The phone was hot at the former star player Therese Sjögran's on Tuesday morning when it became official that she would take over as football manager for the women's section in the English giant club Manchester City.
It's just fun. It's been a pretty long process. When I finally got the message that the job was mine, it felt quite unreal. It still does, says Sjögran.
Last summer, Sjögran saw that the position was advertised on the internet. Then she decided to send in her CV and a personal letter.
I simply applied, like many others can imagine, says Sjögran.
Important meeting
Manchester City has dominated the men's Premier League completely in recent years – the team has won the league six out of the last seven years. On the women's side, City has a Super League win (2016) and has finished second six out of the last eight seasons.
They want to be a club that starts taking titles on the women's side as well, so that's the goal. They have a goal to win the league every year. That's completely right for me, says Sjögran.
Could you a few years ago even dream of getting this type of football job?
No, absolutely not. But it's a receipt for what I've done and how successful we've been in Rosengård. That I can have my record with league and cup titles and Champions League games on my resume has helped, says Sjögran, who has celebrated five Swedish Championship titles and four cup titles during her nearly nine years as sports manager in the Malmö club.
The summer 2025 transfer window will be important, says Sjögran.
Five-six years ago, we in Rosengård could attract the best players, then we had to look at other shelves. Now I can take a step up again.
"Down-to-earth people"
In early December, Sjögran is expected to start her new job at the giant club's training facility Etihad Campus. The similarities with Malmö IP will likely be few – at least on the surface.
Yes, it will be (laughs). It really looks like a big, big company, but the cool thing is that when you get inside the doors, you notice that it's a club. The people who work there have the same drive and passion as I do. It was important to feel that they are down-to-earth people.
Daniel Kihlström/TT
Facts: Therese Sjögran
TT
Born: April 8, 1977 (47 years old) in Södra Sandby.
Lives: Malmö.
Major merits as a player: World Championship silver 2003, World Championship bronze 2011, European Championship silver 2001, 4 Swedish Championship titles 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014, Diamantbollen 2007 and 2010, second most national team games in Sweden (114) of all time behind Caroline Seger (240).
Major merits as sports manager: Swedish Championship title 2015 (played half the season), 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. Win in the Swedish Cup 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022.
Current: Leaving the job as sports manager in Rosengård to become the new football manager in Manchester City.
