It was during the presentation of the Nations League squad that the national team announced that Domanski Lyfors is returning to her service.
It feels incredibly good, says the 65-year-old.
I had a little goal that I would at least try to get back to work and I love this job. So I'm very, very happy.
"A terrible time"
The long-standing national team coach and former national team captain for the Swedish women's football team was struck by a brain tumor last year. The tumor is malignant and cannot be operated away. She will never be declared healthy, she had previously stated.
It has been a terrible time and it is still a terrible time. I am not healthy in that way, but I have managed very well this year and then I feel that I can start working again.
She has been praised by many current and former national team players after the news of her illness. Domanski Lyfors has been seen at several matches and all the meetings have given energy.
It gives a kind of warmth and it's adrenaline, which you can live on for a while. That's why I've longed so much to get back to work again.
I haven't been alone, but I've had very many who have both been with me and sent greetings throughout the year.
She will work full-time and is already participating in the upcoming gathering where Sweden faces Italy in Parma on May 30 and against Denmark at Strawberry Arena on June 3.
You come in with rocket speed here now. If I'm going to work, I want to do it at full speed.
Domanski Lyfors says she is being treated with chemotherapy.
It has gone very well. It has made me able to keep myself fairly fresh, both in my head and in my body.
"No fuss"
Her return is news even for most national team players.
There's someone who knows, but I don't want it to become a fuss about me coming back. I sneaked in a little last week. I hope they'll be happy and I actually think they'll be, she says.
How has the first time back been?
It has been a lot of love. It has been all the time.
Sweden plays its European Championship premiere on July 4 at Stade de Genève in Switzerland – with Marika Domanski Lyfors on site as the highest chief.
Marika Domanski Lyfors was born on May 17, 1960 (65 years old).
She has been the national team coach over the women's national team in football since 2008. Domanski Lyfors was the national team captain for the women's national team 1996-2005 and led Sweden to European Championship silver in 2001 and World Championship silver in 2003.
She was also the national team captain for China's women's national team in 2007 before returning to the Swedish Football Association.
She was married to the former national team captain Ulf Lyfors, who passed away in 2022.
In April 2024, the news came that the 65-year-old had been struck by a brain tumor. Domanski Lyfors has since been operated on and after follow-up tests, it was established that the tumor cannot be operated away.
