Motherwell have appointed Sweden manager Alfred Johansson as their new boss, replacing Jens Berthel Askou at Fir Park. The 35-year-old arrives with European football next month and the league season starting in a few weeks, so the handover lands at speed.
Johansson called the move “a huge honour” and said, “To work at this football club and to lead is a privilege.” He added that he has already studied the club closely and wants to carry last season’s success forward.
Rosenborg record shapes Motherwell move
The new manager spent two-and-a-half years in charge of Rosenborg. In his first season he took them to fourth place, then followed that with seventh place the next year before leaving last month just seven games into the new campaign.
That recent exit gives Motherwell both a proven track record and a quick turnover. Johansson is stepping into a job with little margin for adjustment, and he said, “The squad of players we have is exciting, and we will get to work straight away.”
Askou leaves for Toulouse
The change at Fir Park follows Askou’s departure to Toulouse, ending Motherwell’s wait for a permanent replacement. Last season’s fourth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership secured European football for next season, which is why the timing of this appointment matters so much.
Motherwell said the selection came through a data-driven process and that Johansson stood out as the best candidate to continue the club’s journey. Kyrk Macmillan also said the club met him on a number of occasions and viewed him as a determined and ambitious young manager.
Pre-season starts this week
Macmillan said the players were back in for pre-season this week, which gives Johansson only a short runway before the first competitive matches. He also said Motherwell were conscious of time, and Johansson echoed that with a blunt summary of the schedule: “There is no time to waste with European football next month and the league season starting in a few weeks.”
He also said he could not wait to meet the supporters. For Motherwell, the immediate task is simple: get the new manager embedded before the squad is asked to handle Europe and the league at the same time.
