ligue1-logo
One To Watch

Who is new Toulouse manager Jens Berthel Askou?

Jens Berthel Askou has been named the new manager of Toulouse FC, where he succeeds Carles Martínez Novell in the post. We look at the Dane's journey to Ligue 1 McDonald's.
L. ENTWISTLE
Published on 05/27/2026 at 12:00
3-minute read
A tifo at The Stadium in Toulouse

Jens Berthel Askou has been named the new manager of Toulouse FC, where he succeeds Carles Martínez Novell in the post. We look at the Dane's journey to Ligue 1 McDonald's.

One title for Berthel Askou during his playing days

Berthel Askou had a nomadic playing career. The Danish defender began his career in Midtjylland's renowned academy, but, at a young age, he made the move to domestic rivals Silkeborg and then spent a season on loan at Holstebro. 

Having moved around his native Denmark, it was time to move abroad and he went on to play in Turkey with Kasimpasa, before moving to Norwich City in 2009. After a season on loan at Millwall, Berthel Askou would then return to Denmark, ticking off a further four clubs - Vejle-Kolding, Esbjerg, Skive, and Thisted - retiring at the latter in 2017. He ended his playing career with over 300 appearances and one title, with Norwich, with whom he won the League One title back in 2010.

A nomadic managerial career

From League One to Ligue 1 McDonald's. Just as he did as a player, Berthel Askou has moved about plenty since turning his hand to management. He spent just one season as the first-team manager of Vendsyssel, just over a year as manager of Torshavn, and then 18 months at Horsens, with whom he won the title in the Danish second tier. 

Berthel Askou was working his way up the ladder. Then came the stint at Goteborg, which once again lasted just one year, then a brief stint as assistant at Slavia Prague before then being named assistant manager at Copenhagen back in January 2025. 

His stint with the Danish giants ended that following summer, when he made the move to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. He earned plaudits for his time in Scotland. Whilst it was a season that ended trophyless, he led Motherwell to a fourth-place finish, behind champions Celtic, Hearts and Rangers. This summer, Motherwell will partake in the preliminary rounds of the Europa Conference League, albeit without the man who led them there.

Berthel Askou praised for development of youth players

At the age of just 43, this is his 10th club, as coach, manager, or assistant. Prior to his arrival at Motherwell, Berthel Askou was lauded for his trust in youth players and his ability to develop them. "He gave debuts to 26 players at the top level in the space of five-and-a-half seasons," noted Motherwell president Kyrk Macmillan last summer. 

It is - at least in part - for this reason that Toulouse made the move for the Danish manager once it was clear that Carles Martínez Novell's time at the club had come to an end. "[He] is a manager capable of fitting in completely with the direction in which we are heading as a club. This appointment fits with our will to continue developing an ambitious, sustainable project, by leaning on our collective strength and on the development of young players," said Le TéFéCé's president, Olivier Cloarec, announcing Berthel Askou's arrival at the club earlier this month. 

READ MORE:

>> World Cup Squads: Which Ligue 1 Players are heading to North America?

>> Attendances: a historic season for French football

>> Ligue 1 McDonald's 2025/26: the key player stats

 


 

ligue1-logo
Squads overview