Klingvall steps down as Swedish head coach

Only a few days before the end of 2013 a major change took place at the helm of the Swedish women's national team. Head coach Torbjörn Klingvall stepped down and his assistant coach Thomas Sivertsson took over.

"Some for me rather small issues have been growing in an unfortunate way over time.

"Now it is important for the team to be able to focus on its main task which is qualifying for the European Championship and to do well there, and in that respect things look really bright," Klingvall said in an official statement released on Thursday.

"Of course, we respect Torbjörn´s decision to leave the job," Stefan Lövgren, general manager of the Swedish national teams said.

"I also realise that he does not see his conditions for leading Sweden to another prosperous championship as being the best.

At the same time I would like to emphasise that he is leaving the job at a time, where the team has very good prospects for the future," added Lövgren.

Torbjörn Klingvall had been national coach for a little more than a year. His contract was due to expire in the summer of 2014.

The job as national coach will be taken over by former Swedish international Thomas Sivertsson (pictured right) who has been assistant coach since Klingvall had been at the helm.

Sivertsson is expected to be in charge of the team for the rest of the ongoing qualification for the EHF EURO2014 in Croatia and Hungary in December 2014.

"With Thomas in the job we avoid rushing to a new permanent solution. Instead we can take our time to analyse how the women´s national team is to be led in future," Lövgren said.

Sweden currently top EHF EURO Qualification Group 5 with four points after two matches.