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Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 23, 2024, 12:59 PM ET
- Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.
Olaf Melberg led Swedish side Brommapojkarna to a 10th place finish last season. Getty
Former Aston Villa and Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has signed a multi-year deal with St. Louis City SC to be the team’s next manager, sources tell ESPN.
Swedish outlet Aftonbladet was first to report the news.
Mellberg replaces Bradley Carnell, who was fired in July with the team struggling to get results. St. Louis were managed on an interim basis by John Hackworth, who will remain in his previous role as an assistant and director of coaching.
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Mellberg is the manager of IF Brommapojkarna, but his contract is set to expire on Dec. 1, making him available to take the St. Louis job.
The 47-year-old led Brommapojkarna to a 10th place finish in the recently concluded season in Sweden’s top flight. This marked a period of consolidation for the Stockholm-based club after surviving a relegation playoff the previous campaign.
Mellberg had previously managed Brommapojkarna from 2015-17, a period when he led the club to successive promotions into Sweden’s top tier. He also managed Danish side Fremad Amager in 2019 as well as Swedish side Helsingborgs from 2019-20.
As a player, Mellberg enjoyed a distinguished career for both club and country. After making his professional debut with Degerfors in 1996, he moved to AIK where he won a league title. Following a three-year spell with Racing Santander, he moved to Villa, where he made over 260 league and cup appearances. He later played for Juventus, Olympiacos, Villarreal and FC Copenhagen.
Mellberg came close to joining MLS side Toronto FC back in 2013, only for the MLS league office to block the deal. At the time, MLS commissioner Don Garber told ESPN, “Our view on Mellberg was that it was just not a decision that would be smart for TFC, or smart for the league as a whole.”
At international level, Mellberg made 117 appearances for Sweden, a run that included a spell as the team’s captain, scoring eight goals.
He was part of two World Cup sides in 2006 and 2010 and has represented Sweden at four European Championships.
