Middlesbrough finally announced Kim Hellberg as their new manager on Monday. The Championship club had spent days dealing with the final details of the switch from Hammarby.
Hellberg’s backroom team isn’t full yet at Middlesbrough, and a further arrival is expected from. This time, that’ll be from Malmö FF, in the form of their interim manager Anes Mravac. He can’t arrive until December as he still has Europa League matches to oversee.
Middlesbrough’s move for Hellberg is having wider implications at Hammarby. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet report Simon Strand was set to have his contract renewed until the manager left for Middlesbrough.
Now he’s set to be available as a free agent. Due to seasons running on a different calendar in Sweden, so do contracts. Strand’s deal expires on December 31st.
The fullback – whose full name is wonderfully Simon August Love Strand – was in positive talks with Hammarby at the beginning of the month. Despite offers from abroad, the 32-year-old was set to stay.
Hellberg to Middlesbrough has torpedoed that.
Given his age, perhaps Strand is a little old to give the Championship a whirl, having spent his career in Swede.
It’s not to be completely ruled out, though, especially given Strand will be a free agent in just over a month.
