sports
The unlikely story of the first English manager to reach a World Cup final
George Raynor led Sweden to Olympic glory and a World Cup final, but he was never appreciated back home
TL;DR
- George Raynor, an English coach, faced a lack of opportunities in his homeland before accepting a position in Sweden in 1946.
- He led the Swedish national team to an Olympic gold medal in 1948 and a third-place finish in the 1950 World Cup.
- Raynor's greatest achievement was guiding Sweden to the 1958 World Cup final, where they lost to Brazil.
- Despite his international success, including being the first English manager to reach a World Cup final, Raynor struggled to find significant coaching roles back in England.
- He was revered in Sweden, receiving royal recognition and being inducted into the Swedish Football Hall of Fame, but remained a largely forgotten figure in English football.