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It didn’t end well when reports emerged Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was eyeing off a job in another country and now the situation has hit the Matildas.
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Reports out of Sweden suggest Gustavsson has already interviewed for the role and is one of three leading candidates to replace outgoing coach Janne Andersson after his side finished third in Group F and missed out on qualifying for Euro 2024.
Gustavsson had been heavily linked with the US women’s national team coaching role, but that was put to bed earlier this month when Chelsea manager Emma Hayes got the job.
The latest rumour comes just days after Gustavsson doubled down on his commitment to the Matildas having led them to a historic World Cup semi-final at home earlier this year.
“I think if you go back to the speculations and rumours about this all the way back in the World Cup journey, you’ve heard me say the same thing over and over again,” he said.
Tony Gustavsson has been linked to the coaching role with Sweden’s men’s national team. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images
“I love working with this team and I have unfinished business and a lot of players feel the same way.
“We were so close to a medal in the Olympics. We were so close to a medal in the World Cup. We’re not in the (Paris) Olympics yet. We need to respect that.
“We have qualifiers in February, so it’s unfinished business in that sense as well.
“I’ve said it from day one and it’s a part of this job that there’s always going to be speculation.
“But what I really want to be clear on here though, so there’s no misinterpretation on this one, is that I think everyone that has worked closely with me and seen me working with this team over these three years knows how passionate I am working with this team and how much I love this team.”
The Matildas have two friendlies against Canada next month that could be overshadowed by more speculation on Gustavsson’s future.
The 50-year-old has long stressed a desire for more funding to build on what the Matildas have achieved in recent years, but now there are no guarantees he will be there to see it out despite being contracted until after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Former Wallabies coach Jones repeatedly denied his links to the Japan coaching job after reports emerged during the World Cup he had interviewed for the role.
Jones stepped down after the World Cup failure, but Japan is yet to appoint its next coach.
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