Kasper Hjulmand wants to repeat Xabi Alonso’s achievements at Leverkusen: “It was something I liked”

Bayer Leverkusen has officially unveiled Kasper Hjulmand as its new head coach. The Dane takes over from Erik Ten Hag, bringing fresh ideas after leading the Denmark national team from 2020 to 2024. Hjulmand faces the challenge of rebuilding a squad that has seen major departures while maintaining high performance levels.

Rebuilding a Changed Leverkusen Squad

Several key players have left Leverkusen this summer, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka. Meanwhile, the club has made nearly 20 signings. Hjulmand emphasized that team cohesion takes time, but promised that his side will play attractive and competitive football.

“You don’t just flip a switch and things just work out like that. We want to make this work, make it work, so that suddenly, hopefully, it explodes, and we don’t know when, but until then, we’re going to play good minutes,” Hjulmand said.

Inspiration from Xabi Alonso’s Historic Leverkusen Era

Hjulmand cited Xabi Alonso, now Real Madrid’s coach, as a source of inspiration. Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen from 2022 to 2024, achieving an undefeated Bundesliga season, winning the German Cup, and finishing runner-up in the Europa League.

“The influence of what we saw, of what happened with Xabi, the staff, the players, and the club, made me think it was a very good and successful football club. I could recognize a lot of identity in the way they played. The progress was quite evident,” Hjulmand explained.

Leverkusen’s unbeaten record during Alonso’s tenure included 28 wins and six draws. Hjulmand praised the style of play:

“It wasn’t easy at first, but to have a perfect season and win the championship without a single loss is incredible. Plus, the way they expressed themselves on the field was something I really appreciated.”

Upcoming Challenge: Eintracht Frankfurt

Hjulmand will make his Bundesliga debut this Friday (12), when Leverkusen hosts Eintracht Frankfurt at BayArena, starting at 3:30 pm (Brasília time). The clash marks the opening of the third round of the Bundesliga, providing an early test for the new coach and his evolving squad.