Here is all you need to know about Mikael Stahre, the new head coach of Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters along with his playing style and teams coached
Ivan Vukomanovic, a fan favourite who left his position as the Tuskers’ head coach at the end of the just-finished season, was replaced as Kerala Blasters FC’s new head coach by Mikael Stahre.
The 47-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Kerala Blasters, who, although not having yet won the ISL championship, have a sizable and vocal fan base.
Who is Mikael Stahre new Kerala Blasters FC head coach, biography, age, teams coached, playing style, stats and tactics
A coaching career defined by experience, adaptability, and a winning mentality. Here's a look at Coach Mikael Stahre's career through numbers.✨💛#KBFC #KeralaBlasters #SwagathamMikael #WelcomeHome pic.twitter.com/6xGnEPTNwK
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) May 24, 2024
Kerala Blasters FC is entering a new chapter with the appointment of Stahre, who becomes the first-ever Swedish manager of an ISL franchise.
The Blasters are embarking on an exciting new chapter with the addition of Stahre, who brings a plethora of experience and an established track record.
Who is Mikael Stahre?
Mikael Lennart Tage “Micke” Stahre is a Swedish football manager who was born on July 5, 1975, in Stockholm, Sweden. The 48-year-old stands 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) tall.
A look at Mikael Stahre’s career so far
Having worked as a coach for over 20 years, Stahre is renowned for his tactical acumen and leadership skills. Throughout his coaching career, he has worked with numerous leagues and countries.
Over his career, Stahre has managed over 400 games for several prominent teams, including AIK (Sweden), Panionios (Greece), IFK Goteborg (Sweden), Dalian Yifang (China), BK Häcken (Sweden), San Jose Earthquakes (USA), Sarpsborg 08 (Norway), and Uthai Thani (Thailand).
After starting his coaching career as the head coach of Vasby United, Stahre took over at AIK in 2008. After winning the Swedish League Title and the Swedish Cup twice in 2009, he signed a contract with the Greek first-division team Panionos in 2010.
In addition to his tenures as head coach, Stahre has 14 years of experience coaching youth teams. He has worked with Gröndals, Hammarby, and AIK between 1990 and 2005. He led the AIK Under-19 team to a national championship in 2004.
After a short stint in Greece, he came back to Sweden to coach IFK Goteborg, and he eventually guided the team to a Swedish Cup in 2014. Then, Stahre led China’s Dalian Yifeng.
The Swedish Allsvenskan championship (league title), Svenska Cupen (cup), and Supercupen (cup) are among Stahre’s most noteworthy accomplishments. He also led IFK Goteborg to the Svenska Cupen (cup).
Stahre is renowned for his possession-oriented approach to football, prioritizing building up play from the back. While he favours the 4-4-2 formation with a double pivot, he’s also been flexible, deploying the 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 setups.
Stahre’s teams are characterized by defensive resilience and uder his stewardship, defensive improvements have been evident.
During his tenure with AIK, his league-winning side in 2009 conceded just 20 goals in 30 games.