Gregg Berhalter opened his winning account as a manager when Hammarby when their Swedish Superettan opener on the weekend.
The Bajen beat Halmstad 1-0 at home to give former LA Galaxy, Energie Cottbus and Crystal Palace defender Berhalter a winning start to managerial life.
The 38-year old American was appointed in December last year after Hammarby finished 11th in Sweden's second tier and suggests it was his European playing experience which got him the job.
"The board probably looked at my playing career. I spent a long time in Europe as a player, and they knew that I had been a player and coach under Bruce Arena in Los Angeles. So there was a lot of positive things that kind of overshadowed my inexperience.
"I had other offers as well. I could have stayed in Galaxy as an assistant manager to Bruce Arena or taken a job as a manager at a lower level in the USA, but I felt that Hammarby would give me a better chance to grow and to shape my ideas. I realize that it is a difficult job, but it was a chance that I had to take.""I wasn't surprised at getting the chance but very honored," Berhalter told Blågul Fotboll.
