By Aidan Connor
Jens Berthel Askou is the reason Motherwell is playing football that makes you sit up and take notice. The Danish coach has transformed a team that most people dismissed at the beginning of the season as a mid-table squad, incapable of contending for spots in Europe, into one that is currently deciding where the title will be at the end of the season. Even against the league’s best teams, Motherwell under Askou rarely look rattled, pressing with purpose and moving the ball cleverly. It’s a style of football rarely seen outside of Celtic and Rangers and certainly not in the 140 year history of Motherwell. It’s not just about the outcomes and the results they have achieved, we should also look at the methods they use to achieve them. By many measures, they are currently playing the best football in Scotland and their style of play is modern without being chaotic. It does not look desperate or visually complex. Askou isn’t ostentatious and doesn’t have a trophy cabinet to show off, but he does have strategy, potential, and the capacity to make more of what he’s been given. People are starting to take notice. The Motherwell boss is now in the running for the future Celtic manager after influential voices in football took notice, especially in Celtic circles with Martin O’Neill, Chris Sutton, and Gordon Strachan all praising him. He was also recently spotted at Parkhead with John Collins taking in the game. He could provide us with a coaching-first strategy, concepts, discipline, and philosophy that would fit with our anticipated priorities – dominance at home, competitiveness in Europe, and a distinct identity on the pitch. But is he the real thing? Can his strategy at Motherwell be applied to Celtic’s particular demands, goals, and expectations?
With multiple moves between Danish clubs and a few stints in England and Turkey, Askou’s playing career was, to put it politely, unremarkable. He had a journeyman’s resume and a few small transfer fees to show for his efforts. As a former centre-back who hardly made an impression on the field, his ability to coach football that is so watchable is what makes him intriguing. He started his managerial career in Scandinavia, leading small Danish and Swedish clubs to promotions. Prior to Motherwell, he had strong records, including 1.21 points per game at Vendsyssel, 2.45 at HB Tórshavn, and 1.39 at AC Horsens, which demonstrated his ability to produce results. He also picked up some trophies along the way, including the Danish second-tier title with AC Horsens as well as one Faroese championship and a Faroese Cup with HB Tórshavn. He then worked for Vendsyssel, Thisted, Skive IK, IFK Göteborg, AC Sparta Prague and Copenhagen for extended periods of time as an assistant manager. As he continued to hone his skills, he was part of the backroom team when Copenhagen won the Danish championship in 2024.
At Motherwell his team presses smartly, transitions fast, and displays tactical bravery that shouldn’t work given their wage bill, squad depth and modest recruitment – but it somehow does. The results of that philosophy have raised eyebrows. Motherwell have 18 wins, 11 draws and 4 losses in 33 games across all competitions this season translating to 1.97 points per game. In the league alone 25 games have produced 44 points and 1.76 points per game. Although neither Rangers nor Celtic have been completely trouble-free this season, the pattern of defensive solidity, attacking efficiency, and disciplined transitions suggests repeatable processes rather than a fluke.
He has built a reputation as a manager who doesn’t just ask players to perform but makes them perform in ways that are tangible and measurable beginning with individual improvement. Technical growth and a sharper tactical understanding alongside better decision-making under pressure have become hallmarks of his Motherwell squads. Players who previously struggled to read the game now move with purpose and identify space more intelligently, executing with a level of consistency that reflects coaching clarity rather than a random uptick in form. Younger players in particular have benefited under Askou’s stewardship. Maswanishe, for example, became the Scottish Premiership and Motherwell’s top scorer with 13 goals as well as Zimbabwe international player competing at AFCON. Elliot Watt has developed into a strong midfield anchor and is potentially on the verge of a Scotland call-up. Elijah Just has flourished as a dynamic winger and is a player Askou was already familiar with from his time at AC Horsens. He has also had success with players at previous clubs, managing Malick Yalcouyé at IFK Göteborg, who recently moved to Swansea and Casper Tengstedt at AC Horsens who has been a long-term Celtic transfer target. That said, there isn’t the same level of evidence of selling players for profit or producing elite talent in the way someone like Brendan Rodgers did, but it is an interesting CV and one that suggests that if he became Celtic manager, he could bring a few smart Danish transfers and maintain a strong quality-to-cost ratio. He clearly has an eye for value, with Casper Tengstedt at AC Horsens as a case in point, but there aren’t yet many examples of Askou repeatedly turning players into profitable assets. Still, what is evident is that he can find quality and his reputation as someone who improves individuals while keeping costs reasonable is a strong feature of his managerial profile – an attractive prospect for Celtic.
