Maintaining the unprecedented highs of success set by Xabi Alonso was always going to be tricky, but ***** ody at Bayer Leverkusen could have foreseen how it unfolded. With Erik Ten Hag sacked after just two league games in charge, it set the tone for what would be a turbulent and uncomfortable 2025-26 season.
The Rhineland club acted quickly and choose to appoint Kasper Hjulmand who filled the void. Despite being unable to impart his tactics on the squad in pre-season, the Dane made a bright start to his rein with seven wins from his first nine games. Thereafter, things started to unravel.
Costly defeats and losing their grip on a prized Champions League berth in the final two matchday's effectively sealed Hjulmand's fate. With a desire for stability, Leverkusen's chiefs decided that a change at the helm would be needed, thus parting ways with the 54-year-old after a sixth-place finish.
With several components of their squad at the 2026 World Cup, Leverkusen partially regrouped for pre-season on 14 July. Players were met by a new face in coach Carles Martinez. The Spaniard, arriving from Girona, said he was keen to bring his intense and passionate style of football to the BayArena.
With routine wins over Sportfreunde Baumberg (7-0) and Kickers Offenbach (3-1), Leverkusen faced a sterner task in KRC Genk. The Belgian Pro League side were brushed aside 4-0, with further impressive displays from summer signing Afonso Moreira alongside Nathan Tella and Christian Kofane.
#leverkusen #season #xabi #alonso
The Rhineland club acted quickly and choose to appoint Kasper Hjulmand who filled the void. Despite being unable to impart his tactics on the squad in pre-season, the Dane made a bright start to his rein with seven wins from his first nine games. Thereafter, things started to unravel.
Costly defeats and losing their grip on a prized Champions League berth in the final two matchday's effectively sealed Hjulmand's fate. With a desire for stability, Leverkusen's chiefs decided that a change at the helm would be needed, thus parting ways with the 54-year-old after a sixth-place finish.
With several components of their squad at the 2026 World Cup, Leverkusen partially regrouped for pre-season on 14 July. Players were met by a new face in coach Carles Martinez. The Spaniard, arriving from Girona, said he was keen to bring his intense and passionate style of football to the BayArena.
With routine wins over Sportfreunde Baumberg (7-0) and Kickers Offenbach (3-1), Leverkusen faced a sterner task in KRC Genk. The Belgian Pro League side were brushed aside 4-0, with further impressive displays from summer signing Afonso Moreira alongside Nathan Tella and Christian Kofane.
#leverkusen #season #xabi #alonso
3 days ago
