Motherwell appoint Jens Berthel Askou as their new manager as shocked fans ask ‘who?'
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MOTHERWELL have sprung a major surprise by appointing Jens Berthel Askou as the club's new boss.
The FC Copenhagen assistant boss, 42, will formally begin his duties as manager next week, subject to the approval of a work permit.
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Jens Berthel Askou has landed one of Scotland's plum jobs
Credit: Alamy
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It's a big change at Fir Park
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Berthel Askou had some major surprise
Credit: Alamy
The Lanarkshire side went with a left-field appointment - only for Michael Wimmer to walk out on the club after just 12 games - and have done so again.
We told you how Central Coast Mariners boss Mark Jackson was a name in the frame, with former Rangers star Charlie Adam also linked with the post.
But Askou said: 'This is a really proud moment for me.
'It's a huge honour to be selected to become the manager of Motherwell Football Club.
"Having spoken extensively with members of the club board, it was clear from the outset that our ideas, ambitions and morals align.
'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.'
Before joining Danish second-tier club Vendsyssel, Askou served as a player-assistant manager at both Skive and Thisted.
He later took on the role of manager at Vendsyssel, where he got the club promoted to the Danish top-flight, before relocating to the Faroe Islands in 2019 to manage HB Tórshavn.
During his first season with HB Tórshavn, Askou celebrated more managerial silverware, securing both the Faroese league title and the league cup, achieving a remarkable double.
His impressive performance earned him the title of Manager of the Season in the Faroe Islands.
Michael Wimmer set to QUIT Motherwell for new job after just TWELVE games as Scottish Premiership side left stunned
After Tórshavn, Askou joined Danish club AC Horsens in 2021. Over the course of two seasons, he successfully guided the team back to Denmark's top division, his second promotion as a manager.
In 2023, he made the transition to Sweden, taking the helm at IFK Göteborg in the Allsvenskan.
Shortly after his arrival, he earned two Manager of the Month awards before he moved on to pastures new the following summer.
Askou took on the role of assistant manager at Czech club Sparta Praha, where he spent six months and played a key role in leading the team to the league phase of the Champions League.
In January 2025, he joined FC København as assistant manager, where he reached the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League but also secured the domestic double by winning both the league and the cup.
Chairman Kyrk Macmillan said: 'This has been a more rigorous process to recruit our new manager due to the incredible number of applications for the role."
'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 handed 26 teenagers debuts in five-and-a-half seasons, which I think is evidence of Jens implementing his ideas and morals.
'The data and numbers impressed us, but more importantly, after speaking with Jens a number of times, he is a really ambitious character and a leader who was extremely keen to get the role here 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 1 of pre-season.'
Shocked fans took to social media to express their surprise, with one saying simply: "Who?"
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