The women’s game is developing at an immense rate, Markus Tilly tells Nick Aitken…
Having originally joined Swedish giants FC Rosengård in 2012, starting as assistant coach to Jonas Eidevall before taking the head-coach hotseat in summer 2014, Markus Tilly’s journey in women’s football has come to an end – for the time being at least. Here he speaks to Nick Aitken.
Winner of two Swedish titles as head coach and one as assistant, Tilly stepped away from the Malmö-based club in July this year, a long commute and family issues forcing his hand. Now deeply immersed in a new role as U-19 head coach and youth-academy director at his hometown club Ängelholms FF, for whom he is a former player, he agreed to take time out to discuss his Rosengård adventure with She Kicks.
She Kicks: Markus, your extremely successful association with Rosengård has now come to an end. What were the main highlights of your time with the club? Anything you would like to have done differently?
Markus Tilly: From a collective point of view, I’d have to say winning three consecutive Swedish championships and the 2015 Swedish Super Cup, as well as going on a 24-match unbeaten run, were very special.
From an individual coaching perspective, I have fond memories of bringing Natalie Persson off the bench when we were 2-1 down in a decisive away game in Göteborg, and she provided two assists as we turned it around to 3-2. I also think it took courage to give [goalkeeper] Zecira Musovic her Women’s Champions League debut in the quarter-final first-leg tie away to Wolfsburg [on 22 March 2015] when she was only 19 [Editor’s note: the match ended 1-1].
On a negative note, I maybe should have made a different tactical call when we were leading 2-1 at half-time at home in the second leg of that tie [Editor’s note: Wolfsburg went through on away goals after a 3-3 draw]. But in the heat of the moment, you always make the decision you think is right at the time.
It also would have been nice to finish what I started at Rosengård, but sometimes there are things that are beyond your control. Unfortunately too many family matters arose all at the same time, and so this July I had to step down.
SK: You’ve had the opportunity to coach some of the best women’s footballers in the world right now, such as Anja Mittag, Marta, Ramona Bachmann, Ali Riley and Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir. Can you tell me a little bit about their qualities and mention any other players you have particularly enjoyed working with?
MT: Starting with Anja Mittag, she’s a real sharpshooter: she always finds a way to score, even if you think it´s impossible. And she reads the game better than almost anyone else.
Marta is super-professional. When she’s in her “killer mode” she can conjure a goal out of nothing. I think that she’s at her best when she’s a bit angry, a bit irritated – that’s when she really steps up. She is a genuine role model for young children, both girls and boys. She is the best in the world as seeing the game and spotting passes or moves that no one else can.
Ramona Bachmann: what pace she has, in body and mind! She is able to do things so quickly and she is a fabulous player.
Ali Riley is the most dedicated player I’ve ever worked with. She is always prepared to improve herself and give everything for her team. She’s really loyal and determined and is as good offensively as she is defensively.
Sara Björk Gunnarsdottir is one of those players that you love having on your team and hate coming up against. She’s very tough and can run more than anybody else. She’s got good heading ability too and is a regular goalscorer.
During my time in Malmö I particularly enjoyed working with and have a special appreciation for so many players, but Katrin Schmidt is someone who really deserves a mention. She doesn’t get as much recognition as she should, but she’s a great character and team player. She’s an extremely smart and clever footballer.
SK: You have now accepted a new opportunity working in men’s football for your hometown club Ängelholms FF. What were the main reasons behind your decision to take this new role?
MT: Well, I live in Ängelholm so after three years of spending around three hours a day, six days a week, commuting to Malmö for around 50 weeks of the year, It’s nice to now be able to jump on my bike and cycle to work in ten minutes. And after three consecutive championship wins, there wasn’t much more to be achieved. Yes, of course we could have won the Champions League, but we really gave it our best shot.
I’ll miss everyone at Rosengårdand miss being involved in decisive games in the Champions League and the Swedish championship, but now’s the time for a new opportunity and a new challenge.
SK: One last question. What was your verdict on the recent Women’s Olympic Football Tournament? After winning silver in Rio, do you think Sweden have the potential to succeed at next year’s EURO?
MT: Women’s soccer in general is developing at an immense rate right now, in terms of player numbers, the number of countries playing and quality of play. More and more teams are getting better, both physically and tactically, so that makes the game more competitive and raises the standard. At the Olympics, I think Sweden were tactically very good, but they’re also trying to refresh the squad. Some of those players are coming to the end of their careers, so [before EURO 2017] they’ll be trying to bring in some new, younger players into the team.
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