Tony_Gustavsson

Tony Gustavsson

Tony Gustavsson

Swedish footballer and coach (born 1973)

Tony Gustavsson (born 14 August 1973) is a Swedish professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of the Australia women's national team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

He is best known for his managerial success in women's football, leading Tyresö FF to the 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League Final, helping the United States women's national team to two world championships in 2015 and 2019 as an assistant, as well as helping Australia to their highest finishes at the Olympic Games and the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Managerial career

Early career in men's football

Gustavsson first managed Degerfors IF. He was then in charge of Hammarby IF from 2006[2] but was sacked when the club was relegated from the top flight in 2009.

On 27 April 2010, Gustavsson signed a 44-day contract with the Norwegian Tippeliga-club Kongsvinger IL,[3] but he decided later on to stay till the end of the season.[4] After being relegated with Kongsvinger, Gustavsson did not use his option to extend his contract by one year, and left the club.[5]

Tyresö FF

Gustavsson in 2014

Under Gustavsson's leadership Tyresö FF won their first Damallsvenskan title in 2012, after a dramatic last day win over rivals Malmö. Madelaine Edlund scored the winning goal after Caroline Seger's shot had hit the post.[6]

Gustavsson also led Tyresö to a 4–3 defeat by Wolfsburg in the 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League Final.[7] Tyresö became insolvent in 2014 and were kicked out of the 2014 Damallsvenskan season, expunging all their results and making all their players free agents. The Stockholm County Administrative Board published the employees' salaries, showing Gustavsson was among the higher earners at 75,000 Swedish krona (€8,243) per-month.[8]

United States women

In April 2012, Gustavsson joined the United States women's national team as an assistant coach to compatriot Pia Sundhage, where he helped the United States women's national team to an Olympic gold medal that year. He stayed under the new coach Jill Ellis, and helped the United States women's national team to two world championships in 2015 and 2019 as an assistant.[9]

Australia women

On 29 September 2020, he joined Australia women's national team, the Matildas, as the head coach.[10] His first major tournament as manager of the Matildas was the 2020 Summer Olympics, which saw Australia finish fourth, which was the joint best ever finish at the Olympics by an Australian football team, male or female.

After a slow start where many were unhappy with the performance of the side,[11] Gustavsson had them peaking for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

At the World Cup, the Matildas started slow, narrowly defeating Ireland 1–0 and losing to Nigeria 3–2. The team turned it around, defeating Olympic champions Canada to top their group, followed by victories over Denmark and France to reach the semifinals of the World Cup for the first time. However, the Matildas were defeated by England 3–1 at the semifinal,[12] and then 2–0 by Sweden, to finish in 4th place; this was an Australian football team's highest finish at a FIFA World Cup, male or female.

Personal life

Gustavsson has a sister, and has two children.[13]

Managerial statistics

Gustavsson in 2013
As of 19 August 2023[14]
More information Team, Year(s) ...

References

  1. [1]
    Tony Gustavsson at WorldFootball.net
  2. [2]
    Garå, Johanna (27 October 2006). "Tony Gustavsson ny tränare i Hammarby". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  3. [3]
    "KIL ansetter trener for 44 dager". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). 27 April 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. [4]
    "Her får KIL-spillerne beskjeden de håpet på". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  5. [5]
    "Tony Gustavsson forlater KIL". Glåmdalen (in Norwegian). 3 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  6. [6]
    Cleris, Johannes (3 November 2012). "Tyresö vann SM-guld efter dramatik". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  7. [7]
    Saffer, Paul (22 May 2014). "Müller the hero again as Wolfsburg win classic final". UEFA. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  8. [8]
    Jönsson, Fredrik; Nordmark, Kasja (5 June 2014). "Tyresö lämnar damallsvenskan". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Tony Gustafsson". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  10. [10]
    Hytner, Mike; Lewis, Samantha (29 September 2020). "Tony Gustavsson: Swede named Matildas coach by Football Federation Australia". The Guardian.
  11. [11]
    "Half-way through his Matildas tenure, head coach Tony Gustavsson is still determined to get one day better". ABC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  12. [12]
    "'Hearts are broken': Matildas crash out of World Cup". News.com.au. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  13. [13]
    "Tony Gustavsson". Matildas. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Tony Gustavsson Manager Stats". FootyStats.org. Retrieved 19 August 2023. (Gives unexplained 7–3–1–3 results for 2023 World Cup)
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