Carles Martinez Announced as Bayer Leverkusen's New Head Coach

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Carles Martinez has been officially introduced as the new head coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Speaking at his unveiling, Martinez emphasized his history of being "always very courageous." Despite his recent departure from Toulouse, the new coach was questioned about his plans and his acquaintance, Kennet Eichhorn. Martinez acknowledged he hasn't had much time to settle in, stating, "The most important thing for me right now is to listen," during his inaugural press conference on Friday. Bayer 04 Leverkusen presented the Catalan as their new head coach the day before. Martinez, who has previously worked in France, Kuwait, and Qatar, addressed the media in English. "I'm here in Leverkusen to grow," he stated, adding, "I don't want to sit here and say that my team will be the best." While avoiding grand claims, Martinez's demeanor was far from timid. He described himself as "always very bold," and expressed his eagerness to embrace this project at Leverkusen. Although Bayer had initially prioritized other top candidates, Rolfes expressed satisfaction with the decision. "At first, it seemed like a somewhat surprising choice," Rolfes admitted, "but when you look at Carles' background and Bayer 04, you see the similarities." Martinez is known for his willingness to integrate young players, which aligns with Bayer's vision. Rolfes noted the "affinity for French players" within the squad, referencing Loic Badé, Axel Tape, Martin Terrier, and Jeanuel Belocian. While Martinez refrained from discussing Kennet Eichhorn, also linked with Leverkusen, he smiled and shrugged, saying, "I've just arrived here." He expressed that the role is "a great honor," especially since Leverkusen is a club "we Spaniards follow closely," with figures like CEO Fernando Carro, former champion coach Xabi Alonso, and key player Alejandro Grimaldo. Martinez, often prefacing his responses with "to be honest," shared a personal anecdote with a grin: "I've been a coach for 15 years. My wife always tells me, 'The only thing you can do is coach.'"

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