The national team will be led by Graham Potter, announced the Swedish Football Association on Monday morning.
The agreement extends over the World Championship qualifying matches against Switzerland and Slovenia in November and a likely playoff in March. It is automatically extended over the World Championship finals next summer if Sweden qualifies.
What happens if Potter fails to take Sweden to the World Championship, the new national team captain does not speculate on yet.
I'm not thinking about the contract. I have a lot of experience with contracts and am aware that the length of them doesn't mean that much. The most important thing is that we are here to win football matches, then we'll see, that's life, you never know what's going to happen, says Potter to TT.
”Why we are here”
Jon Dahl Tomasson was fired last week after Sweden's tough start to the ongoing World Championship qualifying. The latest gathering – with home losses to both Switzerland and Kosovo – was the drop that led to the Dane being fired, who only managed to be national team captain for 20 months.
Potter has a clear picture of how Sweden will break the gloomy trend.
It was clear from the start that the focus is on the World Championship. That's why we are here. For me, it's about reaching the goal, says Potter at a press conference and continues:
It's not about building a playing system, a philosophy. We need to come up with something that uses the players' quality and how to help the players clear their minds and perform as well as possible.
Graham Potter is building a new national team staff to some extent. Three new names are already set. Andreas Georgson (Tottenham), Björn Hamberg (Brighton), and Linus Kandolin (West Ham) are being brought in.
They know me and they know Swedish football. They can help in specific ways, says Potter.
Former national team midfielder Sebastian Larsson will remain in his role as assistant coach.
Sebastian will be very important, says Potter.
Minimal chance
Sweden has only one point in the World Championship qualifying and has only a minimal chance of finishing second in the group, ahead of the last two matches against Switzerland (Geneva, November 15) and Slovenia (Solna, November 18). Nevertheless, most indications are that it will be a World Championship playoff in March, thanks to the national team's group victory in last year's Nations League.
The association's football manager Kim Källström is pleased to have found a coach with great Swedish experience.
We were looking for a coach who gives us the best conditions to win the playoff matches in March. What we have found is a coach with enormous international experience but who is also based in the Swedish football system, says Källström.
Super success in Östersund
50-year-old Potter coached Östersund between 2011 and 2018. He then took the Jämtland club from division 2 to Allsvenskan and even reached play in the Europa League.
Östersund finished second in their group and advanced to the round of 16, where they met Arsenal. Although they lost over two matches, they won the second match at Arsenal's home ground.
He also led the team to a title in the Swedish Cup.
After that, Potter has been a coach in Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea, and West Ham. He has been fired from both Chelsea and West Ham.
When I think back on that time (in Sweden), it was an incredible time in my life. It was my home, my two twin children were born in Sweden, and I have many friends here. I love this place, says Potter.
Born: May 20, 1975, in Solihull, England.
Occupation: Football coach.
Coaching career: Östersund 2011–18, Swansea 2018–19, Brighton 2019–22, Chelsea 2022–23, West Ham 2025, Sweden 2025–.
Player career: Birmingham 1992–93, Wycombe 1993 (loan), Stoke 1993–96, Southampton 1996–97, West Bromwich 1997–2000, Northampton 1997–98 (loan), Reading 1999 (loan), York 2000–03, Boston 2003–04, Shrewsbury 2003 (loan), Macclesfield 2004–05.
Current as: Takes over the job as national team captain for Sweden's national team with immediate effect. The goal is to reach the World Championship in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year.
National team captains for Sweden's national team in football through the years:
2025–: Graham Potter.
2024–2025: Jon Dahl Tomasson.
2016–2023: Janne Andersson.
2009–2016: Erik Hamrén.
2004–2009: Lars Lagerbäck.
2000–2004: Lars Lagerbäck and Tommy Söderberg.
1998–1999: Tommy Söderberg.
1991–1997: Tommy Svensson.
1990: Nils Andersson.
1986–1990: Olle Nordin.
1980–1985: Lars "Laban" Arnesson.
1971–1979: George "Åby" Ericson.
1966–1970: Orvar Bergmark.
1962–1965: Lennart Nyman.
Note: Until 1962, the national team was managed by the so-called Selection Committee. Its leaders often functioned as coaches and team leaders for the national team. Sometimes, coaches were also hired externally.
