Gustavsson ‘interviewed’ for Swedish men’s role – despite professing ‘love’ for Matildas and ‘unfinished business’
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson is a leading candidate to become Sweden’s men’s head coach and has interviewed for the position, according to a newspaper report in his homeland.
The Swedish FA is seeking a replacement for Janne Andersson who has been in the job for seven years.
Swedish newspaper Sportbladet reported on Thursday that Gustavsson, who led Australia to a fourth-place finish at this year’s World Cup, has met with the Swedish FA at least once, with another meeting scheduled.
The paper said Gustavsson was one of three leading candidates alongside Elfsborg’s Jimmy Thelin and BK Hacken’s Per-Mathias Hogmo.
Gustavsson was also linked to the USA women’s team job that has gone instead to Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.
He reacted to those reports earlier this week with disdain.
“I think if you go back to the speculations and rumours about this all the way back in the World Cup journey, you’ve heard me say the same thing over and over again,” Gustavsson said.
“I love working with this team and I have unfinished business and a lot of players feels the same way.
“We were so close to a medal in the Olympics. We were so close to a medal in the World Cup. We’re not in the (Paris) Olympics yet. We need to respect that.
“We have qualifiers in February so it’s unfinished business in that sense as well.”
Gustavsson has a contract until the end of the Paris Olympics campaign.
“I’ve said it from day one and it’s a part of this job that there’s always going to be speculations,” he said.
“But what I really want to be clear on here though, so there’s no misinterpretation on this one, is that I think everyone that has worked closely with me and seen me working with this team over these three years, knows how passionate I am working with this team and how much I love this team.
“So I hope people that might have a different agenda don’t use this against me now and start saying, Hey, where’s the loyalty? Does he really like working with this team?
“Everyone that’s been with me, knows what I think about this team and how much I love working with this team.”