TV4 profile Olof Lundh’s clear criticism – says what everyone thinks about new national team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson: “It’s damaged”

Jon Dahl Tomasson is presented as Sweden’s new national team captain.
But Olof Lundh is not impressed with the recruitment process.
– It is a little damaged, says the TV4 profile.

After months of speculation, rumors and writings, Sweden’s search for a new national team captain ended yesterday. Jon Dahl Tomasson, who previously won the SM gold with Malmö FF and who most recently came from a coaching assignment in English Blackburn, will be Sweden’s first ever foreign national team captain.

Lundh’s criticism

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s contract starts on March 1, and extends over the qualification for the WC 2026. Should Sweden make it there, the contract will be automatically extended. Sweden has been without a confederation captain since Janne Andersson left, and many have been critical of how long it took for the confederation to come up with a new name.

Now Olof Lundh, football expert on TV4 and Fotbollskanalen, criticizes and believes that trust in how the association works has suffered.

– It has been an incredibly long recruitment after Janne Andersson quit, and it is clear that it crashed with Olof Mellberg and Tony Gustavsson who were the first option. Now it was Jon Dahl Tomasson, and it feels like the union still landed okay. But it is clear that it is a slightly damaged union, with it taking so long, says Lundh in a clip on social media.

The association’s response

However, Olof Lundh believes that the football Jon Dahl Tomasson plays will suit Sweden well, and especially with the young, talented group that exists right now.

– I think his football suits these new stars, then it will probably be a bit tougher and different leadership than Janne Andersson. He is perhaps harder that way, and it will be interesting to see how the Swedish players react, says Lundh.

It was clear early on that Janne Andersson would leave his position if Sweden missed the EC, but despite that it took months before Jon Dahl Tomasson was appointed, which many have reacted to. But Kim Källström, head of football at the association, refuses.

– I am a bit skeptical about that. I don’t understand why it has to go so fast, he says according to DN, and continues:

– We knew that the first match is at the end of March (international training match against Portugal on March 21). We are very satisfied with the time perspective.