Persson came in as assistant national team captain in 2019 and took the step up as head coach the following year. But despite great successes with Persson at the helm, the adventure is now coming to an end.
"I've had five fantastic years with multiple titles and successes from several championships, not least the Olympic Games in Paris most recently. At the same time, it's also been exhausting, and I think it's enough now. From my own experience as a player, I think the optimal time for a coach is three to four years," says Jörgen Persson in a press release.
World Championship 2021 stands out
During the summer's Olympic Games in Paris, the Swedish table tennis men created a ping-pong fever by taking two impressive silver medals, in team and singles (Truls Möregårdh).
It's only two of a large number of medals that the Swedish national team has collected with Persson as national team captain. Other highlights include the World Championship gold in doubles in Houston 2021 (Mattias Falck/Kristian Karlsson), Truls Möregårdh's World Championship silver in singles the same year, and the team European Championship gold on home soil in 2023.
If the players had a say, Jörgen Persson would likely have extended his contract. Both Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson would have liked to see a continuation when they were asked about Persson's future after the Olympic Games.
Can stay on
He has reaped fantastic successes. Olympic Games, European Championship, and World Championship medals in almost every championship. Those successes don't come by themselves, said Källberg.
It's gone very well since he came. I don't think it's a coincidence. He's welcome to continue, said Karlsson.
Persson may still stay on in the federation's management in some way. Discussions are underway.
"For us, it's a given that Jörgen Persson should stay in our organization in some form. Exactly how it will look, we're discussing," says Thomas Buza, general secretary of the Swedish Table Tennis Federation.
Sweden's table tennis men have taken nine championship medals under Jörgen Persson. It started with Mattias Falck's World Championship silver in 2019, then with Persson as assistant national team captain, and ended with double Olympic Games silver in Paris 2024.
2019, World Championship in Budapest, singles: Mattias Falck, silver.
2021, World Championship in Houston, doubles: Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson, gold.
2021, World Championship in Houston, singles: Truls Möregårdh, silver.
2022, European Championship in München, doubles: Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson, gold.
2022, European Championship in München, singles: Kristian Karlsson, bronze.
2022, European Championship in München, singles: Mattias Falck, bronze.
2023, European Championship in Malmö: team, gold.
2024, Olympic Games in Paris, singles: Truls Möregårdh, silver.
2024, Olympic Games in Paris: team, silver.
