‘Can’t wait’: Scottish football club goes foreign against as ex-Norwich defender lands top job.
Former defender succeeds Wimmer at Fir Park. Motherwell have made their second management appointment of the year, this time hiring Danish manager Jens Berthel Askou.
The former Norwich defender will join from his position as FC Copenhagen’s assistant manager, subject to a work visa. Askou succeeds Michael Wimmer, who resigned for family reasons after three months in charge to take up a position in his native Germany.
The 42-year-old has managed Danish clubs Vendsyssel and Horsens to promotion, Faroese club FB Torshavn to a league and cup double, and most recently IFK Gothenburg. Askou departed the Swedish side a year ago to become assistant manager at Sparta Prague, and he was swiftly hired by Copenhagen following the Czech club’s management change in January. He helped them win the Danish league and cup double. “This is a really proud moment for me,” he stated on Motherwell’s official website. “Being appointed manager of Motherwell Football Club is a big honour. After speaking extensively with members of the club board, it was evident from the start that our beliefs, aspirations, and morals were compatible.
“We are all ambitious people and we’re all hungry for success. I can’t wait to arrive in Scotland and begin planning for the season ahead. There is a lot of work to be done, but it’s highly exciting.”
‘Rigorous’ process
Askou’s playing career was primarily in Denmark, but he also spent time in Turkey and two years at Norwich with former Well midfielder Paul Lambert.
“This has been a more rigorous process to recruit our new manager due to the incredible number of applications for the role,” chairman Kyrk Macmillan said. “We had a high number of impressive applicants, but we were really drawn to Jens. His track record of working with big clubs, delivering success and developing young players matches up with all our philosophies here at Motherwell Football Club.”He has given 26 teenagers their debuts in five-and-a-half seasons, which I believe demonstrates Jens’ ability to put his beliefs and morals into action. The data and stats impressed us, but more importantly, after chatting with Jens several times, we discovered that he is a highly ambitious individual and a leader who is eager to take on the role at our club. “We expect the UK work permit to be received in the coming days and then he can commence his work on day one of pre-season.”
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