Underrated Gerhardsson hopes to lead Sweden to the EC
As an “expert at changing”, Sweden’s Peter Gerhardsson, the lone male coach among the final four at Euro 2022, prefers to keep a low profile and let his players shine.
His side host England in the semi-final at Bramall Lane on Tuesday, with a final place against either France or Germany on the line.
When Gerhardsson took over as head coach of the Swedish women’s national team in 2017, they appeared to be on a downward trajectory, having fallen out of the world’s top 10 for the first time.
The team had then been led by Pia Sundhage, who took over the mantle after guiding the USA to two consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Unlike her predecessor, who was a figurehead who took women’s football to new levels in Sweden, Gerhardsson has not been as prominent a figure in interviews and on TV morning shows, choosing instead a more anonymous role.
“I am constantly chasing perfection, and of course it is to be at the top. But I would be even happier to see the players happy, to win the gold… it would give me even more,” the 62-year-old told Dagens Nyheter in June.
“Because I know how much they’ve been fighting. So the joy of seeing them win would probably have contributed to me completely freaking out,” he added.
Reflecting back on his time taking over, he said one of his main goals had been not to be the center of attention.
“I want the players to be the ones shown,” he said.
Since taking over, Gerhardsson has guided the team to a WC bronze medal in 2019 and an Olympic silver in 2021.
– ‘I don’t trust myself’ –
Currently ranked number two in the world, behind the USA, Sweden was among the favorites ahead of the tournament in England.
“Pia Sundhage raised women’s soccer. Peter Gerhardsson raised the national team,” wrote sports commentator Anders Lindblad in a comment for the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet ahead of Sweden’s home match against Brazil, currently led by Sundhage, in June.
Gerhardsson’s team managed to emerge as 3-1 winners in front of a record 33,000 fans at the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
Before managing the national team, Gerhardsson coached Gothenburg’s men’s club BK Hacken, which plays in the Swedish top league.
Despite his awards, Gerhardsson’s humble, and sometimes carefree, attitude shines through.
“I’m an expert at changing my mind,” he told reporters ahead of Sweden’s European Championship opener against the Netherlands.
When asked if the starting lineup had been decided and if they would go with a three- or four-man defense, he tentatively answered yes, but immediately noted that he had decided such things before but then changed his mind just before the game. .
“I think I’ve made up my mind now, but I don’t trust myself,” he said, adding that a chat with an assistant coach could sway him, leaving the other teams guessing whether they will face a 4- 3-3 or a 3-4-3 formation.
In Sheffield, Sweden bids to reach the EC final for the fifth time, but first since 2001.
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