Hjulmand replaces Tuchel as Mainz coach
Thursday, May 15, 2014
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Kasper Hjulmand has left Danish side FC Nordsjælland to take over as coach of 1. FSV Mainz 05 and fill the void left by Thomas Tuchel, who resigned last weekend.
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Four days after Thomas Tuchel resigned as 1. FSV Mainz 05 coach, the Bundesliga club have appointed FC Nordsjælland's Kasper Hjulmand as his successor.
Hjulmand, 42, has signed a deal running until the summer of 2017 to replace Tuchel, who stepped down on Sunday despite the German side having secured a berth in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League by virtue of a seventh-place finish.
The Dane was the ideal candidate according to general manager Christian Heidel. "Kasper Hjulmand fitted the profile perfectly when we started searching for a new coach," he said. "He has a lot of expertise and is a coach who acts and works meticulously. On top of that, he stands for attacking football."
Hjulmand, who ended his playing career at the age of 26 due to persistent knee problems, became a coach at Lyngby BK before joining Nordsjaelland in an assistant's role in 2008. Three years later he was promoted to head coach and unexpectedly led the Farum outfit to their first Danish Superligaen title and into the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage, where they rubbed shoulders with Chelsea FC, FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Juventus.
"When I decided to step down at Nordsjælland and look for a new challenge, I wanted to wait for the right club and take my time," Hjulmand explained. "In talks with Christian Heidel I got to know Mainz better and was surprised how perfect the club's and my own philosophy match. Joining Mainz is a decision from my heart."
