ST. LOUIS — On Tuesday, St. Louis City SC announced the appointment of Olof Mellberg, a former defender for Aston Villa, as its new head coach.
At 47 years old, Mellberg has an impressive history, having represented Sweden in over 100 international matches.
He is stepping in to fill the position vacated by Bradley Carnell, who was dismissed from the MLS team in July.
Until now, John Hackworth had been serving as the interim coach and was also considered for the permanent role.
Mellberg’s official engagement is pending the approval of his visa.
St. Louis SC’s sporting director, Lutz Pfannenstiel, expressed enthusiasm about Mellberg’s appointment, citing his strong work ethic and attention to detail.
Mellberg’s leadership experience, both as a captain in club football and representing his national team, is anticipated to be crucial in guiding the players.
His track record of nurturing young talent is something the organization is excited to see develop within their own ranks.
In its first season in the MLS last year, St. Louis City reached the playoffs; however, this season has seen a decline, with a record of 8 wins, 13 losses, and 13 draws in league matches.
Mellberg remarked on the potential he sees in the club, recognizing the strong infrastructure and direction the organization has implemented.
He expressed eagerness to add to the existing framework and acknowledged the vibrant support from fans that energizes the team.
Mellberg is particularly noted for his tenure at Aston Villa, where he played in 232 matches.
His illustrious career also includes stints at clubs like Juventus, Olympiakos, Villarreal, and Copenhagen, alongside his achievements with the Swedish national team.
After transitioning to coaching in 2016 with the Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna, he successfully led the historic team to back-to-back promotions to Sweden’s top division.
He has also managed BK Fremad Amager in Denmark and Helsingborgs IF in Sweden before returning to Brommapojkarna in January 2023, where he completed the last season.
Diego Gigliani, the general manager of St. Louis City, praised Mellberg’s ability to consistently exceed expectations during his time as head coach at Brommapojkarna.
He highlighted Mellberg’s dedication to youth development, strong market reputation, and extensive elite-level playing experience as vital factors that influenced the decision to hire him.