GRAHAM POTTER is the new head coach of the Sweden national team.
The news was confirmed by the SvFF on Monday morning.
A statement read: “Graham Potter will be the new head coach of the men’s national team.
“The goal is to create optimal conditions for reaching the World Championships in the summer of 2026.”
Speaking on his new role, the 50-year-old said: “Together with the players, I want to make the fans’ dream of a championship summer come true.”
Potter’s contract will run for the duration of the World Cup qualifying campaign, including matches against Switzerland and Slovenia in November and a potential World Cup play-off in March if the team manages to qualify.
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It would automatically extend into the summer if the team qualifies for the tournament, being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Potter continued: “I am very humble about the assignment, but also incredibly inspired. Sweden has fantastic players who during the weeks deliver in the world’s best leagues.
“My job will be to create the conditions so that we as a team deliver at the highest level to take Sweden to the World Cup next summer.”
The move comes just 24 days after he was sacked by West Ham.
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Sweden have endured a horror start to their World Cup qualifying campaign after picking up just one point from their opening four games under previous boss, Jon Dahl Tomasson.
That has left them rock bottom of their group behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia.
Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga is said to have launched an X-rated blast over the system used by Tomasson after a 1-0 loss to Kosovo, in which he fumed: “The f***ing system has to go.”
Elanga did not repeat the explicit language but did not mask his feelings for the system when quizzed after the game.
The £55million star said: “We also have to take responsibility.
“We have worked on a system, on how we are going to play. Then it may look a little different when you are on the field. And it is also us who are on the field who have to take responsibility.”
Tomasson favoured a 3-5-2 system which left Elanga, a natural winger, playing in a different position to usual.
Potter utilised a similar system to great effect while at Brighton, but later moves to Chelsea and West Ham proved too sour even with a change in formation to suit the players at his disposal.
Kim Källström, Head of Football at SvFF added: ” It feels very good that Graham comes in as coach of the men’s national team.
“We are all aware of the situation we are in, and believe that with his leadership qualities he will get the team together in a good way.
“He is tactically skilled at creating the conditions to win matches and has an ability to identify players’ strengths and how they work together in the best way.”
The Englishman has experience managing in Sweden with Ostersund.
He took the club from the Swedish fourth tier in 2013 to the Swedish top flight, Allsvenskan, for the first time in their history with three successive promotions.
Potter led the team to finish eighth in their debut season, while winning numerous plaudits for a “slick passing game” despite a limited budget.
Ostersund then won the Swedish Cup in 2017 to qualify to play in Europe.
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They beat Turkish giants Galatasaray 3-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round to play in the 2017/18 Europa League.
And having finished second in their group, level with Athletic Bilbao, the Swedish minnows then famously played Arsenal who they beat 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium – though that had only come after a 3-0 first leg defeat.