Watching Motherwell this season, his football identity is disciplined, purposeful and organised. His style emphasises positional coherence at every level of play and strikes a balance between aggression and control. His teams focus on possession, but not at the expense of tempo or intent. Every pass, rotation and movement has a deliberate purpose and seems to make sense. To the eye, Motherwell’s compact shape between lines is impressive and defensive spacing is carefully maintained to block channels and safeguard central areas. Goalkeepers actively participate in the planned build-up which begins at the back and defenders are urged to advance the ball rather than depend on safety-first clearances. While midfielders rotate to form passing triangles that allow for progressive movement and options under pressure, full-backs are strategically used to create wide overloads. In order to create opportunities for excellent transitions rather than pointless counterattacks, press triggers are selective and aggressively used when the opponent makes a mistake or loses the ball in a vulnerable area. Askou’s players exhibit confidence on the ball, circulating possession with low-risk intent and rarely panicking or rushing clearances even when under constant pressure from superior sides. This trait is a reflection of careful coaching and a well-thought-out tactical structure. Askou’s pragmatism is especially noteworthy. He modifies the starting lineup and player roles based on the opposition and isn’t hesitant to give in-game instructions to change attacking patterns, pressing intensity or shape. This flexibility demonstrates that he is a reactive manager as well as a strategist, he is able to read games and dynamically adjust his team’s strategy.
How Askou would operate under the Celtic board is an intriguing question. In a recent BBC interview, he was unusually frank about his own development, admitting that he won’t be the coach he is in five years’ time, and that kind of self-awareness counts for more than people might realise. At Motherwell he has built a brave, possession-based setup, building from the back, encouraging composure under pressure, and embedding positional discipline across the pitch. The football is proactive, modern, and consistently effective. When Elijah Just referenced a more direct style at Horsens it underscored something important – Askou adapts to context. Scotland isn’t Denmark or Sweden and he has to contend with physical teams and different styles constantly while still imposing something recognisable as his own. That mix of principle and pragmatism isn’t a contradiction but it’s exactly why Motherwell are suddenly taking points off Celtic and Rangers while playing football you actually want to watch. His preference for technically intelligent profiles aligns with Celtic’s recent recruitment trends, but his track record suggests he can elevate potential rather than simply curate it. The underlying theme is control. Not authoritarian rigidity, but structural clarity. The system could suit us perfectly. Where squad turnover is constant and the team has too often relied on individual brilliance rather than collective structure, Askou has shown he can adjust. If the personnel isn’t right for a particular shape he tweaks the system. Within Celtic’s framework, that balance of adaptability, developmental focus, and tactical integrity would not represent upheaval, it would represent alignment. His flexibility combined with tactical clarity could be exactly what’s needed to navigate a squad in transition while still imposing a clear identity on the pitch.
There is no sugarcoating the modesty of his European resume. He has never competed on the continental stage and none of the clubs he has managed have had to win week in, week out or deliver under the relentless pressure of a fan base like Celtic’s. At Fir Park he started the season poorly before his methods took hold. At Parkhead there would be no such grace period. The Champions League qualifiers arrive early, often before squads are complete, before the recruitment plan is finished, and before players have learned to move in sync. Celtic’s recent transfer windows show the familiar pattern of key pieces arriving late and integration and tactical cohesion developing on the hoof. Askou would almost certainly face those qualifiers without the squad he ideally wants and without the luxury of easing into his system. The question then is not whether he has a wealth of European experience but whether his coaching structure can hold up when everything else is in flux. At Motherwell it has. Even when the personnel is limited they rarely look lost or panicked. That baseline organisation is exactly what counts in Champions League qualifiers where mistakes are punished instantly and there is no room for improvisation. If he can instil that level of coherence at Motherwell under pressure and with limited resources, there is reason to believe he could stabilise this Celtic side through the chaos of early European fixtures while still imposing his ideas on the pitch.
It’s not like our recent performances in Europe have been anything to write home about anyway. Our recent European nights have often been defined by panic at the back and conceding at the worst possible moments with home games rarely inspiring confidence. Motherwell under Jens Berthel Askou offers a blueprint for how it could be done differently. From October 18 2025 Fir Park became a fortress, with no team scoring until Rangers finally broke through in February – and even then it was tight. That record is no fluke. Askou builds sides that control both the ball and the space, forcing opponents to chase, to spend energy, and to second-guess themselves, all while maintaining structure, intensity, and defensive discipline. His teams press intelligently and attack proactively, meaning they are hard to break down without sacrificing ambition. For us, that approach could be transformative. Imagine a side that keeps clean sheets as a baseline, imposes itself physically and tactically, and is calm under European pressure, turning nights in the Champions League into challenges rather than panics. Askou’s Motherwell shows that defensive solidity and attacking intent can coexist, and with a higher-quality squad, it is easy to see him creating a team that dominates domestically while being genuinely difficult to score against in Europe.
