Three up for duo

Tommy Soderberg and his joint coach Lars Lagerback safely guided Sweden to Euro 2004 as the unique duo booked a place at their third straight major international tournament.

Handed the national role in January 1998, he then asked the Swedish federation to appoint his assistant Lars Lagerback, as joint coach, thus establishing a coaching partnership.

Despite a solid qualification route into Euro 2000, topping their group ahead of England, Sweden failed to get past the first round at the tournament in Holland and Belgium.

Along with the co-hosts Belgium, they were out-qualified for quarter-final berths by Italy and a surprising Turkey side.

But the management duo were kept in place and new blood was brought into the side rather than the management team.

The Soderberg-Lagerback duo then qualified Sweden for the 2002 World Cup where they were drawn in the "Group of Death" along with Argentina, England and Nigeria.

Few expected them to make the cut for the last-16 but they qualified along with the English before an extra-time golden goal from Henri Camara gave Senegal victory and ended the Swedish dream in the second round.

Settled side

Soderberg and Lagerback have established a settled side with conservative play and selection policy, upcoming Ajax star Zlatan Ibrahimovic for example has been blooded by degrees and was called upon for under-21 duty as recently as October 2003.

This discipline saw them win Euro 2004 qualifying Group 8 with a match to spare ahead of Latvia and Poland.

Since the 2002 World Cup the coaches changed their captain, handing the armband to the consistent and solid central defender Olof Mellberg while the notable newcomer to the side is Ibrahimovic, who will provide either an excellent partner or cover for Henrik Larsson.

A player of modest capabilities himself, and a little-known coach outside of the Nordic countries, Soderberg served his time honourably at the head of numerous Swedish clubs.

Under Soderberg's direction, AIK Stockholm became league champions in 1992.