Jens Berthel Askou

Jens Berthel Askou (born 19 August 1982) is a Danish professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg.

Jens Berthel Askou
Askou in 2012
Personal information
Full name Jens Berthel Askou
Date of birth (1982-08-19) 19 August 1982
Place of birth Videbæk, Denmark
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 IFK Göteborg (head coach)
Youth career
Videbæk IF
2001–2002 Ikast FS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Holstebro BK 30 (5)
2003–2007 Silkeborg IF 122 (8)
2007–2009 Kasımpaşa 57 (2)
2009–2011 Norwich City 27 (2)
2011 → Millwall (loan) 1 (0)
2011–2013 Vejle Kolding 49 (3)
2013–2014 Esbjerg fB 15 (0)
2015–2016 Skive IK 45 (0)
2016–2017 Thisted FC
2018 Vendsyssel FF 1 (0)
Total 347 (20)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Skive IK (playing assistant)
2016–2017 Thisted FC (playing assistant)
2017–2018 Vendsyssel FF (assistant)
2018–2019 Vendsyssel FF
2020 HB Tórshavn
2021–2023 AC Horsens
2023– IFK Göteborg
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Askou has played for a number of Danish clubs before moving abroad, first to Turkish club Kasımpaşa and then to Norwich City in England, before moving back to Denmark to play for Vejle Kolding and Esbjerg fB.

Club career

Born in Videbæk, Askou began his career at Ikast FS before moving to Holstebro Boldklub in 2002. His performances led to a contract with 1st Division Silkeborg IF in the summer of 2003, following a successful trial. He helped the club regain promotion to the Danish Superliga during his first season, and became a regular for four years. In 2007, Askou failed to agree a new deal with SIF, which led to a move to Turkish football with Kasımpaşa.

Kasımpaşa finished bottom of the 2007–08 Süper Lig, with Askou appearing frequently and scoring twice. However, despite Askou's own goal in the playoffs semi-final, the club returned to the top flight at the first attempt in 2008–09. His contract was not renewed the following summer.

Norwich City

In July 2009, Askou linked up with English League One club Norwich City on their pre-season tour of Scotland. He impressed suitably with his defensive displays in the club's friendly matches, also managing to score with a header against Airdrie United.[1] Then manager Bryan Gunn confirmed on 27 July he had offered Askou a contract.[2] It was revealed on 30 July that Askou had signed a two-year deal with Norwich.[3] He made his debut in a 4–0 win over Yeovil Town in the League Cup on 11 August, helping to keep a clean sheet. Four days later, he scored on his league debut as Norwich drew 1–1 with Exeter City.[4] Askou became a regular starter for Norwich until picking up a metatarsal injury in a league game against Yeovil in December, which kept him out until May 2010.

He scored a header against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup in August 2010; a game which Norwich lost 3–1.[5] Askou's opportunities at Norwich were limited in the 2010–11 season, making only two Championship starts in the first half of the campaign.

In January 2011, Askou moved to fellow Championship side Millwall on a one-month loan.[6] He was sent off on his debut against Leicester City for a two-footed lunge on Yakubu.[7] This was his only appearance for the club and he returned to Norwich in February. He did not appear again for his parent club either and was released by the club at the end of the season after his contract expired.[8]

Vejle Boldklub Kolding

Askou signed a two-year contract with Danish first division team Vejle Boldklub Kolding in August 2011.[9][10] During his time a Vejle, he scored six goals in 55 appearances and was appointed club captain in the summer of 2012.[11]

Askou signed a two-year deal with Esbjerg in the Danish Superliga on 2 August 2013 for an undisclosed fee.[12]

Coaching and later career

In 2015, Askou became playing assistant manager at Skive IK.[13] A year later he took up the same position at Thisted FC.[14][15]

In June 2017, Askou became Erik Rasmussen's assistant manager at Vendsyssel FF.[16] On 8 May 2018, Rasmussen resigned as manager and was replaced by Askou.[17] After an overall defeat against AC Horsens in the Danish Superliga relegation play off games, Askou and his staff was fired on 20 May 2019.[18]

