Roland Nilsson

11th September 2001 – 16th October 2001 (Caretaker Manager)
16th October 2001 – 16th April 2002

Looking back over the plight of Coventry City since they left the Premier League in 2001 it is hard to think of a more successful manager than Roland Nilsson. Although he had arguably the largest budget of any of the twelve managers in the thirteen years he took the club closer to the play-offs than any of his successors. He was unceremoniously sacked for not taking the club to the play-offs in that first season out of the top flight. In retrospect he should have probably been cherished for his achievements.

As a player Roland was undoubtedly one of the Swedish all-time greats and in his prime was one of the best full-backs in the world. In 1987, aged 24, he was a member of the IFK Gothenburg team that won the UEFA Cup by beating Dundee United 2-1 on aggregate. 

Ron Atkinson signed the Swede with film-star looks for Sheffield Wednesday for £375,000 in December 1989 and he had five very successful years at Hillsborough. Despite being relegated in his first season Wednesday bounced back at the first attempt and the same season won the League Cup beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final. Two years later under Trevor Francis he was in the Owls side that lost both the FA Cup and League Cup finals to Arsenal, the former after a replay. By 1990 he was a regular in the national side and played in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy. Sweden had a disastrous tournament losing all three group games including matches against Scotland and Costa Rica. With the 1992 European Championships on home soil Sweden performed well, winning their group after a good victory over England, but going out to Germany in the semi final. Roland again was an ever present.

He played in all six games during the 1994 World Cup when Sweden created a major surprise by reaching the semi finals only to lose to the eventual winners Brazil. He had returned to Sweden in May 1994 to join his hometown club Helsingborgs and he remained there until the summer of 1997 when after an approach from Big Ron he was tempted back to the Premiership. City paid £200,000 for the veteran Swede and from his first game he looked a bargain with his composed and stylish play. His arrival coincided with city’s best season for years. In two seasons at Coventry he was outstanding with his cool defensive qualities and excellent positional play, not to mention his astounding fitness for a 36-year old. After 69 first team games he returned to Helsingborgs as a player and Director of Football and retired from the national side after Euro 2000 with 116 caps to his name – the third highest by a Swede. In the summer of 2001 Gordon Strachan persuaded him to return to Coventry as a coach as the Sky Blues aimed to bounce back into the Premiership at the first attempt. After just five games Strachan was sacked and Roland was handed the task of managing the team. With the help of Richard Money Roland steadied the ship & was unbeaten in his first eleven matches, winning the Manager of the Month award for his first month in the job. At the end of October they briefly led the division after excellent wins over Manchester City (4-3) & Sheffield United (1-0). Despite inconsistency there were many highlights including away wins at Crewe (6-1) & Crystal Palace (3-1) and the team were in fourth place with seven games remaining but the play-off dream disappeared with six defeats. Before the final game the popular Nilsson was sacked by an angry & ruthless Mike McGinnity, along with Nilsson’s number two Jim Smith. 

Back in Sweden Roland became coach of second division side GAIS, Gothenburg’s second club and won them promotion in 2005. He consolidated their position in the top flight before moving to Malmo in 2007. After two mid-table finishes he finally managed to create a winning team in 2010 and won the Swedish league. 

In the summer of 2011 he was appointed manager of Danish club FC Copenhagen but was surprisingly sacked in early 2012 with the team at the top of the Danish Superliga. 

Click here to see details of Roland Nilsson’s playing career with the Sly Blues

From: 11th September 2001
First game: 11th September 2001 v Peterborough United A, Worthington Cup 2nd Round, drew 2-2 (won 4-2 on pens)

Until: 16th April 2002
Last game: 12th April 2002 v Millwall H, First Division, lost 0-1

43 games as manager

	Lge	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Win %	Pos
2001-02	Div 1	40	19	5	16	56	48	62	47.5	10th
Totals		40	19	5	16	56	48	62	47.5

League Cup: 2 games (1 draw – won on pens, 1 loss)

FA Cup: 1 game (loss)