Tommy Svensson

Tommy Svensson

Tommy Svensson coaching Team Sweden during the FIFA World Cup in the USA in July 1994.
Personal information
Full name	Leif Tommy Svensson
Date of birth	(1945-03-04) 4 March 1945 (age 76)
Place of birth	Växjö, Sweden
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1964–1971	Östers IF	76	(14)
1971–1973	Standard Liège	41	(3)
1973–1977	Östers IF	103	(11)
Total		220	(28)
National team
1967–1973	Sweden[1]	40	(4)
Teams managed
1974–1984	Östers IF
1988–1990	Tromsø IL
1991–1997	Sweden
2001	Tromsø IL
Honours Men's football Representing  Sweden (as manager) FIFA World Cup 1994
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Leif Tommy Svensson^[2] (born 4 March 1945) is a Swedish former football manager and player. He is best known for playing for Östers IF and the Sweden national football team. He won the Guldbollen in 1969. He managed Sweden between 1991 and 1997 and led them to a bronze medal at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

He is the son of Stig Svensson and the uncle of Joachim Björklund.

Early years[]

Tommy Svensson was born 4 March 1945 to father Stig Svensson. Stig was a footballer who played for Östers IF and dubbed Mr. Öster.^[3]

Svensson, like his father, had a natural talent for football. At just eleven years-old, he debuted for Östers youth team, and allegedly scored eight goals in the match.^[4] However, news paper headlines said he was too weak. Tommy bought a barbell and trained. Morning, noon and night, he lifted weights in order to bulk up.^[5]

Playing career[]

His playing career took him to Östers IF as well as Belgian Standard Liège. Throughout his career, he suffered from knee injuries. His injuries almost stopped him from competing in 1968.^[6] However, Svensson persevered. He was awarded Guldbollen in 1969 and played at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.^[7]

Managing career[]

After retiring, he started working as the Östers IF coach. He later had a successful period with Tromsø IL, and became national team coach in 1991.

He led the Swedish team to the 1992 European Football Championship semi final as well as a bronze medal at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He resigned in 1997 after failing to qualify for UEFA Euro 1996 and 1998 FIFA World Cup, and later worked in television with match commentary as well as coaching Tromsø for a second period in 2001.

Outside the Azteca Stadium, there is a statue of the best players of each nation was erected. Sweden's representative was Tommy Svensson.

Honours[]

Player[]

Östers IF

• Allsvenskan: 1968

Individual

• Guldbollen: 1969
• Stor Grabb: 1969

Manager[]

Öster

• Allsvenskan: 1978, 1980, 1981
• Svenska Cupen:

Sweden

• FIFA World Cup: Third Place 1994

References[]

External links[]

• Guldbollen 1969 (Aftonbladet.se) (in Swedish)
• Player profile at Standard de Liège^{[permanent dead link]} (in French)