Kasper Hjulmand (52) has relinquished his role as manager of the Danish national team, the Danish Football Association (DBU) announced on Friday. This decision follows Denmark’s underwhelming performance at Euro 2024, where they failed to win a single game.
Morten Wieghorst, who served as Hjulmand’s assistant coach since 2020 and previously led the Denmark U-21 side, will assume the interim head coach position until 2025.
Hjulmand, after a four-year tenure, expressed his belief that the team required a fresh perspective and requested the termination of his contract, which had one year remaining. This decision comes amidst a concerning trend for the Danish squad, which has seen them go winless in their last seven major tournament matches, spanning the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, mustering only three goals in total.
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“I have given my all to achieve success and to inspire national pride in the team,” Hjulmand stated in a release. “Representing your country is the ultimate honour imaginable.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Hjulmand acknowledged the potential benefits of a new leader: “With two years until the World Cup, I believe the team will flourish under a new face with fresh ideas, someone who can craft a new chapter for this remarkable team. Therefore, it’s best for someone else to lead the team forward. This isn’t about me; it’s about what’s best for the team.”
Hjulmand’s tenure saw Denmark reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals, and he was lauded for their impressive qualifying run for Euro 2024. However, their performance at the World Cup was underwhelming, finishing last in their group despite topping their qualifying group. Their Euro 2024 campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to Germany in the round of 16, with a lack of attacking prowess identified as a key factor hindering their success in major tournaments.
The Danish Football Association now faces the task of finding a permanent successor who can reignite the team’s attacking spark and guide them towards success in future tournaments.
