Norling steps down from Malmo

Malmo manager Rikard Norling has resigned one month after guiding the club to their 20th Allsvenskan title. The 42-year-old former midfielder left Assyriska Foreningen to replace Roland Nilsson in May 2011 and guided the club to third place and into the UEFA Europa League in his first full season as manager. Media reports of a rift between Norling and the Malmo board led to him committing his future to the Blues last year but, after taking the Allsvenska trophy to the southern city for the first time since 2010 and beating IFK Goteborg to the Swedish Super Cup in recent weeks, he has stepped down. Norling told Malmo's official website: "I have resigned from Malmo FF. At the same time, I want to stress that I have had a fantastic time here: in the Europa League, in the national championship and in the Super Cup. "It feels great to have achieved all this with a fine Malmo FF team. I want to express my innermost thanks for these times. It has been an amazing trip that I will always remember with warmth." Assistant coach Daniel Andersson and director of sport Per Agren have taken control of the first team until further notice. Source: FIFA com