Olof Mellberg officially named next St. Louis CITY SC head coach

ST. LOUIS - Olof Mellberg was officially named the next head coach of St. Louis CITY SC on Tuesday.

Mellberg is set to become the franchise’s third head coach in three years and the second without an interim tag.

“I am excited to join St. Louis as the head coach,” said Mellberg via the team's website. “It is a great opportunity here because of the amazing infrastructure and the direction that the organization has put in place. I can’t wait to build upon the foundation already set here and the massive fan support that gives this team the energy to be successful.”

Mellberg, 47, brings nearly a decade of coaching experience to St. Louis, primarily in his native Sweden. He began his professional managerial career in 2016 with IF Brommapojkarna of the Allsvenskan professional football league, regarded as one of the best leagues in his native Sweden.

“After careful consideration, we’re thrilled to welcome Olof as our new Head Coach and are confident he’ll be a great fit for St. Louis CITY SC,” said President and GM Diego Gigliani. “Across his four years as Head Coach of Brommapojkarna, he’s shown a consistent ability to outperform expectations and get results. Furthermore, his passion for developing young players, strong reputation in the market and prior playing experience at the elite level of the sport were all additional reasons we were convinced he was right for the role.”

Mellberg has had two managerial stints with IF Brommapojkarna, which has a strong reputation for youth development. It boasts the largest academy in Europe with nearly 250 teams and 3,000 players.

His all-time professional coaching record consists of 77 wins, 43 draws, and 62 losses, also including stints with Fremand Amager and Helsingborgs IF.

Mellberg is also brings a strong background as a former professional soccer player. From 1996 to 2014, Mellberg made 543 appearances and played for several prominent clubs, including Aston Villa in the Premier League, Olympiacos in Greece, and AIK in Sweden. Primarily as a central defender, Mellberg is often remembered for his versatility and attacking instincts, which also led to 22 career goals.

Mellberg was also a key member of the Swedish national team, participating in multiple major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships.

After an impressive inaugural season in 2023, which included an MLS-record 17 wins in an expansion franchise’s first year, St. Louis CITY SC took a step back in year two and finished with an 8-13-13 record, missing playoffs by the difference of several games.

John Hackworth, who served as St. Louis’ head coach on an interim basis after the team parted ways with Bradley Carnell over the summer, was believed to be a finalist for the job without an interim tag.

“We also want to extend our gratitude to John Hackworth. John’s passion, dedication, and leadership were critical as we navigated this past year, and he undoubtedly helped us improve. We’re grateful for his contributions to the club and are excited to have him return to his important role as the club’s Technical Director” said Gigliani.