After a losing streak in six matches, AIK also fired sports director Anne Mäkinen and assistant coach Scott Swainston. Returning to the national team’s coaching team, at least for the time being, does not attract Swedes.
Head coach of AIK, which plays in Damallsvenskan, Sweden Maiju Ruotsalainen was heard on Monday morning that his contract, which runs until 2023, has been terminated.
– It doesn’t feel good to get kicked by anyone. But this is a result sport. You have to be able to make a difference, that’s how it goes, the Swede opened his mood to Sport.
AIK is the last in the series after seven rounds played. The team has won one match and lost six. Take responsibility for coaching Jesper Björk and Nebojsa Novakovic.
The Swede had time to coach AIK from the beginning of the 2021 season and piloted the runner-up tenth. Anne Mäkinen was able to serve as AIK’s sports director from the end of 2019.
– Our goal for this season was to consolidate our position in Damallsvenskan, and investments were added for this season. Now that a quarter has been played through, we are not at the pace required by this goal and will have to act, club leader Manuel Lindberg told the AIK website.
Despite the kicks, the Swede is grateful for his time at AIK.
– We had a great season last season. We were a series runner and wanted to stay in the series, and it worked out just fine. This year was supposed to take the next step, and make us a good and stable Damallsvenskan team.
The Swede says the team sought to develop their game in a more balanced and ambitious direction this season. The low defense and counter-attacks in the previous season changed to possession this season.
– Now that we were able to take a step forward with regard to Ball Control, we made it all too easy to score a goal for us. There was an early goal in every game, which changed the course of the game quite a bit. We were able to play a more game-balanced game than last season, but it doesn’t really matter. Goals will be decided, they will be counted in this series.
Return to Helmars not interested: “It feels like there are slightly different values”
The Swede has not yet had time to think about his future.
– I heard this morning that I’m getting fired. I have not done anything. I have been on the football field for 34 years. A short break would be nice. If I took flutes for a couple of days now and thought in peace.
The Swede has coached Ilves and Åland United in the women’s league in Finland. He then started in 2017 Anna Signeulin In the Helmar coaching team. However, he did not renew his contract in 2019 and moved to Sweden in 2020 to coach Umeå IK’s girls’ team. Signeul’s sequel to the national team after this year is open.
At least the national team patterns do not immediately attract a Swede, who is one of the three Finnish women coaches who have completed the UefaPro degree. Others are Marianne Miettinen and Rosa Lappi-Seppälä.
– For my part, there is definitely a lot to develop for those kinkers. There is still a lot to learn. The international level is not an easy thing to do when the best in the world play there.
There have been a lot of changes in Anna Signeul’s coaching team over the years.
– I do not think that I and the Football Association get together in the best possible way. There seems to be a bit different values. How much does it matter with the outcome and how much with people’s well-being. Personally, I tend to ensure that people’s well-being always comes first, the Swede said.
AIK will next face Eskilstuna United, which is fifth in Damallsvenskan.