Alfred Johansson is stepping into the role of manager at Motherwell, a club he describes as having 'everyone buzzing to get started.' At 35, Johansson becomes the youngest manager in the Scottish Premiership. His appointment comes after Motherwell secured fourth place last season, ensuring their return to European competition.
Johansson replaces Jens Berthel Askou, who had previously guided the team to a fourth-place finish and an attractive style of football that briefly threatened a title challenge. The new manager is confident he can continue this success but acknowledges the challenge ahead: 'I'd rather come to a place where everyone is happy than a place where everyone is sad and frustrated,' he said.
Johansson's path to management was non-traditional, with an academic background in sports science and high-performance football coaching. He earned his UEFA Pro Licence while managing Rosenborg, guiding them to fourth-place finishes twice before leaving the club due to poor form in mid-season.
Focus on Youth?
A look at Johansson's early career suggests a focus on youth development. He began working with youth squads and later managed academy teams in Denmark. His experience includes coaching Copenhagen’s under-19s, leading them to UEFA Youth League victories against top European clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
Motherwell has already had success from their own academy, with players like Max Johnston, Lennon Miller, and David Turnbull impressing before moving on to bigger teams. Johansson is keen to build on this tradition: 'I love the energy of youth,' he said at his first media conference as Motherwell manager. 'It doesn't mean that we're only going to play with young players at all. The experience and quality from some of the players that have been 23, 24, 25, or even older than that is key as well.'
However, Johansson emphasizes that he will continue to prioritize youth development: 'That's a part of how a well-run club should be run. I'll only be looking to add to that,' he added.
Upcoming Season
Motherwell’s first league match under Johansson is against Hibernian on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. The team will also face other Scottish Premiership clubs across the opening weekend, with every match streamed or broadcasted by the channel.
