Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
English manager returns to Scandinavian football roots to steer Sweden’s World Cup campaign amid qualification crisis
Graham Potter, aged fifty, has officially been appointed as head coach of Sweden’s men’s national football team on a short-term contract that runs through the current World Cup qualifying campaign and will extend automatically if the team secures its place in the finals of the 2026 tournament.
The appointment follows the dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson after Sweden amassed just one point from their first four group games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process, placing them bottom of Group B. Potter inherits a squad featuring Premier League players such as Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, but one that is underperforming and facing a pivotal November schedule — away to Switzerland and at home to Slovenia — to keep qualification hopes alive.
Potter is returning to Sweden, where he built his coaching reputation between 2011 and 2018 at Östersunds FK: leading the club from the fourth tier into the top division, winning the Swedish Cup in 2017 and reaching the group stage of the Europa League.
He has said he is “very humble about the assignment, but also incredibly inspired”, acknowledging both the talent in the Swedish squad and the urgent nature of the task.
The Swedish Football Association described his recruitment as a strategic move to provide the experienced leadership needed at a critical moment.
Alongside him, Tottenham Hotspur set-piece coach Andreas Georgson will join the national team staff, reinforcing the Premier League connection and tactical support structure.
While the initial contract runs until March 2026, reports indicate that it will cover the November qualifiers, a potential play-off in March, and automatically extend into next summer’s World Cup if Sweden secures their spot.
The backdrop is challenging: Sweden’s qualification route is now tenuous, with the team relying on their UEFA Nations League C1 win to secure a playoff berth if they fail to finish as one of the top two in the group.
Fans, media and players appear to welcome the move.
Many point to Potter’s earlier Swedish success as evidence of a “closing of the circle” — an Englishman who once worked in a small Swedish club now leading the national side.
The decision marks a clear reset for Swedish football’s ambitions and signals a renewed attempt to deliver at the highest level.
Potter arrives with immediate pressure but also genuine optimism.
If he can reverse Sweden’s fortunes and guide them into the World Cup, the appointment may well be seen as a defining moment in the national team’s modern era.
The appointment follows the dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson after Sweden amassed just one point from their first four group games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process, placing them bottom of Group B. Potter inherits a squad featuring Premier League players such as Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, but one that is underperforming and facing a pivotal November schedule — away to Switzerland and at home to Slovenia — to keep qualification hopes alive.
Potter is returning to Sweden, where he built his coaching reputation between 2011 and 2018 at Östersunds FK: leading the club from the fourth tier into the top division, winning the Swedish Cup in 2017 and reaching the group stage of the Europa League.
He has said he is “very humble about the assignment, but also incredibly inspired”, acknowledging both the talent in the Swedish squad and the urgent nature of the task.
The Swedish Football Association described his recruitment as a strategic move to provide the experienced leadership needed at a critical moment.
Alongside him, Tottenham Hotspur set-piece coach Andreas Georgson will join the national team staff, reinforcing the Premier League connection and tactical support structure.
While the initial contract runs until March 2026, reports indicate that it will cover the November qualifiers, a potential play-off in March, and automatically extend into next summer’s World Cup if Sweden secures their spot.
The backdrop is challenging: Sweden’s qualification route is now tenuous, with the team relying on their UEFA Nations League C1 win to secure a playoff berth if they fail to finish as one of the top two in the group.
Fans, media and players appear to welcome the move.
Many point to Potter’s earlier Swedish success as evidence of a “closing of the circle” — an Englishman who once worked in a small Swedish club now leading the national side.
The decision marks a clear reset for Swedish football’s ambitions and signals a renewed attempt to deliver at the highest level.
Potter arrives with immediate pressure but also genuine optimism.
If he can reverse Sweden’s fortunes and guide them into the World Cup, the appointment may well be seen as a defining moment in the national team’s modern era.
