Djurgården announced the decision to fire the duo just a few hours after the Stockholm derby against Hammarby (0-2 loss) was completed on Monday afternoon. Sunday's match was interrupted due to pyrotechnics thrown from the Djurgården stand.
Today, we have parted ways, and we are incredibly grateful. Six years is a very long time, and they have done a fantastic job in Djurgården, says the club's sports manager Bosse Andersson.
The news landed heavily with one half of the coaching duo.
I'm sad, but I can't comment on it right now. I can't right now, says Thomas "Tolle" Lagerlöf to Aftonbladet.
Six years is a long time. Then it's clear that there are feelings involved, continues Andersson.
"Eight matches left"
The duo took over the club in 2019 and started with a Swedish Championship gold medal during their first season.
Since then, Djurgården has never finished worse than fourth in Allsvenskan. They have then led Djurgården to the playoffs in the European Conference League 2022 and league play in this year's edition. In total, it was 177 Allsvenskan matches as head coach for the club.
Now they are forced to leave the club, despite only three rounds remaining of the Allsvenskan season.
We have eight matches left (including European games), and we should focus on those matches. So that's the bit, says Bosse Andersson.
"Continuing in my role"
According to Expressen, the most likely scenario is that the former Djurgården coach Pelle Olsson, who made a comeback in the club as a scout during the autumn, takes over the coaching duties for the rest of the year. However, this is currently denied by Olsson.
It's not true. I'm continuing in my role, says Pelle Olsson to Aftonbladet.
Djurgården is in third place in Allsvenskan with three rounds left. AIK can, however, pass them with a win against IFK Göteborg on Monday evening.
