Head coach Sascha Lewandowski and team manager Sami Hyypiä will be in charge of the Bayer 04 first team squad next season. The 40-year-old Lewandowski and 38-year-old Hyypiä both signed three-year contracts to 30 June 2015 following their successful work together in the last Bundesliga campaign.
The duo succeeded in getting Bayer 04 back on track in the closing stages of the season, collecting 14 from a possible 18 points in the final six games, which ensured direct qualification for the group stage of the Europa League next term.
Holzhäuser: “Refreshing combination”
Bayer 04 managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser declared his pleasure at the deal was not solely for that reason: “Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypiä demonstrated in the last six games their ability to lead the team with a mix of expertise, charisma, hard work and composure. This refreshing combination has made us optimistic about moving forward. We want to work with the Lewandowski/Hyypiä duo over the next few years to further secure our position in the top third of the Bundesliga and qualify for European football.”
Sporting director Rudi Völler was also pleased with the new direction of the Werkself: “Sascha Lewandowski has already made a name for himself as an ambitious, forward-looking coach at youth level. He’s produced top level work for Bayer 04 over a number of seasons and has now shown what he’s capable of with the first team. Sami Hyypiä played at the highest level of European football for ten years and he made a great impression in his last two years at Leverkusen. It looks like he was born to manage a team and I’m sure he’ll work well in his new role with Sascha to make progress with Bayer 04.”
The experience at the end of last term made up Sascha Lewandowski’s mind to take the decision to carry on with the first team: “Sami and I took over at a difficult period for the club and we quickly got on very well together. We were also motivated by the commitment, desire and position of the team. All our work together was confident and successful and I’m looking forward to build on that.”
Hyypiä: “Great mark of confidence”
The outstanding team work over recent weeks was a crucial factor for Sami Hyypiä: “Although we didn’t know each other before and we didn’t have much time to put a plan together, the last few weeks have been a success for Sascha, the club and me. Bayer 04’s decision to give us the chance to carry on is a great mark of confidence. We’re convinced we can work with this team and our support staff to keep performing well in domestic and European competitions.”
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