When evaluating Askou’s personality he demonstrates controlled ambition with a subtle edge rather than volatility or theatrical charisma. He framed the position of his appointment at Motherwell in terms of alignment and hunger. He spoke to the Motherwell board about common values, ideas and aspirations and positioned himself as a guide rather than a carer. That wording implies a manager who, instead of making concessions for convenience, aims for consistency between his own standards and the organisation’s structure. The remarks made by Chairman Kyrk MacMillan support that interpretation. He said the club was drawn to Askou’s leadership profile and ambition in addition to his resume, promotions in Denmark, league and cup double with HB Torshavn and experience at IFK Göteborg, Sparta Prague, and FC Copenhagen. The emotional consistency, however, is what really sticks out. Askou has an edge underneath his composed exterior, measured tone, and thoughtful language. More significantly he expects his players to share his belief in his work. Managers who are able to scale upward are frequently identified by this combination of internal intensity and external composure. Although he doesn’t seek attention, he also doesn’t avoid conflict. He doesn’t feel uncomfortable questioning presumptions, asking for more or acting without regret. In Scottish football, where personality and storyline influence perception just as much as outcomes, Askou already exudes an air of someone who aspires to be a better player and is subtly trying to establish that.
Askou’s willingness to trust young players even in high-pressure situations is demonstrated by the fact that he made 26 teenage debuts in five and a half seasons prior to Motherwell. Celtic would greatly benefit from this strategy. We have players who were cultivated internally and still make some of the greatest contributions. However, the pathway has dried up in recent years. There isn’t much beyond the bright spot of Colby Donovan. Before fully assimilating into the first team, players like Ben Doak, Rocco Vata, Daniel Kelly and Karamoko Dembele, who once appeared to have a chance to make an impression, were lured south by Premier League and Championship wealth. The current system finds it difficult to transform potential into preparedness for elite football, so even those who stay face the same difficulty. The recent step the club has implemented to help this is the investment in Barrowfield, bringing better facilities in the hope of producing more Champions League-level players. Askou has proven time and time again that he can give youth a chance and still succeed. His tactics have the ability to develop technical intelligence, instil tactical clarity, integrate youth without degrading the team and transform players who might otherwise fade into valuable contributors. At Celtic, where squad turnover is frequent and the team has too often relied on individual talent rather than group structure, a capacity to generate noticeable improvements while preserving team performance would be ideal. A new generation of domestic players could flourish under Askou, cover the voids left by Tierney, McGregor, and Forrest and contend for regular playing time. His track record indicates that he might finally be able to close the gap between youth investment and significant first-team success providing Celtic with a viable path to talent development while preserving both domestic dominance and European competitiveness. Askou’s personality seems to be a far-off reflection of Ange Postecoglou’s charisma at Celtic, not so much in terms of style as in terms of temperament and managerial approach. Like Ange, he exudes confidence without having to control the conversation or make headlines by fusing composed authority with restless ambition. Players understand their roles, accountability is applied fairly, and the culture is based on ideas rather than personalities, all of which demonstrate a clear coaching-first mentality. Even the light-hearted jabs, such as referring to Rangers’ strategy as “cynical,” remind us of Ange’s skill at adding personality and nuanced mind tricks without detracting from performance or making headlines for the media to poke at. Askou’s profile reflects some of the composure under duress and tactical clarity that characterised Postecoglou’s tenure.
Askou’s confidence isn’t the chest-thumping, headline-chasing type but the quiet, unshakeable sort that makes you sit up and take notice. He walked into Motherwell, a club with 140 years of history but not a lot to show for it and made it crystal clear he wasn’t here to go through the motions. He said, “There are things to improve; we’re trying to build a new identity and a new approach on top of 140 years of football history at this club. You don’t do that overnight,” and it’s hard not to hear a bit of Ange in that. It’s also not the kind of confidence that rubbed so many up the wrong way with Wilfried Nancy. It’s measured, principled and quietly insistent – the sort that unsettles opponents and old habits without ever needing to shout. Yes, early on it rubbed some people the wrong way at Motherwell, and sure, the wins weren’t flooding in straight away, but that’s the point. He’s not here to babysit the club, he’s here to change the story, to make a team that quietly accepted mediocrity start thinking, moving, and competing differently. That kind of calm, unapologetic self-belief, insisting on your philosophy even when the scoreboard is bleak is exactly the sort of temperament you need if you want to do what Ange did here – flip expectations, create identity, and make it last.
Askou is more of a ready-made Parkhead candidate than most people realise. Without the kind of budget or big-name players typically expected at that level he has transformed Motherwell’s squad, which was largely written off before the season, into one that rotates well, presses smartly, and competes with Scotland’s top teams. He is ruthless in the right way and patient when it matters with a willingness to make difficult decisions mid-game if things aren’t working. Players react to him because he is clear about what he wants but allows them to express themselves. His restless energy and sense that he won’t accept “good enough” are the reasons Motherwell has transformed into an entertaining, high-performing football team. He is a manager who can impose an identity without alienating his team because of his calm ambition, disciplined structure, and unapologetic modern football thinking. When you combine that with his flexibility it is clear that he has the attitude and strategies to grow. Askou could rule at home and launch reputable campaigns in Europe if he had the right conditions, the resources to bolster important areas, and the perseverance to see his ideas through. Beyond that, his path is obvious – with a few more years of development, he will have all the makings of a Premier League manager, not as a wild guess, but as someone whose preparation, philosophy and temperament have already been tried and tested under duress. He won’t make headlines, but he’s the kind of straightforward, football-mad manager who could create a lot of success.
