Thomas Berntsen, who was hired as AIK's sports director in summer 2023, has taken a new role as recruitment chief at Danish club Bröndby IF. According to Fotbolltransfers, Berntsen described his departure with mixed feelings, citing a strategic shift at AIK that he believes cost the team a championship. Berntsen believes AIK would have competed for the championship last year if the club had not chosen a different direction, which he attributes to economic reasons.
According to Fotbolltransfers, Berntsen described selling players for 200 million SEK during his two-year tenure, though the specific players and number involved remain unclear. He also noted that AIK had exit plans for players Salétros and Benkovic. The exact economic reasons behind the strategy change and how it differs from Berntsen's approach are not detailed.
I look back on the time at AIK with great joy. We beat all, really all, benchmarks that were in my contract. I am extremely satisfied with that and I am completely sure that the club would have been competing for the championship last year if the club had not chosen a different direction. I came there to win. We did not win, but we would have won last year, I am sure of that, if I had been there.
Injury problems and poor training facilities at AIK were significant issues during Berntsen's time. According to Fotbolltransfers, Berntsen described that all the young, fine players, including talents like Taha Ayari, Andreas Redkin, and Abdihakim Ali, suffered long-term injuries. He criticized the training conditions, stating that AIK has only one good grass pitch, which is only usable for four months.
According to Fotbolltransfers, Berntsen described that the foundation for training is on hard artificial grass pitches, which he claims Norwegian teams would not have used, and noted that Martin Ellingsen also injured himself at Skytteholm. Specific improvements Berntsen suggests for the facilities are not outlined. Despite the critiques, Berntsen maintains a positive relationship with AIK.
We sold for 200 million during the two years I was there. We had an exit plan for Salétros and Benkovic. The sad thing in AIK was that all the young, fine players – all fantastic talents – were long-term injured.
He still has many friends at the club, and according to Fotbolltransfers, Berntsen described beating all benchmarks in his contract, though the details of those benchmarks are unknown.
The training conditions are too poor. It is just the way it is, and it is no criticism against the caretaker. They have only one grass pitch that is good. They do everything they can with it, but it is only good for four months. It does not hold up for a top club like AIK.
The foundation to become a trainer is on hard artificial grass pitches. Norwegian teams, they would not have trained at Skytteholm. They would not have done it. I know they work hard there, but it is not good enough. Martin Ellingsen also injured himself there.