In October 2019, Askou signed with Denmark Series 4 amateur club TIF All Stars.[19]

In the beginning of November 2019, it was confirmed that Askou would become the manager of HB Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands starting from 1 December 2019.[20] One year later, on 5 December 2020, he had won the double with HB Tórshavn by first winning the Faroe Islands Premier League and then the Faroe Islands Cup. He also won the honour as the best football manager 2020 in the Faroe Islands, chosen by the Venjarafelag Føroya (Faroese Association of Football Managers).[21]

In January 2021, he left Tórshavn to become new manager of struggling Danish Superliga club AC Horsens.[22]

In June 2023, he left AC Horsens to become the new head coach of Swedish Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg.[23]

Personal life

Askou is married to Rikke. The couple have three children – Julius, Cornelius and Augusta. Julius and Cornelius attend the International School Ikast-Brande in Ikast, Denmark.[24]

Managerial statistics
As of 7 October 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Vendsyssel FF Denmark 8 May 2018 20 May 2019 43 13 13 17 56 58 −2 030.23 [25]
HB Tórshavn Faroe Islands 1 December 2019 4 January 2021 33 24 6 3 89 28 +61 072.73 [26]
AC Horsens Denmark 4 January 2021 7 June 2023 90 35 20 35 128 131 −3 038.89 [27]
IFK Göteborg Sweden 7 June 2023 Present 16 7 5 4 19 16 +3 043.75 [28]
Total 182 79 44 59 292 233 +59 043.41 —

Honours

Player

Silkeborg IF

Kasımpaşa

Norwich City

Manager

Havnar Bóltfelag

Individual

References
  1. "City make it three wins on tour". Norwich City F.C. 19 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. "Askou offered Norwich deal". Sky Sports. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  3. "Double signing for City". Norwich City F.C. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  4. "Exeter 1 – 1 Norwich". BBC. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  5. "Blackburn 3 – 1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  6. "Millwall sign Norwich City defender Jens Berthel Askou". BBC Sport. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  7. "Leicester 4 – 2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  8. "Gill, Askou and Habergham to leave City". Norwich City F.C. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  9. Vejle henter forsvarsspiller i Norwich, Jyllans-Posten, 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  10. Dagens transferrygter: Golfkøllesvinger kan vende tilbage til Liverpool, Politiken, 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  11. Askou ny anfører i VBK
  12. Jens Berthel Askou til EfB på toårig aftale
  13. Askou bliver spillende assistent i Skive, bold.dk, 26 December 2014
  14. Jens Berthel Askou ny assistent i Thisted, bold.dk, 19 September 2016
  15. Jens Berthel Askou stopper i Thisted FC‚ bold.dk, 30 May 2017
  16. Jens Berthel Askou fortsætter i Vendsyssel‚ bold.dk, 27 June 2017
  17. "Erik R. stopper i Vendsyssel - Askou overtager" (in Danish). bold.dk. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  18. Vendsyssel sparker trænerteam på porten, bold.dk, 20 May 2019
  19. Tidligere Vejle kaptajn skriver kontrakt med TIF All Stars., facebook.com, 8 October 2019
  20. Jens Berthel Askou skal træne på Færøerne, bold.dk, 2 November 2019
  21. Arge, Tróndur (5 December 2020). "VFF: Berthel er ársins venjari". in.fo. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  22. Brandt, Theis Fischer (4 January 2021). "Bekræftet: Askou er ny træner i AC Horsens". bold.dk. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  23. "Välkommen, Jens!". ifkgoteborg.se (in Swedish). IFK Göteborg. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  24. "Jens is raring to go". pinkun.com. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  25. "Vendsyssel FF: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  26. "HB Thorshavn: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  27. "AC Horsens: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  28. "IFK Göteborg: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  29. Prestá, Agnar (5 December 2020). "HB tryggjaði sær greipuna". portal.fo. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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