He exemplifies with the reactions he has received since he was presented as the Swedish women's national football team's upcoming head coach last week.
I was incredibly happy when I received a number of text messages from former players, even in Australia, congratulating me on the new job, says Tony Gustavsson.
Sweden's current head coach, Peter Gerhardsson, will step down after the summer's European Championship in Switzerland. Gustavsson's contract starts a few days later, on August 1.
Twenty-five years ago, I set a goal for myself. I was quite offensive, I had a dream of one day becoming the head coach of a Swedish national team. Now I'm standing here and I'm probably the proudest coach on Swedish soil ever, says Tony Gustavsson during a press conference at the Swedish Football Association's headquarters in Solna.
Multiple Championship Golds
The joy sparkles in the eyes of the 51-year-old from Sundsvall, who at this stage does not want to talk much about playing philosophy and what he wants to do with the national team, that will have to wait until after the European Championship.
It is clear that Sweden is getting a highly merited head coach. Gustavsson has won two World Championship golds and one Olympic Games gold as an assistant coach in the USA's women's national team, and also made a success as head coach for Australia in the 2023 home World Championship when "Matildas" finished fourth after losing the bronze match against Sweden.
However, his time in Australia ended on a sour note. In last year's Olympic Games, the team was eliminated in the group stage, and Gustavsson had to leave his position after four years.
"Four Years of Misery"
The newspaper The Australian reported afterwards that several players had felt resistance against Gustavsson since the 2023 World Championship, and some had described his time as "four years of misery". One was said to have called the Swede's tenure an unorganized chaos.
I would probably have taken it personally if it had come directly from the person in question, says Gustavsson.
But just as praised as you can be after a successful Olympic Games or World Championship where you take a team to the semifinals for the first time, just as criticized you can be if you get eliminated in the group stage. I have the greatest respect for that. But for me, what's important is what we say to each other internally.
In that regard, he does not recognize himself in the criticism.
I have made friends for life during these four years, they were fantastic years.
Born: August 14, 1973, in Sundsvall.
Occupation: Football coach.
Clubs and national teams as coach: Ytterhogdal (2000-2003), Degerfors (2004, assistant), Degerfors (2005), Hammarby (2006-2009), Kongsvinger (2010), USA (2012, assistant head coach), Tyresö FF (2012-2014), USA (2014-2019, assistant head coach), Gif Sundsvall (2019), Hammarby (2020, assistant), Australia (2020-2024).
Current: Will take over as head coach for the women's national football team after the European Championship this summer, replacing Peter Gerhardsson.
