Sweden – The Swedish Football Association appointed English coach Graham Potter on Monday to lead the national team, succeeding Denmark’s Dahl Tomasson. The appointment comes on a contract that runs until March 2026 and will be automatically renewed if Sweden qualifies for the 2026 World Cup.
Potter, 50, is a former Chelsea and West Ham United manager. He is the fourth English coach to lead the Swedish national team, and the sixth foreigner in its history since English coach Charles Bunyan. He coached the team between 1911 and 1912, according to Transfermarkt.
Tomasson was dismissed after 592 days in charge. This followed a string of poor results, most notably home defeats to Switzerland and Kosovo. This left the team in last place in its group with one point. Despite this, Sweden still has a chance to qualify for the World Cup via the play-offs. These matches are scheduled for next March. In 18 matches with Tomasson, the team achieved nine wins, seven defeats, and two draws.
In a statement published by the Swedish Football Association, Potter expressed his sense of responsibility and enthusiasm. He affirmed his confidence in the players, who play in Europe’s top leagues, and said he would work to create the appropriate conditions for the national team to perform at its best and qualify for the World Cup.
The Swedish national team includes a distinguished group of players who play in major tournaments. They include striker Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Victor Gjokeres (Arsenal), and Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), along with defenders Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa) and Isaac Hein (Atalanta), and midfielder Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund).
Potter’s appointment is a fitting fit given his previous experience in Sweden. He began his coaching career with Östersund between 2011 and 2018, leading the team from the fourth division to the Premier League. He won the Swedish Cup with them in 2017. Prior to that, he worked at several English clubs, including Swansea City, Brighton, Chelsea, and West Ham.
With this appointment, Potter becomes one of six foreign coaches to have led the Swedish national team, including four Englishmen, one Hungarian and one Danish.
