Askou leaves Motherwell after one season to take charge at Toulouse

Jens Berthel Askou has left Motherwell after a successful debut season to take charge of French side Toulouse.

Askou led the Fir Park club to a fourth-placed finish with victory at Hibernian last Saturday, securing a return to European football next season.

The 43-year-old, who replaced Michael Wimmer last summer, has been praised for implementing an attractive style of expansive and effective football as the Steelmen briefly threatened to challenge for the league title.

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Under the Dane, Motherwell broke defensive club records, which ultimately attracted interest and he was linked with other clubs including Celtic.

In a statement, Askou said: "Grateful is the best word to describe how I feel about my time as a manager of Motherwell FC.

"This past year has been an amazing journey. The buy-in and support from players, staff, board members, volunteers and supporters have been invaluable for me to lead the development of the club. There have been so many special moments along the way, but the way the season ended with a hard-fought win at Easter Road, leaving the club in a position of chasing European football next season, couldn't have been written better.

"Special opportunities come rare in football. And you don't know when they present themselves. So sometimes you have to leave great things behind to create new ones no matter how hard it is.

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"This year has not just been a year of joy, excitement, togetherness and success. It has also been a glimpse into the future. A glimpse of what this club is capable of when executing ambitions strategically and boldly.

"Now I will follow this future from outside. Excited and optimistic on behalf of everyone at Motherwell Football Club. Knowing that I played a small part. And with memories of something truly special.

"A huge THANK YOU to everyone who I've met along the way. Mon the Well."

All Motherwell's current backroom staff will remain at the club.

"First of all, I want to wish Jens all the very best for the future," Chairman Kyrk Macmillan added.

"When we brought Jens to Motherwell, there was an understanding that if there was success, the club wouldn't stand in the way of Jens progressing to his next club if it was the correct opportunity at the right time.

"Toulouse is a club playing in one of the top five divisions in Europe, and it is an excellent opportunity for him. I hope this move brings him more success. Thank you, Jens.

"This season has been a special one. I'm a Motherwell fan, and it has been a joy to watch the team operate at such a high level. It's no secret that we have got a strategy in place that we will continue to build upon our model, using the same principles, as we enter this new campaign. Managers leaving a club can be a hard pill to swallow, and whilst we appreciate Jens for what he has done here in the last 11 months, we have been continually working on contingencies and learnings to ensure we do not rip up and start again but continue to build and grow.

"There's lots to be excited about. We have over 20 contracted first-team players, European football on the horizon and crowds are 40% up at Fir Park. We will continue working hard behind the scenes and will update supporters in due course. This is the start of a journey, not the end."

Prior to his move to Scotland, the 43-year-old was an assistant at Copenhagen and Sparta Prague, while also having spells as manager in Sweden, the Faroe Islands and his homeland Denmark.

Toulouse had been searching for a new boss after announcing Carles Martinez Novell departure at the end of the season.

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