Henrik Rydström Appointed New Hammarby Manager on Four-Year Deal
Former Malmö FF champion coach takes charge of Stockholm club after Kalle Karlsson's dismissal, signing contract until 2028
SFN Editor ·
Henrik Rydström has been confirmed as Hammarby's new head coach, replacing the recently dismissed Kalle Karlsson on a contract running until 2028. The appointment sees the experienced Swedish manager return to Allsvenskan after his stint with Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer ended last month.
"Very, very pleasant when the opportunity arose," Rydström said during his presentation press conference, according to Aftonbladet. The 55-year-old will be joined by Theo Olsson as his new assistant coach.
Hammarby sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg praised the appointment, highlighting Rydström's proven track record. "He stands for clear leadership and demanding standards in everyday work. He has won both league and cup titles and has a CV of playing European football," Hjelmberg explained.
Interestingly, Rydström was already under consideration when Hammarby initially chose Karlsson before this season. "Henrik was part of the process even then. But at that time we landed on Kalle Karlsson being the best option for Hammarby," the sporting director revealed.
The Stockholm club currently sits fourth in Allsvenskan after eleven matches as the league enters its summer break. Rydström, who previously managed Sirius, Kalmar and Malmö FF - winning two league titles with the latter - faces the challenge of improving on that position when competitive action resumes.