Lars Lagerbäck
Encyclopedia
Lars Edvin "Lasse" Lagerbäck (born 16 July 1948 in Katrineholm
, Sweden
) is a Swedish
football manager and former player, currently managing Iceland
.
He is best known as the former manager of the Sweden National Team. He managed the Swedish National Team from 1998 until 2009 leading Sweden in five consecutive championships. He resigned as manager in 2009 after Sweden's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
.
and moved to Gimonäs CK
under the guidance of Calle Lindelöf. He continued to play there until 1974. In 1974, he attended Gymnastik- och Idrottshögskolan (GIH)
, where he was a classmate of current assistant coach Roland Andersson
.
. He began to coach the junior levels which included Fredrik Ljungberg
. He helped Tommy Svensson and Tord Grip
with Swedish National Team.
In 1996, Lagerbäck takes over Sweden B national team, until 1997. In 1998, Tommy Söderberg takes him on as assistant coach for the Swedish National Team. In 2000, he is promoted to dual-coach, a responsibility he would share with Söderberg until 2004. Under his guidance, the Swedish National Team qualified for the Euro 2000 but lost in the group stages.
In 2002, he led Sweden to the World Cup
where Sweden were drawn in the 'group of death', together with England, Argentina and Nigeria. Sweden surprisingly won the group but subsequently lost against Senegal in the first knockout round. In 2004, Sweden qualified for their third straight championship. In the Euro 2004, Sweden made it to the quarter-finals where they lost against Holland. That same year, Tommy Söderberg left the Swedish National Team to coach the U21 Team.
After the departure of Söderberg, Lagerbäck appointed Roland Andersson
as assistant coach. In 2006, Lagerback took Sweden to their fourth consecutive championship, the first time in Swedish history. He led Sweden to the 2006 World Cup, losing against Germany
2–0 in the knockout stage. Under Lagerbäck, Sweden also qualified for UEFA Euro 2008, however they were eliminated in the group stage after losing 2-0 against Russia
. The team's early dismissal from the tournament led sport columnists to ask Lagerbäck to be sacked. Despite this, he signed an extension, which would keep him until the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
campaign. After Sweden's unsuccessful qualification campaign for this the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Lagerbäck resigned.
in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa. The nomination resulted in allegation that him and his agent, Greg Keenan from Aspire Management, bribed the Nigerian officials. Other candidates for the job confirmed that Nigerian officials asked for bribes during the nomination process. Despite Nigeria's poor performance in the World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offered Lagerbäck a contract extension for another two years. He was expected to inform NFF about his decision by July, 2010. Lagerbäck declined the offer.
Katrineholm
Katrineholm is a locality and the seat of Katrineholm Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 21,386 inhabitants in 2005.-Early history:The name Katrineholm comes from a ducal residence with this name, after Catherina Gyllenhorn who lived there...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) is a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
football manager and former player, currently managing Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
.
He is best known as the former manager of the Sweden National Team. He managed the Swedish National Team from 1998 until 2009 leading Sweden in five consecutive championships. He resigned as manager in 2009 after Sweden's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Career
As youth, Lagerbäck played for Alby FF. When he was 13 years-old, he began playing for their P16 team. In 1970, he leftand moved to Gimonäs CK
Gimonäs CK
Gimonäs CK is a Swedish cycling and football club located in Gimonäs in Umeå. The club, formed 1934, currently has no men's football section as it was disbanded after the 2005 season.- External links :* - official site...
under the guidance of Calle Lindelöf. He continued to play there until 1974. In 1974, he attended Gymnastik- och Idrottshögskolan (GIH)
Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan
Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan is a Swedish institution offering higher education in the fields of teaching profession in Physical Education, Sports coaching and Preventive health. The school offers both programs and courses.- External links :* for Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan *...
, where he was a classmate of current assistant coach Roland Andersson
Roland Andersson
Åke-Erik Roland Andersson is a former Swedish football player and coach. His most recent job was that as the assistant coach of the Nigeria National Team under Lars Lagerbäck....
