Jens Berthel Askou appointed as new Toulouse head coach
Danish coach Jens Berthel Askou has been officially presented as the new manager of Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
Pour le nouveau coach de Toulouse, Jens Berthel Askou, « la progression des joueurs » est un axe majeur. (Jocelyn Lermusieaux)
Toulouse has officially introduced Jens Berthel Askou as their new head coach. The 43-year-old Danish manager, who enjoyed a successful stint with Scottish club Motherwell last season, steps in to replace Carles Martinez Novell.
During his presentation, Askou outlined his football philosophy, focusing on creating a dynamic and courageous team. He expressed a desire to deliver an attractive and exciting brand of football for both the spectators and his players. "I really want a very dynamic team, a team that is dominant, with or without the ball. And an extremely courageous team, pushing the players to exceed their talent limits," the coach stated.
Askou joins a Toulouse side looking to build on last season's ninth-place finish in Ligue 1. With his experience spanning across six different leagues, including Denmark, Sweden, and Scotland, the Dane is eager to test himself in the French top flight, which he describes as one of the most athletic championships in Europe.
A notable aspect of his appointment is his decision to retain the existing staff. "The club is well structured and a tremendous amount of work has been done," Askou explained, noting that he wants to leverage their existing expertise within the Ligue 1 landscape.
Looking ahead, the team is set for a rigorous pre-season schedule, including friendlies against Rodez and Real Sociedad. Askou also emphasized his commitment to integrating young talents from the club's prestigious youth academy into the first team setup.