News Focus
- Kasper Hjulmand faces the sack after Saturday’s final Bundesliga fixture
- Bayer Leverkusen will likely miss out on Champions League qualification
- Club chiefs Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes admire Brazilian coach Filipe Luís
- Girona manager Michel is also on the shortlist to take over at the BayArena
- Hjulmand only started the job mid-season but his contract runs until 2027
Bayer Leverkusen look set to part ways with head coach Kasper Hjulmand this weekend. The German side are expected to miss out on a top-four finish in the Bundesliga. Their final match of the season takes place on Saturday.
Sky Germany reports that the club have already begun their search for a new manager. They have drawn up a shortlist of two candidates.
The first option is Filipe Luís. The former Brazil defender enjoyed huge success with Flamengo. He led the Rio de Janeiro club to both the domestic league title and the Copa Libertadores trophy. The Brazilian outfit dismissed him in March. Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes reportedly rate the 39-year-old highly.
The second target is Michel. The Spaniard currently manages Girona in La Liga. He looks likely to leave the Catalan club when the season ends.
Hjulmand joined Leverkusen shortly after the campaign started. He signed a contract that runs until 2027. However, he has struggled to meet the club’s targets.