Overview
- Bayer Leverkusen announced on Thursday that 42-year-old Carles Martínez Novell will become head coach on a two-year deal that takes effect when his Toulouse contract expires on July 1.
- Martínez Novell leaves Toulouse after three seasons in which he guided the club to consecutive top‑11 Ligue 1 finishes and a run to the Coupe de France semi-finals.
- He replaces Kasper Hjulmand, who left after one season following a sixth-place Bundesliga finish and failure to requalify for the Champions League.
- The hire was a surprise after the club pursued other candidates, with Andoni Iraola linked to Liverpool and Filipe Luis moving to Monaco, and it ends a search that had delayed some transfer plans.
- Leverkusen described Martínez Novell as a modern coach who develops young players, a fit for a club still coping with rapid managerial turnover since Xabi Alonso’s departure last season.