Bayer Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as their new head coach, succeeding Kasper Hjulmand, the club announced on Wednesday. The 42-year-old Spaniard joins Leverkusen after three years with French Ligue 1 side FC Toulouse, where he established a reputation for stability and developing young players.
Martínez Novell will take over on a free transfer, with his contract at Toulouse having recently expired. He has signed a two-year deal with Leverkusen, keeping him at the BayArena until 2028. During his time in France, he guided Toulouse to mid-table finishes after their promotion in 2022, culminating in a ninth-place finish in the recently completed season. He also served as a co-coach during their 2023 Coupe de France triumph.
“We have been following him intensively for some time,” said Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. “Carles Martínez Novell caught our eye because he brought a certain consistency to Toulouse and did so with many young players. Then we sat down with him after the season and he simply convinced us in the talks.”
Martínez Novell’s coaching career began in the youth academies of FC Barcelona and Espanyol Barcelona. He then gained experience as a youth coach in Qatar and Kuwait before joining Toulouse as a co-coach in 2022/23. He acknowledged the success of his compatriot Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, stating, “Xabi Alonso has shown how it can work at Bayer. What he has achieved is fantastic.” He intends to connect with Alonso’s assistant coach, Alberto Encinas, whom he knows well.
Leverkusen’s decision to appoint a Spanish coach was also influenced by the club’s existing squad composition, which includes three Spanish and two Argentinian players. Rolfes noted the club’s interest in Spanish coaches given the recent success of Spanish managers in European football. Martínez Novell also speaks French and English, providing further versatility.
The appointment comes after a disappointing end to the season for Leverkusen under Hjulmand, who took over after the second matchday of the previous campaign. While Hjulmand stabilised the team during the first half of the season, their form faltered in the second half, resulting in them missing out on Champions League qualification. “We would like to thank Kasper for what he has achieved. He took over the team in a difficult phase,” Rolfes said, “but the last few weeks did not allow us to believe in a continued collaboration.”
Martínez Novell emphasized his focus on possession-based football and building a strong connection with the fans. His arrival signals a new chapter for Leverkusen as they aim to return to the Champions League and build upon the foundations laid by Alonso.
