
The Swedish national team is considered by many to be one of the most influential handball teams in the history of the sport. The success of the team during the Bengt Johansson years (1990-2002) is unrivaled. To qualify for eight consecutive championship finals (Olympic, World and European) and take medals at every single event remains to this day an unparalleled success.
However, the glory days seemed to fade and in the past eight years, not a single international accolade has returned to Sweden. The team has changed considerably and two of the original ”Bengan Boys” are now at the helm and a new generation is now leading the way. At the last EHF EURO the team achieved the best result in a very long time. Returning to the competition, the team is focusing on getting through to the Main Round.



Staffan Olsson & Ola Lindgren
Olsson and Lindgren are well known from the time that Sweden dominated men´s handball during the 80´s and 90´s. In their active period (1984 - 2002), both Lindgren and Olsson won several gold medals with the Swedish national team at both World and European championships. Olsson appeared for Sweden on 357 occasions and hit the back of the net 852 times; the left-handed right wing player was infamous. Lindgren, having taken two silver medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympiad, knows exactly what it takes to get to a final.
The combined experience of the”Bengan Boys” has already seen Sweden attain a primary goal; the team made it through the tough qualification phase and are ready to face their other Group C opponents. The retired former Swedish internationals Olsson & Lindgren who began coaching the national team in 2008, are now focusing on getting to the Main Round.
1994 | European Championship in Portugal | GOLD |
1995 | World Championship in Iceland | BRONZE |
1996 | European Championship in Spain | 4th Place |
1996 | Olympic Games in Atlanta | SILVER |
1997 | World Championship in Japan | SILVER |
1998 | European Championship in Italy | GOLD |
1999 | World Championship in Egypt | GOLD |
2000 | European Championship in Croatia | GOLD |
2000 | Olympic Games in Sydney | SILVER |
2001 | World Championship in France | SILVER |
2002 | European Championship in Sweden | GOLD |
2003 | World Championship in Portugal | 13th Place |
2004 | European Championship in Slovenia | 13th Place |
2004 | Olympic Games in Athens | Did Not Qualify |
2005 | World Championship in Tunisia | 11th Place |
2006 | European Championship in Switzerland | Did Not Qualify |
2007 | World Championship in Germany | Did Not Qualify |
2008 | European Championship in Norway | 5th Place |
2008 | Olympic Games in Beijing | Did Not Qualify |
2009 | World Championship in Croatia | 7th Place |
Sweden qualified for the European Championships after winning 6 and drawing 2 matches during the qualification tournament.