Everything you need to know about new Kerala Blasters FC head coach Mikael Stahre: History, tactical approach, and style of play
Following another forgettable season, Kerala Blasters FC are set to overhaul their structure again. The club announced the departure of Ivan Vukomanovic, with Mikael Stahre set to step in as the new head coach for the upcoming season.
Stahre, a Swedish coach with experience in managing clubs all over the world, faces the formidable challenge of leading the Blasters to ultimate glory. Nevertheless, he will inherit a strong foundation, as Vukomanovic made significant strides during his tenure, guiding the clubs to the playoffs in all three seasons he was in charge.
However, as with any coach arriving in India for the first time, Stahre will need time to settle into the ISL and familiarize himself with the players and the club. Despite this, his credentials suggest that the Blasters have made a promising choice.
With that in mind, here is a comprehensive analysis of Stahre’s background, tactical approach, and what Blasters fans can expect from the team in the upcoming season.
Mikael Stahre’s history
Interestingly, Stahre began his coaching career at the age of just 14 after a career-ending injury. He started professional coaching around 35 years ago as a youth coach for the Swedish club Gröndals IK, later managing the Hammarby under-19 team and the AIK youth team, where he delivered significant success.
After a decade of spearheading the youth teams, Stahre took his first senior team role with third-tier Swedish club Vasby United in 2007. He quickly made an impact, leading the team to promotion to the second tier and achieving a mid-table finish in their first season in the second tier.
Recognizing his potential, AIK approached Stahre ahead of the 2009-10 season. Success followed as he guided the club to the Allsvenskan title, winning 18 of their 30 league games. He also secured the Svenska Cup, completing a double in his maiden top-tier season, while also winning the Supercupen in 2010.
After his success in Sweden, Stahre moved to Greek club Panionios, but his tenure was short-lived, as he managed only eight games and lost six of those. Returning to Sweden, he joined IFK Göteborg ahead of the 2012 Allsvenskan season.
In his first season, Stahre led Göteborg to a respectable seventh-place finish, followed by third and second-place finishes in the next two seasons. He also won the Svenska Cup in his first season, which was his second cup trophy in his country. Overall, he had a solid 46.85% win rate over more than 100 games before leaving the club at the end of the 2014 season.
Stahre’s subsequent roles took him across the globe, first managing Chinese second-division club Dalian Yifang in 2015, before returning to Sweden with BK Häcken in 2017, where he struggled, winning only four of his 29 games.
He then moved to the USA to manage the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017 for one season, before returning to Europe once again to take over Norway’s Sarpsborg 08 in 2020. A return to IFK Göteborg followed in 2021, where he achieved eighth-place finishes in both seasons. His last role before joining Kerala Blasters was with Thai club Uthai Thani for one season, where the team finished 9th.
Tactics - Flexible approach in possession and organized out of possession
Before delving into tactics, it is certainly important to look at Stahre’s management style. Sportskeeda had the opportunity to interview Swedish journalists who highly regard his approach, attributing his success to his effective management.
"[Stahre is perceived] as one of the most experienced and also I’d like to say one of the most popular coaches among the fans, among the pundits, among the supporters because of the person he is," says Aftonbladet journalist Michael Wagner, who has interviewed the Swede several times.
ALSO READ: "He is dedicated and lives for football" - Kerala Blasters told what to expect from ‘character’ Mikael Stahre after managerial appointment
Now, let’s turn to the tactical aspect of his gameplay. Stahre is known for his flexibility in possession, adapting his shape to suit the players at his disposal. But despite this adaptability, he operates with certain fixed principles.
Firstly, Stahre is a possession-based coach who prefers to build from the back with short passes. He emphasizes a strong foundation in the first line of attack and consistently favors a double pivot, who stay close to each other in terms of distance in possession.
These pivot players should be technically astute and possess a high work rate, as they serve as the cornerstone of his team. They carry the burden of playing progressive passes to the final third while also protecting counter-attacks by covering the space in front of the center-backs.
In an interview with San Jose Earthquakes, Stahre explained his approach, highlighting his preference for flexibility in his tactical setup:
"For me, it’s really important to be flexible, so that I can put the players in the right position. Of course, we have to attack in a proper way with lots of energy, but we also have to be organized and aggressive out of possession. For me, it’s really important to combine these two factors. In terms of formations, I used to play a 4-4-2 with quite straight lines, but I’ve also used a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-5-1, and also a 3-4-3."
In addition to the pivots, the full-backs in Stahre’s team also play a crucial role. The Swede prefers his wingers to tuck inside, overloading the middle, which allows the full-backs to push higher up the pitch and provide width. However, he is quite flexible in his use of full-backs as well.
For instance, if the opponent presses with two forwards, one full-back usually drops back alongside the center-backs to create numerical superiority in the first line, helping to play out from the back.
In the final third, Stahre’s teams are highly associative and do not rely on rigid patterns to unlock defenses. Instead, he grants his players the freedom to make decisions. Rather than preferring traditional crosses from the flanks, his teams often create opportunities through the middle with quick combinations or early crosses from the half-spaces. Here, the wingers and the attacking midfielder are key, as he depends on their creativity to generate chances for the striker.
Stahre began his career with a rigid 4-4-2 system, but as he moved across continents and managed mid-table teams, he adapted his approach. At Sarpsborg and Uthai Thani, he even primarily utilized a 3-4-3 formation to improve defensive stability. With these teams, he preferred physically dominant center-backs who excelled at protecting the penalty area, while having a technically strong midfield base and clinical forwards.
Counter-attacks are another strength of Stahre’s teams, as they tend to push forward in numbers when opportunities arise. However, the coach has mentioned that he prefers his teams to be selective with their breaks, as he wants to avoid an end-to-end game.
While his teams are flexible in possession, they are extremely organized out of possession, often adopting a 4-4-2 shape. His teams do not typically employ high pressing, but have specific pressing triggers to win the ball back.
For example, they often remain compact in the middle to force opponents wide. Once the ball moves to the flanks, his teams switch to an aggressive man-to-man approach, using the touchline as an extra defender and pressing higher to regain possession.
Takeaways
From the managerial profile, there are notable similarities between Stahre and Ivan Vukomanovic. Vukomanovic typically employed a 4-4-2 formation and encouraged his attacking players to combine centrally, an approach that Stahre also favors.
Both managers also share a common weakness - their teams can be vulnerable in wide areas due to the full-backs pushing high up the pitch. This has been a recurring issue for Stahre’s teams over the years.
Either way, the transition is expected to be smooth, given the similarities in styles. However, the Blasters need to recruit players that fit Stahre’s system. The priority will be securing an overseas midfielder who can play in the pivot and has a strong work rate and high technical ability.
Additionally, the Blasters may need to acquire full-backs, considering their current lack of depth in that position and the need for full-backs who can contribute both offensively and defensively in Stahre’s system. But if the club can provide the time and the right players, Stahre's experience and tactical know-how could lead to significant success.