The change takes effect immediately, writes AIK football in a press release.
"Thomas has done a very good job for AIK Football since he came in in May 2023", writes AIK, but notes that they "will need to take a different direction and then other competencies and work methods are needed."
The Norwegian gets fired just two days before Monday's Allsvenskan premiere against Gais. AIK's CEO Fredrik Söderberg explains why Berntsen has to go now:
That the winter window has just closed and that we are now giving the new sports leadership as much time as possible to work towards the summer window, says Söderberg to Aftonbladet.
Reports of dissatisfaction
Aftonbladet reported on Friday that Berntsen could be on his way out of AIK, citing sources that described a great deal of dissatisfaction within the club. The sports manager was said to have disagreed on "a number of issues" with AIK's board.
"It's a sad day to part with AIK", comments Thomas Berntsen, but says there are no "hard feelings".
Thomas Berntsen came to AIK from Norwegian Sarpsborg in April 2023. Last season, AIK finished third in Allsvenskan after a strong comeback in the autumn. Berntsen brought in former coach Henning Berg, fired him, and was then behind the choice of the current coach Mikkjal Thomassen.
Fredrik Söderberg understands that the decision to fire Berntsen can lead to upset feelings among the supporters.
"Stirs up feelings"
Yes, of course I understand that. It's probably also a sign that we are very personality-driven, which in itself is not good. But I also understand it from the fact that Thomas is popular and that we have performed well. From the outside, I can of course understand that it stirs up feelings, says the club's CEO to Aftonbladet.
At the same time, AIK decides to divide the former sports manager role into three different leadership roles. Mikkjal Thomassen becomes head coach, Fredrik Wisur Hansen becomes recruitment manager, while Jeremy Steele is assigned the role of strategy manager through a "partnership" with his company.
We believe that the sports manager role has historically been far too comprehensive for one person to bear. You need to distribute the work among several people, says Söderberg.
