ST. LOUIS – It appears St. Louis CITY SC’s lengthy search for their next full-time head coach is almost over.
St. Louis CITY SC is finalizing a deal for Olof Mellberg to become the team’s next head coach, according to reports from two professional soccer insiders, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN and Tom Bogert formerly of The Athletic.
Mellberg will presumably take over for John Hackworth, who served as St. Louis’ head coach on an interim basis after the team parted ways with Bradley Carnell over the summer. Mellberg is reportedly set to become the franchise’s third head coach in three years and the second without an interim tag.
Mellberg, 47, is currently manager of IF Brommapojkarna of the Allsvenskan professional football league, regarded as one of the best leagues in his native Sweden. He has nearly a decade of coaching experience overseas since retiring as a player in 2014. His all-time professional coaching record consists of 77 wins, 43 draws, and 62 losses.
From 1996 to 2014, in his career as a professional soccer player, 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.
Initial reports on Mellberg’s arrival suggested that he is expected to fly into the U.S. next week to sign his contract and be formally introduced. Interim head coach Hackworth was also believed to be a finalist for a permanent coaching position without the “interim” tag.
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.
FOX 2 will update if new information becomes available in St. Louis CITY SC’s head coaching decision.