Title: The Man Behind the Mask: How Andree Jeglertz Is Leading Man City Toward a Historic Double

In early May, a moment of pure elation broke through Andree Jeglertz’s typically composed demeanor. When Rebecca Knaak’s stoppage-time strike found the back of the net against Liverpool, securing Manchester City’s grip on the Women’s Super League title, the Swedish manager’s usual reserve vanished. Captain Alex Greenwood jumped into his arms, unable to contain the relief and joy of the moment. This emotional release was a premature celebration of their first WSL championship in ten years, which was officially confirmed three days later after Arsenal failed to defeat Brighton. With the Women’s FA Cup final approaching this Sunday at 15:00 BST, a domestic double is now within their reach.

The celebrations actually commenced at the club’s training ground, where the squad had gathered to watch Arsenal’s match. Amidst the jubilation, Jeglertz summoned Greenwood, offered a smile, and simply said, “We did it.” The comment was understated, reflecting the character of a man who has never allowed himself to be swept away by hype.

Jeglertz’s passion for the game was cultivated during his childhood in Malmo, a city in southern Sweden. As a young fan, he played street football with peers and was influenced by an Englishman living next door, who encouraged him to follow the Premier League on television. Like most children in the area, he joined a football club by age five. In what he describes as a “safe environment,” he developed an intense obsession with sport, a trait that distinguished him from his younger brother.

“He wasn’t competitive,” Jeglertz recalls. “He played football, but he didn’t have that massive interest in it like I did. I always wanted to train a lot and have always been a very determined person. I thought: ‘I want to be on this level, I want to reach this.’ I wanted training to be a proper format, not just to do things randomly—I’ve never been good at that. It has to have structure. It’s still like that.”

His father, a keen football fan who had played in his youth, was a significant influence. They attended numerous matches in their hometown, making football a constant presence in Jeglertz’s life. He even traveled to Munich to watch his local team, Malmo, lose 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the 1979 European Cup final. “My dad is a big football fan,” he explains. “We went to a lot of games in my hometown. I remember watching games in the stadium, and we went every weekend. It’s always been a part of my life.”

Although Jeglertz played professionally for Malmo, he realized he would not reach the elite level, despite earning three caps for the Sweden Under-21 side. Consequently, he pivoted to education, following in his mother’s footsteps and driven by a curiosity to understand people. “When I realized I was not going to be as good as I had hoped for, that was tough—but I really loved the sport,” he says. “I educated myself as a teacher. I really loved the relationship between people and wanted to combine that, so continue working inside football and with people. Coaching was quite natural to go into. I was interested in the game already and I was always captain or had a leading role.”

Off the pitch, Jeglertz is a devoted family man. He is married to former footballer Ulrika, and they have two children, Cornelia and Adam. When Cornelia was an infant, the family relocated to Umea in eastern Sweden, settling in a small neighborhood two miles from the city center. It was there that Jeglertz secured his first major managerial position, eventually leading the team to a Champions League victory in 2004 with a roster featuring Brazilian icon Marta.

His career subsequently took the family to Stockholm five years later when he took charge at Djurgardens, followed by roles as head coach for Finland and later Denmark. Despite his international reputation, his family views him primarily as a parent. “He’s still only my dad—he’s not the famous coach that he is to other people,” says Cornelia. “To me, he’s a very caring and a very present dad, even though we have lived in different countries and cities for many years. He’s very interested in me and my friends. I think it’s a privilege that we have been able to follow him around, see his accomplishments and see the world.”

Prior to his interview with BBC Sport, Jeglertz reunited with his family a week earlier. They traveled to Manchester and enjoyed dinner in the Ancoats district, a location that has become a regular haunt for the curry enthusiast. This culinary preference has even led him to take classes to further study

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-07 12:18:17 UTC