Robin Olsen Retires from Sweden's National Soccer Team

Stockholm, Oct 1 (AP) – Veteran goalkeeper Robin Olsen has decided to retire from international soccer after learning from Sweden's national team coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, that he would no longer be the first-choice option. At 35 years old, Olsen's decision follows a costly mistake he made during Sweden's recent 2-2 draw against Slovenia in Ljubljana, which was part of the World Cup qualifying matches.

Four days after that game, Olsen played in a 2-0 loss against Kosovo, marking his 79th and final appearance for the Swedish national team. The announcement of his immediate retirement was confirmed by the Swedish Soccer Federation earlier this week.

In an interview with the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Olsen shared that he has no intention of returning to international duty as long as Tomasson remains the coach. He revealed some tension, stating that Tomasson previously assured him he was Sweden’s No. 1 goalkeeper, only to later change his stance. Olsen, who recently joined Malmö after departing from Aston Villa, expressed dissatisfaction with Tomasson’s leadership style.

As Tomasson prepares to announce his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Kosovo, Viktor Johansson is anticipated to take over as the starting goalkeeper.

Reflecting on a decade-long career with the national team, Olsen remarked, “It has been a great honor to represent my country, and I will forever cherish the support I have received from our fans.”

Stefan Pettersson, Sweden's national team manager, expressed his regret over Olsen’s departure, highlighting the significant contribution Olsen has made to the team throughout his career.

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