For the first time since the post was officially introduced 62 years ago, Sweden’s national team will be coached by a foreign coach. As the federation announced on Monday, Jon Dahl Tomasson (47) will take over
“I am looking forward to this great task and, of course, to thinking, speaking and dreaming blue and yellow,” explained the Dane Tomasson when announcing his appointment.
After a stint as assistant coach, the former attacker began his coaching career at Excelsior Rotterdam in 2013. After just a few months, however, he moved on to Roda Kerkrade, where Tomasson was employed from December 2013 to May 2014. He did not continue at club level until 2021 at Malmö, in the meantime Tomasson was assistant coach at Arnhem and spent four years with the Danish national team.
In July 2022, the 47-year-old moved to England to join Blackburn Rovers. Tomasson was relieved of his position as team manager at the former Premier League club earlier this month. In Sweden, the former goalscorer is now taking on a national team coaching role for the first time.
Champions with VfB Stuttgart
Tomasson, who played 112 times for Denmark in his active career and scored 52 goals, has signed a contract with the Swedes until the end of 2025. The contract will be automatically extended if Sweden qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The “Tre Kronor” did not qualify for the European Championship in Germany.
German fans will remember Tomasson from his time at VfB Stuttgart. Between 2005 and 2007, he made 43 appearances for the Swabians and scored twelve goals. At the end of the 2006/2007 season, he celebrated winning the German championship there.
But he also won one or two titles with other clubs. For example, Tomasson became Dutch champion with Feyenoord Rotterdam and also won the UEFA Cup (2002). With AC Milan he won the championship (2004) and Champions League (2003).
