How does it feel to be the new Aberdeen FC manager and just how much are you looking forward to the new challenge?

“I am really excited, it is a great honour to get this job.

“The impression I have had on the club when I have met everyone has been amazing. I feel this is a good next step for me on the journey and I am looking forward to starting my work there in the summer.”

There has been a lot of speculation – does it feel a bit of a relief the news is now out there?

“There is always speculation in our world, so it is good to clarify for everyone so they can feel where our focus is and we can find a solution in a respectful way in Elfsborg with the change of coaches in the summer, and also for the Aberdeen fans to support Peter and the players with an important game at the weekend and also in the last part of the season. It’s good now that everybody knows what is happening.”

Why do you feel Aberdeen and Scotland is the right move for this stage in your career and how difficult a decision was it to leave Elfsborg in the summer, where you have done so well?

“I have been at Elfsborg for six and a half years now and I have a good dialogue with the board and the club director, Stefan. We always talked about when the time is right and when the right club makes an approach, that we can find a good solution.

“The feelings I get for Aberdeen, for the project, and the support from Dave, Alan and Steven, I feel like it is a good opportunity. I also like the intensity of the league, the competition, the speed of the game, and I think it’s a good match as well as the project of Aberdeen.

“I always try to figure out what a club is searching for, I don’t want to just take a job, I need to feel like I believe in it and they believe in me and we can do this together. You can’t be alone, it’s not only the manager, it’s the direction that the club wants to go in, and I really feel this was a perfect match. The timing was good and hopefully, I can give success for Elfsborg in the future and also I can try to help with the staff and everyone around the club to be a success in their future too.”

How much do you know about the club?

“From my grandfather I know about a bit Aberdeen, because when I started coaching Jonkopings Sodra it was the club of the city I was born in and then in Sweden his favourite team which was Elfsborg and we would talk about the times with Sir Alex Ferguson and Aberdeen. I always have been aware and when the opportunity arrived it was like a coincidence, I had a feeling so strong about the club. I know a bit, but I still have a lot to learn! “

The conversations you had with the Chairman, Steven and Alan – what impressed you about the club? And what made you feel you could work with them to make this club successful?

“For me it’s always important that people are genuine and you feel the passion people have for the club. You feel that they live for this club, they want to work so hard for this club, and that’s always transmitted to you, and that you want to be there with them to do good work.

“It was the same when I signed for Elfsborg, I could see the fire in their eyes and the passion for the club and I get the same feeling this time meeting the Chairman, Alan and Steven. That’s why I want to share this passion with them, with the city and the fans.”

What can the Aberdeen supporters expect to see from the style of football you play and maybe tell us a little bit about your playing philosophy?

“My main idea is an attacking philosophy. I want the fans to feel it and see it on the pitch, and the players to live it. It is quite intense, it is quite direct, we always do everything together and we defend as a block. We work really hard together and we have a clear direction to creating scoring chances and working like that.”

Tell me a bit about your two assistant managers who will also be moving to scotland with you, Christer Persson and Emir Bajrami?

“When you get to a new environment it’s good to bring some part of the staff and Aberdeen also have a really good staff, so we can mix our experience and work together. It’s also easier as we are going to have a short pre-season and get out the message quickly, and also bring some parts from the Aberdeen staff where they already have that identity and try to mix these parts.

“I think it’s good to have people you have worked with before but also adding new people, a mix is always the best.”

Peter Leven, who is in charge at the moment, will be forming part of your coaching team. How big a part will he play in helping you settle into Scottish football?

“Peter knows the league, he knows the clubs, so it will be a really good opportunity for us to have him part of the staff and make the perfect mix. In Sweden we sometimes have coaches who have been in the club before and we try and mix and get as much togetherness as possible.”

Appreciate and respect your focus will be with your current club, but will you be a keen viewer of the Aberdeen games between now and the end of the season?

“I will follow the results and wish the team all my luck. I feel it’s going to go really well for Aberdeen, Peter is doing an amazing job with the players and all the staff around the team so let’s do that together now and we can meet each other in the summer.

“How you start things and also how you end things is really important to me. I really want to be respectful to Elfsborg and give Oscar and the players in Elfsborg good continuity and then I am going to fully focus on Aberdeen.”

You have built an exceptional reputation in Sweden for player development, with the side selling numerous names to clubs across the globe, is that something you hope to do at Aberdeen?

“It’s important to keep the DNA and identity of Aberdeen, and hopefully during this journey, players can give a lot of success to Aberdeen before they are moving on. It is always nice to see people grow, players are human and they need to grow and take steps and give a lot to Aberdeen before they move on, I think that’s a good pathway.

“If you focus on Aberdeen and do that well you are going to go one step more in the journey to do other things and when you mix that with players who have been with Aberdeen and do that for a longer time, I think that balance is really important.

Finally, what would your message be to the fans?

“My message to the fans is, let’s do it together. You have a nice game to look forward to at the weekend, now win it.”