Gavi and Simons' coach takes over Leverkusen

First second, then... sixth place in the Bundesliga. Under Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen were one of the two best teams in German football. But once he left, everything fell apart and the club sank deeper into trouble than many had expected. Not only did the Werkself fail to challenge for the title, they finished the season outside the Champions League qualification places. The experiment with Erik ten Hag did not work out, nor was former Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand any more successful. Bayer's third attempt in the post-Alonso era is now named: Carles Martínez Novell.

The Catalan coach has reached a final agreement with Leverkusen and, after three years at Toulouse FC, has become the new manager of the 2024 German champions. Following a turbulent period and a search for a new identity after missing out on the Champions League, the Leverkusen board acted quickly. Their choice fell on the talented 42-year-old Martínez Novell, whose Toulouse sides finished 11th, 10th, and 9th in Ligue 1 over the past three seasons. Martínez Novell brings with him a recognizable Spanish football philosophy. He built his coaching reputation over many years, with a key stage of his development coming at La Masia, where he played a direct role in the development of talents such as Gavi, Ansu Fati, and Xavi Simons.

Two coaches but only one job

After coaching spells in Qatar and Kuwait, he arrived at Toulouse in December 2022. He initially served as an assistant coach and helped the club win the Coupe de France before being promoted to head coach in June 2023. What reportedly impressed Bayer's leadership most was Novell's modern approach to the game, high-intensity style, and willingness to take on Europe's bigger clubs without fear. The standout moment of his senior coaching career so far was Toulouse's historic 3-2 victory over Liverpool FC in the Europa League. Toulouse officially confirmed in May that the Spaniard's contract would expire at the end of the season and would not be renewed, allowing Leverkusen to secure his signature ahead of other interested clubs. Novell is expected to implement his preferred playing system in Germany and begin a major squad rebuild aimed at returning Bayer Leverkusen to the top tier of the Bundesliga.