Former Chelsea and Brighton boss returns to Scandinavia to rescue World Cup hopes
Graham Potter has been named the new head coach of the Sweden national football team, the Swedish Football Association confirmed on Monday, 20 October 2025. The 50-year-old Englishman has signed a short-term contract that will see him lead the team through the remainder of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with an option to extend if Sweden reach the tournament.
Potter replaces Tomasson after poor qualifying run
Potter succeeds Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was dismissed earlier this month following a series of disappointing results that left Sweden bottom of their qualifying group with just one point from four matches. The Swedish FA said in a statement that Potter’s appointment was driven by his “experience in building competitive teams and familiarity with Swedish football,” referring to his successful spell with Östersunds FK between 2011 and 2018.
Mission: revive Sweden’s fading World Cup hopes
Potter’s immediate task will be to revive a struggling squad ahead of the next round of qualifiers. Sweden face a tough path to secure a World Cup spot, needing a rapid turnaround in results to avoid missing out on a second consecutive tournament. Potter, who most recently managed West Ham after spells at Chelsea and Brighton, said he was “honoured and excited” to return to a country that played a defining role in his coaching journey. His first match in charge is expected to be against Albania next month in Stockholm.