.
Club
In 1977, he was called up to the senior team. It was former teammate Kjell Pettersson that recommended him to Kilafors. He coached the Division IV team until 1982. In 1983, he moved to Arbrå IK until 1985. In 1987, he takes over Hudiksvall ABK but leaves by 1989.Sweden
In 1990, Lagerbäck takes a job with the Swedish Football AssociationSwedish Football Association
The Swedish Football Association is the governing body of football in Sweden. It organises the football leagues — Allsvenskan for men and Damallsvenskan for women — and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in Solna and is a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA...
. He began to coach the junior levels which included Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
. He helped Tommy Svensson and Tord Grip
Tord Grip
Tord Grip is a Swedish football manager. Prior to England's exit in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he was one of Sven-Göran Eriksson's assistant coaches of the English national football team....
with Swedish National Team.
In 1996, Lagerbäck takes over Sweden B national team, until 1997. In 1998, Tommy Söderberg takes him on as assistant coach for the Swedish National Team. In 2000, he is promoted to dual-coach, a responsibility he would share with Söderberg until 2004. Under his guidance, the Swedish National Team qualified for the Euro 2000 but lost in the group stages.
In 2002, he led Sweden to the World Cup
2002 World Cup
2002 World Cup may refer to:*Alpine skiing – 2002 Alpine Skiing World Cup*Athletics – 2002 IAAF World Cup*Field Hockey:** 2002 Men's World Hockey Cup** 2002 Women's World Hockey Cup...
where Sweden were drawn in the 'group of death', together with England, Argentina and Nigeria. Sweden surprisingly won the group but subsequently lost against Senegal in the first knockout round. In 2004, Sweden qualified for their third straight championship. In the Euro 2004, Sweden made it to the quarter-finals where they lost against Holland. That same year, Tommy Söderberg left the Swedish National Team to coach the U21 Team.
After the departure of Söderberg, Lagerbäck appointed Roland Andersson
Roland Andersson
Åke-Erik Roland Andersson is a former Swedish football player and coach. His most recent job was that as the assistant coach of the Nigeria National Team under Lars Lagerbäck....
as assistant coach. In 2006, Lagerback took Sweden to their fourth consecutive championship, the first time in Swedish history. He led Sweden to the 2006 World Cup, losing against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
2–0 in the knockout stage. Under Lagerbäck, Sweden also qualified for UEFA Euro 2008, however they were eliminated in the group stage after losing 2-0 against Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
. The team's early dismissal from the tournament led sport columnists to ask Lagerbäck to be sacked. Despite this, he signed an extension, which would keep him until the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
campaign. After Sweden's unsuccessful qualification campaign for this the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Lagerbäck resigned.
Nigeria
On 26 February 2010, he signed a 5 month (renewable) contract that would see him lead NigeriaNigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa. The nomination resulted in allegation that him and his agent, Greg Keenan from Aspire Management, bribed the Nigerian officials. Other candidates for the job confirmed that Nigerian officials asked for bribes during the nomination process. Despite Nigeria's poor performance in the World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offered Lagerbäck a contract extension for another two years. He was expected to inform NFF about his decision by July, 2010. Lagerbäck declined the offer.
Iceland
On the 4th of October KSÍ's chief executive Geir Þorsteinsson reported that talks had begun over the appointment of Lars as the new manager of the Icelandic national team. The appointment was then confirmed ten days later.Managerial stats
Sweden national football team| Role | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | Unbeaten % | |||
| Joint Manager | 2000 | 2004 | 59 | 26 | 23 | 10 | 44.07 | 83.05 |
| Sole Manager | 2004 | 2009 | 72 | 31 | 17 | 24 | 43.06 | 66.67 |
| Overall | 2000 | 2009 | 131 | 57 | 40 | 34 | 43.51 | 75.05 |