The Sweden men's national football team () represents the nation of Sweden in international association football. The team is controlled by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) () and competes as a member of the UEFA and the FIFA. The team played its first official international match on 12 July 1908 against Norway, winning 11–3. Since the match against Norway, 1,222 players have made at least one international appearance for the team. Of them, 152 have served as captain of the national team. This list contains footballers who have served as captain of the Sweden national team and is listed according to their number of matches captained.

The Sweden national team's record appearance-maker as captain is Björn Nordqvist, who led the team out 92 times during his 115-cap tenure. He is the only player to have captained Sweden at the three different major tournaments; 1970 FIFA World Cup, 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1978 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament in 1974, Bo Larsson was the first-choice captain, but Nordqvist wore the armband in the last match against Yugoslavia. Zlatan Ibrahimović is the player with second most captaincies. Original a vice captain behind Henrik Larsson, he took over the armband in the summer of 2010 and wore it until his international retirement in 2016. Midfielder Jonas Thern and defender Erik Nilsson are the most successful captains regarding medals. Thern led Sweden to a semi-final in UEFA Euro 1992 and a third place in 1994 FIFA World Cup. Nilsson led Sweden to third places in both 1950 FIFA World Cup and 1952 Summer Olympics. Birger Rosengren became the first and so far only Swedish captain to win a major international competition after leading the team in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Nils Rosén captained Sweden in their first World Cup in 1934 and Nils Liedholm led the team to their best performance in the World Cup, runners-up in 1958.

Captains Players are initially listed by number of matches captained, followed by the chronological order of the first captaincy. Only players who started the match as captain are included here, not players that might have been given the armband due to the starting captain being injured, sent off or substituted off.

Statistics correct as of 5 October 2026.

+ KeyStill active for the national teamCaptained the team at a major international tournament

+ List of Sweden national team football players who have served as captain of the teamRankPlayer Sweden career Caps as captain Total caps First to last captaincy1 921152 2001–2023581222008–20163 1987–199755751989–1997 4 1978–198547691981–1985 5 1992–200241961995–2002 6 1951–196538941959–1965 7 1938–195237571947–1952 82000–2012361172002–20062016–36842021–202610 2006–201933882016–201911 1915–192830411920–192812 1951–196329571953–196213 1981–199023681987–1990141955–196522531956–1964 1986–2000221161989–2000161999–2013211482007–2013171935–194617411941–1946 1997–200417491998–2004 191979–198715581985–1987201957–196714511966–19672008–2021141332013–2021221932–194013421935–1940 1998–200813752006–2008241924–193211311925–1931 251921–193110331926–19311928–193310141929–1933 1964–197810701973–1974 281911–19219331914–19211945–1948991945–1948301926–19318101926–19301938–19478341946–1947 1976–19858491979–1980 1993–200981062008–2009341911–1915791912–1915 1908–19247321913–1924 1929–19327111931–1932 1930–19387271935–1938 1950–19547311951–1954 1997–20097742006–20092002–201671332010–20162022–7322025–2026421908–1911671908–1911 1909–19136101911–1912 1910–1920681915–1920 1908–19206261917–1920 1932–19366121933–19361925–19346251934 1988–19956451992–1994 1993–200861092005–20071999–20086762005–20082008–20216902020–2021521908–19225171913–1919 1915–19215111920–1921 1933–19375111937 1940–19585571957–1958 1947–19585231958 1968–19745551972–1973 1981–199751431990–19952019–5452024601923–19324431929–19321925–193443519331924–19384251934–1938 1968–19804771978–1979 1976–19804171979–1980 2011–20234702019–2023661911–1916361911–19161919–19303301925–19261931–19373291935–19371930–193933219391959–19663719631972–198034019791974–19803201979–19801980–19893411987–19881991–200137420012012–20203272018–20192014–20253922022771908–1909261908–19091912–19192419191911–19222181920–19221921–1923221921–19231921–19232619231922–19272121925–19271932–19352919321926–193621719351935–19462351938–19451937–1947271939–19471943–1948231946–19481945–195022619491967–197324019701973–19772381974–19751986–199021819901983–199224719911984–199222219921994–200023019972001–2003252001–20031996–20042362002–200420032320032003–201325020092002–201528520152015–20162320162014–201821520172019–20222192020–20212012–202327420232017–26320251051910–19111219101911–191818191619161119161913–19171319171909–1919114191819211119211919–19231719211915–192312919221915–192411419241919–192513719241921–19241219241924–19291211926192711192719281119281925–193014193019301119301923–1932110193219371119371937–1949116194319491119491941–195012319501951–195613119511948–195411119541954–196512719631957–196812819671965–197414319741970–197911919791976–198112319811996–19971819971990–199813719982001–200914320012000–200111120012001–201411620032002–200916420041995–200618620052007–20131920112011–20141620142013–201911820142015–20181920182014–20181620182013–20221920192018–202215201920201120202009–202113220202015–202517920222022–202411320232022–20231420232014–20241332024

Chronology This is a chronology list of the first-choice captains in Sweden's tournament games. Matches in FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and Olympic Games are included here.

+ Key Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

FIFA World Cup YearIncumbent1934193819501958197019741978199019942002200620182026

UEFA European Championship YearIncumbent1992200020042008201220162020

Olympic Games YearIncumbent1908191219201924193619481952

Footnotes

References

External links Sweden at EU Fotball