Lebaxen, who won the Bundesliga, needed a new coach after removing Ten Hag, who only had three games after a successful Xabi Alonso.
A tough start
Hjulmand signed the contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, facing a tricky debut at Eintracht Frankfurt’s home on Friday, returning to Denmark to face Copenhagen in the Champions League on 18th September.
He had not coached the Champions League at Nordsjaelland since the 2012-13 season. Nordsjaelland had one draw and five losses in that campaign, losing to Champions League qualifiers the following season.
Ten Hag’s departure
The former Manchester United manager has been tasked with rebuilding Leverkusen after major players, including Florian Wiltz, Granite Zaka and Jeremy Fripon, since Alonso left for Real Madrid at the end of last season.
However, Chaos quickly involved the club, with 10 HAGs questioning the club’s decision in the transfer market, collecting only one point from Leverkusen’s first two Bundesliga games. Hoffenheim They drew 3-3 with 10 enthusiastic Bremen before wasting a two-goal lead.
In that appeal, players ignored the instructions for 10 hugs and discussed the field about who would receive the penalty.
Hjulmand’s Leadership
Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro praised Hjulmand’s “transparent, communicative and empathetic style,” saying “a newly constructed team that can be developed requires clear guidelines.”
Hjulmand is recommended by key members of Alonso staff. Fitness coach Ismael Kamenforte worked in Denmark and in Hjulmand and Leverkusen until he left for Alonso and Madrid.
Hjulmand’s empathy and leadership qualities were particularly exhibited at the 2021 Danish Captain’s European Championship Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field After suffering cardiac arrest during the team’s first match against Finland.
Hjulmand was widely praised for his way of dealing with the emotional aftermath of Eriksen’s collapse and subsequent recovery, leading the Danes to the semi-finals, where he was defeated by Britain.
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AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth contributed to this report by Duesseldorf, Germany.
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