What I can do
Equipped with the knowledge to combine and synthesise 3 roles
“The road to freedom is a beautiful system”
A structure everyone can rely on and express themselves in. Freedom through discipline.
Philosophy, values, principles and habits lead the process. Details may change, the essence remains.
Shared beliefs and behaviours build a culture, and culture creates an identity.
Case studies
See all case studies →Career
2017 to today, across 5 football cultures.
Previous experience 2011–2015 available on request.
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Values first
4 values hold the culture up. Where they overlap is excellence — it isn't a 5th value, it's what the other 4 produce when they're all present.
Perfection is the target. We aim for it because if we miss, we're still excellent.
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The principles that guide the process
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Compactness becomes a measurement instead of a feeling. The stripes give the players a shared reference for how far the team is allowed to stretch — and how fast it has to rebalance.
We attack as one, and compactness is key.
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Compress into 3. We move as a unit.
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How it becomes a plan for a specific squad — see Methodology · Game model
“The principles define the identity, the players determine how the identity is expressed.”
Developing the game model starts from its interpreters. The players I've got determine how we apply the principles set at the start — the identity holds, the expression of it's theirs.
Process to develop the game model
5 stepsThe game is a whole and can't be divided. But to clarify our solutions in each moment, we split it into phases and set the collective and individual priorities for every 1 of them.
NoteA sample of the phases, not the full list.
We define the episodes that matter most, out of a deep study of the league and the contexts the team will play in. Some are common everywhere; others are specific to a country and its football culture.
NoteExamples only: 2 sub-phases, a few of the episodes inside each.
Each episode is answered with a team priority, drawn against the pictures the opponent actually gives us.
The same episode is broken down per position, so every player knows what the picture asks of them — 2 clear actions, not a paragraph.
Built from the playing style — see Coaching · Playing style
The 2 key principles of every session
During the week we use constraints to present the players with the situations and problems they will face at the weekend — and they have to find the appropriate solutions.
How the week gets planned
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Weekly microcycle
Play Sunday · next match SundayEvery microcycle is defined by the previous and the next game. The days between them decide how the week lets the players recover properly, fix what went wrong, and prepare the solutions for the next opponent.
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NoteBar height is relative training load. Load and content are individualised by minutes, position, availability and monitoring data.
Every player gets a plan, a report and his own work on the pitch.
Working with players individually develops both the individual and the collective. The plan runs on 2 levels, off and on the pitch.
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The toolkit
Data and technology serve football, not the other way around. We use all the information available to make informed decisions, not data-driven ones — nothing replaces a trained eye.
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On the pitch{{ pl.text }}
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Video examples
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Obstacles
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What was learnt
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Off the pitch
The reportThe player has a good sense of anticipation and can interpret when the opponent will pass the ball to the striker.
Reduce the space with the striker, avoiding being surpassed. Apply the concept of "do not open the pitch": choose the trajectory that makes the pitch smaller for the striker and limits his passing options.
Choose the timing of the press depending on whether another striker could attack the space behind your back. If not, follow the striker's drop. If yes, wait until the pass to jump and press.
If the striker passes the ball, it is important that he doesn't run behind you. Don't lose sight of him and follow the run.
If the ball goes far, return quickly to your position, maintaining the line's balance and avoiding opening new gaps.
On the pitch
The training gameRead the ball holder and the space behind you, then decide: hold, follow or step out and press. Attackers try to score; when the defenders recover, they carry the ball to the scoring zone.
- Ball holder is free → Defend the space first
- No one can attack your back → Follow the striker and reduce the space
- Someone can attack the space → Press while the ball is rolling
On the pitch
Session 1Attack the space for your own reception, and run to open gaps and passing lines. If the defenders recover the ball, they carry it to the scoring zone; the defence must choose the outside or the inside lane.
- Ball holder is free → Prioritise running behind
- Preparing the run → Get into the defender's blind side
- Without the ball → Spot the gap a teammate creates and use it
Notes: We can modify the opponent's formation to match what we will face during the weekend. We can also modify how the defensive team scores if we want to emphasise transitions.
On the pitch
The Gates gameSlow down to attract opponents, then speed up to attack the spaces. 15 passes score 1 point; a red gate scores 3 and a yellow gate 1.
- A gate is available → Pick the moment to speed up
- Moving freely → Respect each other's spaces and swap positions
- At all times → High tempo and passing quality
Notes: Organise the players inside the possession according to our own attack-defence structures or our own vs the opponent's structure.
Line-up and structural adjustments
I prepared this slide in July and the team played exactly like this against Mjällby on August 8th.
Analysis of the goals by period
- Notice the strong start the team can have in some games.
- It is also good to see how the team gains momentum during the second half, increasing the amount of goals as the game comes to an end.
- In goals conceded, the restart of the 2nd half and the last 15 minutes of the game are critical for the team. This trend is the same for all Allsvenskan goals, not just for Elfsborg.
Analysis of the goals by type
- Crossing situations are both a strong and a weak point for the team, also a current trend in Allsvenskan.
- Even though the team leans towards a possession-based style, counter-attacks are one of the most effective ways for the team to score.
* The set piece goals include the penalty kicks, both scored and conceded.
A quick overview of the match plan
High press
- Start with a man to man high pressing approach.
- Allow the first pass to Thomas to force the pass back to Pettersson and continue the press, forcing him towards his right foot.
- If they can find the inner players facing forward, we desist and track back into a low block reorganisation.
Offensive transition
- One of our strikers needs to run, attacking the space left by Hult.
- Find the player to the space or the opposite winger coming inside: their defensive line will quickly drop back if someone is threatening their back.
- Once we connect with someone between the lines, quickly attack the flanks to cross.
Attacking the box
- Priority: cut back or far post.
- To achieve that:
- Attack the near post to force the first CB to go deep.
- Drag the 2nd CB deep and/or out of position.
- Far post player holds position (the fullback won't mark individually).
- Second line players use the space left by Olsson, or the wingers, who won't track back in time.