Motherwell Appoint Alfred Johansson as New Manager After Askou Exit
Johansson’s appointment follows a detailed recruitment process as the club look to align style, data and long-term vision.
Motherwell have appointed Alfred Johansson as their new manager following the departure of Jens Berthel Askou, who left Fir Park just days after the end of last season to take charge of French Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
The 35-year-old Swede becomes the club’s 31st manager and arrives with a growing reputation in Scandinavian football, having most recently been in charge of Norwegian side Rosenborg.
Motherwell chairman Kyrk Macmillan said the club had once again leaned on a data-led recruitment process in identifying their new head coach, insisting Johansson stood out as the ideal candidate to continue the club’s upward trajectory.
“We are delighted to welcome Alfred to the football club,” Macmillan said. “Following the same data-driven process that we undertook to appoint the previous two managers, we believe Alfred is an excellent fit here at Motherwell. The data plays a key role to ensure the game model aligns with how we want to play and continues our evolution, but the process is also blended with ensuring we bring good people to the club.
“We met with Alfred on a number of occasions, and he stood out as the best candidate to continue our journey. It became evident from our conversations that there was a clear alignment between both parties, and we have already built a strong relationship.
“There is a strong belief that Alfred has the correct characteristics to lead and deliver on his ideas. He is a determined and ambitious young manager who wants to continue the success we had last season.”
Macmillan also stressed the importance of making a swift appointment ahead of pre-season, with players having already returned to Fir Park this week.
“It was important for the squad that we completed our detailed process of recruiting a new manager, but we were also conscious of time. With the players back in for pre-season, Alfred can begin working with his new squad ahead of a busy and exciting period.
“We were delighted with the connection our fans had with the team last season and we hope to take that even further this campaign.”
Johansson arrives in the Scottish Premiership after a two-and-a-half-year spell with Rosenborg, where he was appointed at just 33 years old. In his first season in senior management, he guided the Norwegian club to a fourth-place finish, securing a return to European football and winning over half of their league fixtures.
His side also made a strong push in European competition, defeating Banga Gargždai and Hammarby before narrowly missing out on a place in the UEFA Conference League proper after a playoff defeat to Bundesliga side Mainz.
Johansson departed the Norwegian side seven games into his third season in May 2026 and now steps into the manager’s role at Motherwell preparing for both domestic and European competition in the weeks ahead.
Despite never playing professionally, Johansson has built an extensive coaching CV, beginning in Sweden with Enköpings SK before moving into academy leadership roles with Djurgårdens IF. He later joined FC Copenhagen, where he worked as a youth manager and chief analyst, helping develop elite youth sides capable of competing at European level.
His work with Copenhagen’s youth teams included notable UEFA Youth League victories over Bayern Munich and Manchester United, underlining his reputation for developing structured, competitive squads.
Speaking after his appointment, Johansson described the move as a significant moment in his career and outlined his ambition to build on Motherwell’s recent progress.
“This is a huge honour for me,” he said. “To work at this football club and to lead is a privilege. I’ve analysed the club closely, and the direction it’s going in is of huge importance to me. Last season was hugely successful, and I want to carry that success forward.
“The squad we have is exciting, and we will get to work straight away. There is no time to waste with European football next month and the league season starting soon. I can’t wait to get to know all the players and staff, but most importantly, I’m looking forward to meeting the supporters.”