Christer Olsson Takes Charge as Färjestad's Head Coach Amid Tough SHL Run

Färjestad Hockey Club has appointed Christer Olsson as head coach following the dismissal of Jörgen Jönsson on January 10, 2026. Olsson, who was the assistant coach, stepped into the role less than 24 hours after Jönsson was fired due to a loss of players' trust, as expert Petter Rönnqvist explained. Although the team had suffered four consecutive defeats, the expert highlighted that losing the locker room rather than results was key to the decision.

Olsson conducted his first training session supported by fans who displayed a banner emphasizing unity: "Vi är Färjestad! I medgång, I motgång, För alltid". Despite acknowledging the rapid transition, Olsson stressed the communal nature of coaching, focusing on teamwork and developing individual players. The former assistant coach also dismissed suggestions that communication with Jönsson had broken down, stating they maintained ongoing dialogue to aid performance.

In his debut match leading Färjestad against Djurgården, the team suffered a 1-3 loss, leaving them ninth in the SHL standings after 35 games. Olsson urged fans for continued support and highlighted the importance of team morale amid challenges. Key players like Jack Berglund recently returned, while others, including Gabriel Carlsson and Emil Alba, are fit to play, but Viktor Lodin remains ill. Sportchef Rickard Wallin acknowledged the tough decision to replace Jönsson but emphasized the change was essential for the team to reach its potential.