Bayer Leverkusen set to appoint Carles Martínez as new head coach, reports say
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly poised to appoint Carles Martínez as their new head coach, with multiple outlets saying the 42-year-old will sign a two-year deal after leaving Toulouse.
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly set to appoint Carles Martínez as their next head coach, according to multiple media reports, marking a swift move to replace Kasper Hjulmand. The club is said to have reached an agreement with Martínez following his exit from Toulouse, and the signing is expected to be announced in the coming days. The reported appointment would end an extended period of uncertainty around the Leverkusen dugout and signal a new direction at the BayArena.
Reports identify Martínez as Leverkusen’s preferred candidate
Members of the European football media have named Carles Martínez as the leading candidate to take charge at Bayer Leverkusen. Spanish outlet Marca, Sky Germany and Bild are among the publications reporting that Leverkusen have agreed terms with Martínez after his three-year spell in France. Those outlets say the move will be formalized once club and coach complete standard administrative and medical steps, with an announcement anticipated shortly.
The consensus across reports places Martínez at the centre of Leverkusen’s recruitment for the head coach role, rather than internal promotion or other external targets. Leverkusen’s decision to pursue Martínez follows weeks of speculation about the manager’s position and comes amid broader planning for the upcoming season. Club sources have not publicly confirmed the deal at the time of these reports.
Expected contract length and formalities
According to the reports, Martínez is expected to sign a two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen, a term that reflects the club’s desire for stability while retaining flexibility. The two-year length is being framed as a medium-term commitment that allows the club to evaluate footballing progress and alignment with sporting objectives across multiple competitions. Final details such as compensation structure, performance-related clauses and backroom appointments are understood to be part of ongoing discussions.
Leverkusen have not issued an official statement confirming the contract, and Martinez has not yet been presented publicly by the club. The completion of the agreement will require the standard regulatory and medical clearances demanded by Bundesliga procedures, as well as confirmation of any assistant coaches or technical staff who will accompany Martínez to the BayArena.
Martínez’s recent record and Toulouse tenure
Carles Martínez arrives with three seasons of senior head-coaching experience at Toulouse, where he has built his profile in Ligue 1 and European competition. Reports emphasize that Martínez left Toulouse as his contract expired, creating a free-agent situation that allowed Leverkusen to negotiate terms without a transfer fee for the coach. His time in France is credited with tactical progress and development of young players, characteristics that fit Leverkusen’s recent transfer and development model.
Observers point to Martínez’s ability to blend youth integration with competitive performance as a principal factor in Leverkusen’s interest. While precise statistics of wins, draws and losses vary with each season, Martínez’s work in Toulouse raised his visibility among clubs seeking a coach comfortable with developing talent and implementing a clear playing identity. His profile combines practical senior experience with a background in elite youth coaching.
Coaching background and tactical influences
Before stepping into senior management, Martínez worked extensively in youth systems, including roles at Espanyol and FC Barcelona, where he was involved in academy coaching and player development. That formative period at Spanish academies is widely seen as shaping his tactical outlook, with an emphasis on possession, pressing triggers and positional play. Leverkusen’s recruitment appears aimed at marrying that Spanish coaching DNA with the club’s existing squad strengths and infrastructure.
Martínez’s background suggests he favours a clear developmental pathway from academy to first team, and he is likely to draw on methodologies honed at Barcelona and Espanyol to streamline training sessions and tactical integration. Coaches with similar trajectories have often prioritized adaptable possession structures and high-intensity transitions, and those traits would align with Leverkusen’s progressive sporting project if the appointment is confirmed.
Implications for Kasper Hjulmand and club direction
Kasper Hjulmand has not been formally dismissed by Bayer Leverkusen, but media coverage has repeatedly indicated that the Dane would not continue in the role beyond this season. The apparent move for Martínez reflects a broader reorientation by Leverkusen’s sporting leadership, who are seeking a coach with a particular combination of youth development experience and tactical identity. For Hjulmand, the reported decision underscores the precarious nature of elite management and the speed with which clubs reconsider coaching direction in response to sporting ambitions.
For Leverkusen, appointing Martínez would be a strategic decision tied both to on-field tactics and long-term squad planning. The club has built a reputation for recruiting young talent and converting it into competitive success, and a coach with a history in elite youth environments could reinforce that model. The transition will also require alignment between Martínez and the club’s technical directors, sporting board and scouting network to ensure continuity in transfers and player progression.
Next steps for Leverkusen and Martínez
If the reported agreement is confirmed, Leverkusen will move quickly to finalize contract paperwork, announce the appointment, and introduce Martínez to the squad and supporters at the BayArena. Preseason planning, staff appointments and transfer priorities will rise to the top of the agenda as the new coach establishes his backroom team and articulates a playing philosophy. The coming weeks will also test Martínez’s ability to align existing senior players with his methods while identifying targets to reinforce the squad.
Martínez faces the immediate challenge of preparing for the competitive calendar while instilling tactical clarity and fitness regimes tailored to his approach. His recruitment of assistants and sports science personnel will be closely watched, as will early decisions on formations and starting lineups during friendlies. For the club, a smooth integration process will be essential to avoid disruption and to set realistic targets for the season ahead.
The reported move brings fresh attention to both Martínez’s career and Bayer Leverkusen’s sporting project, and a formal confirmation will trigger detailed analysis of tactical plans, transfer strategy and long-term goals. In the meantime, the football world is following developments closely, waiting for official confirmation and the first public statements from the coach and club.
The appointment, if finalized, will mark a notable step in Martínez’s managerial trajectory and represent a calculated bet by Leverkusen on a coach whose blend of youth expertise and senior experience aligns with the club’s ambitions.
