FORMER Saint Michael Svensson admitted he “couldn’t believe it” when his old club Halmstads BK asked him to become their assistant manager.

Svensson has returned to his native Sweden to start a new life and also to continue his coaching career.

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

I had some offers to go with Mark Wotte, but I felt I couldn’t wait

Michael Svensson

He has linked up with new head coach Lars Jacobsson at the Swedish top-flight outfit.

Although Jacobsson’s appointment has been met with caution by supporters, Svensson has proved a very popular choice as assistant.

The 34-year-old admitted the timing was perfect for him.

Svensson also revealed he would have gone with ex- Saints boss Mark Wotte to a new club, but did not want to wait any longer.

“When I received the offer I couldn’t believe it,” said Svensson.

“It didn’t take many minutes for me to say yes.

“I had some small offers to go with (Mark) Wotte to another club, but I felt that I couldn’t wait. I wanted to go home and start afresh. Because of that, the timing was perfect when HBK gave me the chance.”

Svensson remains a huge hero at Saints, after producing some inspirational displays as a centre back that helped them reach the 2003 FA Cup final and finish eighth in the Premier League that same season.

He also earned huge respect for bravely battling through serious injury for a number of years, ultimately making an incredible comeback at the start of last season, when he became captain.

However, further injury eventually curtailed his playing career and Svensson joined the coaching staff at Saints when Wotte was appointed last January.

After his contract expired in the summer, and he was not retained by the new ownership, Svensson decided to take his family and return home.

The job with Halmstads, who include former Saints academy player Tim Sparv in their ranks, was soon forthcoming.

A man not unused to difficult challenges, Svensson knows this will be another.

Halmstads finished just one place above the relegation play-off spot in this year’s Allsvenskan, resulting in their head coach Jan Anderson departing.

“It has been a hard year and I have suffered with the club,”

said Svensson. “It is mentally tough to play at the point of the sword all the time, but they pulled through and that has made them stronger mentally.

“Because of that I definitely think we can improve our position and move up the table in 2010.”

Svensson added: “We have always said that we will settle ourselves in Halmstad and it feels good to have the grandparents close by,” he said.

“The tough part was for Lukas [his five-year old son] to break-up from school and friends.”