Former West Ham and Chelsea boss Graham Potter named Sweden manager after leaving the Hammers
By Will Conroy
Updated 20/10/2025 at 10:18 GMT+1
React to this story
Former West Ham and Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been appointed Sweden manager following his departure from the London Stadium. The move sees the 50-year-old return to the country that gave him his first opportunity in coaching, having managed in Ostersund for seven years. Potter was sacked by West Ham in September after they took just three points from their opening five games of the season.
'Writing was on the wall' - Crouch and Cole react to the news of Potter being sacked by West Ham
Video credit: TNT Sports
Graham Potter has been appointed Sweden manager following his departure from West Ham United earlier this season.
In a statement released by the Swedish Football Association, Potter said: "I am very humbled by the assignment, but also incredibly inspired.
"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 has previous experience of working in Sweden having served as manager of Ostersunds FK from 2011 to 2018, during which time he guided the club from the Swedish fourth tier to the top flight and into European competition before departing for Swansea City.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/02/27/4102749-83192628-2560-1440.jpg)
'You can't beat being in the dug-out' - Potter opens up on return to management
Video credit: TNT Sports
The 50-year-old's first games will be against Switzerland and Slovenia in November and the former Brighton and Chelsea boss will have his contract extended through to the World Cup playoffs next summer if Sweden qualify.
SvFF chairman Simon Astrom added: "It is still our goal to get to the World Cup next summer. Our hope is to play the playoffs in March and all the decisions we have made now have been made based on optimising the conditions to be able to reach our goal.
- Champions League LIVE - All the build up as Arsenal host Atletico and Newcastle face Mourinho's Benfica
- Amorim calls Liverpool win "biggest" of his Man Utd tenure
"We have worked structured and focused on this process during the past week and with Graham Potter we get a strong and experienced leadership that has been tested at the absolute highest level."
The news comes after Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked as the national team manager following a dismal start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/09/28/image-e287f01b-0cd5-4af7-afb3-a6f543812039.jpeg)
Graham Potter has made a swift return to management
Image credit: Getty Images
The Swedes sit bottom of Group B with just one point from four matches, including back-to-back defeats to Kosovo and a costly 1-0 home loss in their most recent outing.
The result effectively ended Sweden’s automatic hopes of reaching the tournament, prompting the Swedish Football Association to act. In a statement, the federation cited the team’s failure to meet expectations as the reason for Tomasson’s dismissal.
Appointed in February 2024, the Dane became the first men’s national team coach ever to be sacked by Sweden - a reflection of how far short the side has fallen during his tenure.
SvFF football director Kim Kallstrom said: "It feels very good that Graham is coming in as the national team captain for the men's national team. We are all aware of the situation we are in, and believe that with his leadership skills he will bring the team together in a good way.
"He is tactically skilled at creating conditions to win matches and has an ability to identify players' strengths and how they interact in the best way."
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Serie A and Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement