Former West Ham manager Graham Potter has been appointed head coach of the Sweden national team on a short-term deal.
Potter has signed an initial short-term contract, with the aim of steadying the ship as Sweden’s World Cup qualification hopes hang in the balance.
The former Hammers boss steps in following the dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was sacked after Sweden’s shock 1-0 loss to Kosovo on October 13.
That loss meant that automatic qualification to the World Cup purely from group results was impossible, leaving Sweden in a dire position.
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Despite the setback, Sweden can still secure a spot in the World Cup play-offs thanks to their strong performance in the 2024-25 Nations League, where they finished as group-toppers.
Potter will have a challenging task on his hands with the pressure for positive results at an all-time high, but he will also inherit a squad brimming with attacking talent, including Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski.
The former Premier League boss parted ways with West Ham at the end of September after a disastrous start to the 2025-26 season, with five losses in six matches leaving the Hammers rooted to the drop zone.
Despite a poor tenure at the London Stadium, Potter has previously proved his pedigree with impressive spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City, though he was also dismissed within seven months of being appointed Chelsea manager.
“I am very humbled by the assignment, but also incredibly inspired,” Potter said upon taking the job.
“Sweden has fantastic players who deliver in the world’s best leagues during the weeks.
“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.”
Potter remains a celebrated figure in Sweden after his spell at Ostersund, where he achieved three promotions in four seasons, taking the club from the fourth division to the top-flight, while also winning a domestic cup in 2017.
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