On Tuesday, the historic decision was made – for the first time, a national team captain for the men's football team gets fired. Just over 16 hours after the 0-1 loss to Kosovo at Ullevi in Gothenburg, it was announced that Jon Dahl Tomasson would leave prematurely after just under 20 months in the position.
First place we cannot reach. Even if there is a theoretical possibility of reaching second place, it is not possible in practice. Then it's about looking at: How do we optimize the conditions to reach a World Championship, and the only way to do that is through the playoffs in March, says Simon Åström, chairman of the Swedish Football Association, to TT on Wednesday.
Given that, we have seen that we need to take our responsibility and act to get a new national team captain.
”Both possibilities open”
It is not impossible that there will be a temporary solution for the final World Championship qualifying match in November – away against Switzerland and at home against Slovenia – and that an ordinary national team captain will be in place first in the winter with a view to a possible World Championship playoff in March. Blågult seems to get a spot there thanks to the Nations League group victory last autumn.
If you ask me today, we probably need to have both possibilities open. We will of course work to look at how we optimize the conditions for the national team gathering in March. How do we get a national team captain who we think has a chance to take this national team to the World Championship next summer?
If it turns out that the November gathering needs to be handled by a more interim solution, then we need to have that openness too. But it's too early to answer that now.
Evaluation in September
It is the association board that is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of a national team captain. According to Åström, there is always an evaluation of the situation after each national team gathering. So also after the loss away to Kosovo in September.
But you didn't discuss firing Tomasson then or start looking for a new coach?
No, not sharply in that way. But you always touch on questions about how we create the most optimal conditions for working forward.
Simon Åström was vice chairman to the then chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt when Jon Dahl Tomasson was hired in February 2024. Tomasson has stated that one of his tasks was to introduce a more offensive football, but association chairman Åström is clear about what the main goal is for both the men's and women's national teams.
Results ”above all else”
It's about winning matches and qualifying for championships. That's above all else. When he was hired, it was because we believed that his playing idea was a good basis for being able to create results, says Simon Åström and continues:
We saw that his view on football fit well with the player group we have today. That's what we believed in very much. But a national team captain's role is always about getting the best out of a national team and making sure we deliver results.
The Swedish men's football team is a group jumbo in the World Championship qualifiers in the USA, Canada, and Mexico 2026.
With one point in four matches, first place and a direct spot are out of reach – Switzerland leads with ten points.
Second place guarantees a World Championship playoff in March, but Blågult is six points behind Kosovo with two matches left to play. In addition, Sweden has a goal difference of -5, while Kosovo has -1. Group third Slovenia has three points.
Even if Sweden misses second place, it looks like they will get a playoff in March thanks to the group victory in the Nations League last autumn.
If that happens, at least six of the nine better-ranked Nations League group winners must finish top two in their World Championship qualifying groups.
Currently, Norway, England, and Spain have managed this, but it is almost certain in practice that Portugal and France have also secured a top two spot at worst.
The other Nations League winners are: Germany, Wales, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
Europe's World Championship qualifiers will be completed in November. Sweden will then meet Switzerland away (November 15) and Slovenia at home (November 18).
National team captains for Sweden's men's football team through the ages:
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.
