Officially starting on 1 December, she arrives at the Club with a wealth of experience having played on the biggest stages domestically and internationally in and for Sweden before becoming Rosengard’s Sporting Director.
Below are some of the achievements and defining moments of Sjogran’s career which have placed her on the path to Manchester.
214
During her illustrious playing career, Sjogran made a staggering 214 international appearances for Sweden.
A midfielder, she made her national team debut in October 1997 with her final outing at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
The 47-year-old was the first player to surpass 200 appearances for Sweden and possesses the joint-highest amount of caps for a European nation alongside Germany’s Birgit Prinz.
Due to her commitment and accomplishments with her country, she was awarded the 2015 Fotbollskanalens hederspris, the football channel’s honorary award at Fotbollsgalan 2015 – the Swedish football gala.
WORLD CUP HEARTBREAK
At the 2003 World Cup, Sjogran played a starring role for Sweden in their memorable progression to the prestigious competition’s final.
She started their 3-1 opening game defeat to the United States of America before making appearances in their group wins over North Korea (1-0) and Nigeria (3-0).
Sweden then beat Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals with Sjorgan again featuring before she came on as a substitute in their famous 2-1 win over Canada which secured passage into the showpiece.
However, heartbreak would follow against Germany in the final when Maren Meinert cancelled out Hannah Ljungberg opener for Sweden.
Sjorgan was introduced in the 53rd minute before stamping her authority on proceedings, but it was Germany who triumphed thanks to Nia Kuenzer’s golden-goal winner in extra-time.
ROSENGARD’S RISE
After hanging up her boots, she became Rosengard’s Sporting Director in 2015 before overseeing a sparkling period for the club which spanned for almost a decade.
During her tenure, she helped the club to three Swedish top-flight titles in 2019, 2021 and 2022 – and they’re on track to lift a fourth having won 23 of their 24 matches so far this term.
What’s more, Sjogran’s work as a part of Rosengard’s hierarchy laid the foundations which led them to winning four Svenska Cup’s during her time as Sporting Director.
OFF THE FIELD
During an interview ahead of the 2005 European Championships, Sjogran revealed a number of her favourite things to do away from the field.
Firstly, she explained she would have pursued a career in innebandy – a type of floor hockey had she not played football. She added that her favourite food was shellfish, music was techno/house and movie at the time was horror film Saw.
In 2015, Swedish sport journalist Anja Gatu based a fictional biographical children’s book titled Roktt kort, Therese! (Red card, Therese!) on Sjogran’s early career. A sequel was released 18 months later titled Snygg fint, Therese! (Nice feint, Therese!).
The 47-year-old is also an economics graduate.
HONOURS
During her playing career at Rosengard, she won five Damallsvenskan titles and three Svenska Supercupen trophies.
This followed her Division 3 title in 1994 with Veberods AIF and the Division 1 crown with Wa FF in 1997.
Before her World Cup final appearance with Sweden in 2003, she was also a runner-up at the 2001 European Championships. Sjogran then helped her nation finish third at the 2011 World Cup.
Finally, her team success also translated to individual accolades as she was named Swedish football’s best female player in 2007 and 2010 and Swedish football’s best female midfielder in 2007 and 2008.
Welcome to City, Therese!
