Filipe Luís Favoured to Take Bayer Leverkusen Job After Disappointing 2025–26 Finish
Bayer Leverkusen target Filipe Luís as head coach after a sixth-place 2025–26 finish, opening a recruitment drive to restore Champions League ambitions.
Bayer Leverkusen will begin a managerial transition after a campaign that left the club outside Europe’s elite competition next season. The club secured just five wins in their final 13 Bundesliga matches in the 2025–26 season and finished sixth, behind VfB Stuttgart and Hoffenheim. That standing means Leverkusen will not play in the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League and has triggered a review of the coaching setup. Kasper Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag in September 2025, is expected to depart if the club appoints a new permanent manager.
Leverkusen conclude season with run of inconsistent results
A poor final stretch of form defined Leverkusen’s 2025–26 campaign and cost the side a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Five victories from the last 13 league fixtures represented a dip from the consistency the club sought after the mid-season managerial change. The run highlighted defensive lapses and a lack of cutting edge in key moments, especially against mid-table opponents.
Those late-season performances will weigh heavily on the boardroom as directors assess both immediate needs and the longer-term coaching profile. The club’s recruitment and tactical identity will be central to the search, with expectations high that Leverkusen should consistently challenge for European places. Supporters and stakeholders will demand a plan that reverses the slide and restores the club’s place among Germany’s elite.
Filipe Luís emerges as the leading external candidate
Internal discussions at Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly focused on Filipe Luís as the primary external candidate to lead the first team. The 40-year-old Brazilian coach is understood to be at the front of the queue in negotiations, with the club evaluating his suitability to implement a clear tactical framework. Luís’s name has risen quickly as the club seeks a manager who can blend defensive organisation with aggressive attacking transitions.
Leverkusen’s hierarchy is also assessing additional candidates, keeping a small shortlist should talks with Luís prove unsuccessful. The need to move swiftly is apparent given the club’s recruitment timeline and the imperative to prepare for the 2026–27 season. Any appointment will be measured against the immediate requirement to stabilise results and the longer-term ambition of returning to Champions League competition.
Luís’s recent managerial résumé and coaching profile
Filipe Luís transitioned into management following a distinguished playing career that included lengthy service at Atlético Madrid. He took charge of one of Brazil’s leading clubs in September 2024 and steered that side to domestic success, claiming the national league title and lifting the Copa Libertadores. Those achievements elevated his profile as a coach capable of delivering silverware under pressure.
Despite that successful period, Luís was dismissed from the Brazilian job in March 2026, leaving him available for a return to European football. His coaching style has been described as a pragmatic blend of organisation and counter-attacking intent, shaped by his defensive background as a full-back. Club decision-makers will weigh his continental experience and recent trophies against the realities of adapting to the Bundesliga’s tactical demands.
Managerial expectations and tactical priorities at Leverkusen
The incoming coach will face a remit to re-establish a clear identity while integrating a squad assembled for higher-level competition. Leverkusen’s recruitment in recent windows has emphasised dynamic attack and ball progression, requiring a manager who can harmonise those strengths with greater defensive resilience. The club’s technical directors want a coach who can develop young talent while delivering consistent league results.
Tactical flexibility will be prized, with opponents in the Bundesliga varying between technical possession sides and direct, transitional teams. The new manager must also manage fixture congestion and squad rotation without sacrificing performance standards. European experience will be an advantage, given the club’s ambition to return to continental competitions as soon as possible.
Boardroom process and likely timeline for appointment
The club’s sporting directors are understood to be leading the recruitment process and will prioritise a swift resolution to allow for pre-season planning. Negotiations with prospective candidates are likely to continue into the summer transfer window, with a view to announcing a new head coach ahead of pre-season training. Timing is crucial to secure early input on transfers, tactical work and conditioning programs.
Should Filipe Luís complete negotiations successfully, the club will move to formalise terms and initiate a handover process with the existing coaching staff. If talks falter, Leverkusen have alternative options lined up to avoid a protracted vacancy. The board will balance the need for a considered selection against the operational necessity of having a permanent manager in place before competitive matches resume.
Implications for Kasper Hjulmand and the playing squad
Kasper Hjulmand took charge in September 2025 with the aim of steadying the team, but the sixth-place finish has left his future in doubt. The coach’s tenure, while marked by occasional positives, could end if the club determines that a fresh voice is required to meet strategic objectives. Contractual and transitional details will be managed confidentially as the club formalises any change.
Players will face a period of uncertainty until a new manager’s methods and selection preferences are clarified. Some squad members may benefit from a fresh start, while others could find their roles redefined under different tactical systems. The summer will be a critical period for transfers and contract negotiations, with the incoming coach expected to have significant input into the final shape of the squad.
Leverkusen’s supporters will watch developments closely as the club seeks a manager who can restore momentum and return the team to Champions League contention. The appointment process will test the club’s recruitment acumen and signal its ambitions for the medium term. The chosen coach will inherit a squad with potential but face immediate pressure to turn promise into consistent results.
