The week that was
This was a week that told you a lot about where Malmö FF are heading, even if the destination still feels a little blurry. A defeat on the pitch, a significant appointment off it, transfer activity gathering pace, and an uncomfortable story resurfacing about the man who used to run the dressing room. There was no shortage of signal. Here is what it means.
The loss to Häcken is a warning sign
Start with the result, because it matters most. Malmö lost to Häcken, who now sit top of Allsvenskan (10). That alone should sharpen focus in the Malmö camp. The game had a bizarre shape: Malmö actually took the lead after a howling error from Häcken goalkeeper Birkisdottir (12), the kind of gift that should give you a platform to control a match. Malmö could not hold it. Häcken turned it around, with Tindell and Schröder the architects of the comeback (13). Felicia Schröder, in particular, was described as "incredibly sharp in the chances she gets" (10). Malmö were not.
This is a pattern worth watching. When Malmö have had the chance to close out matches or punish opponents in disarray, they have not been clinical enough. A goalkeeper error handed them an advantage. They still lost. That says something about resilience, or the lack of it right now.
Berglund is the most consequential story of the week
Philip Berglund is officially the new sporting director at Malmö FF (6) (7). The appointment is striking for one reason above all: Berglund was Hammarby's chief scout. He resigned from Hammarby (18) and walks directly into one of Swedish football's most demanding roles. The behind-the-scenes story of how MFF made this happen is reportedly complex (16), but the headline is straightforward. Malmö identified someone they wanted, moved decisively, and got him. That is encouraging. The question now is whether Berglund's scouting eye translates into smart recruitment decisions. The transfer activity this week suggests he is already working.
The recruitment machine is moving
Two transfer stories emerged. Malmö are reportedly pursuing a full-back from Aberdeen (11), and Aftonbladet reports first contact has been made with winger Alexander Jensen (15). Both moves point to the same priority: reinforcing the wide areas. Whether either deal materialises is uncertain, but the direction is clear. Berglund is not waiting for the dust to settle on his appointment.
Then there is Taha Ali. His World Cup call-up brings Malmö a windfall of several million kronor in solidarity payments (3). Ali himself frames it as an opportunity to generate even more money for the club. At 27, he is entering his peak years. That combination of sporting and financial contribution is exactly what a club in a rebuild phase needs.
The JDT shadow
The week also produced a reminder of the Jon Dahl Tomasson era, and it was not flattering. A new book by journalist Olof Lundh reveals that the Swedish Football Association received a warning when checking references on Tomasson before hiring him for the national team role (1) (2). Malmö FF described him as "rock hard and ice cold" (14). The SFF apparently did not take it seriously enough. This is ancient history for MFF fans in one sense, but it is a useful frame. The culture Tomasson built at Malmö had real costs, and the current project is still partly defined by what it is moving away from.
What to watch next week
Three things deserve your attention. First: how does Malmö respond after the Häcken loss? A bounce-back performance would tell you the squad has character. A flat display would deepen the concern. Second: watch for any official movement on the Jensen or Aberdeen full-back targets. Berglund's first transfer window at the club will be his earliest statement of intent. Third: with Häcken now leading the table, the gap between Malmö and the top is a live issue. Next week's results will either close it or widen it. The rebuild is real. But rebuilds have no patience for dropped points.