Gunnar Svensson

For the Swedish sports shooter, see Gunnar Svensson (sport shooter).
Gunnar Svensson
Born 27 June 1956
Died 31 January 2020(2020-01-31) (aged 63)
Position Forward
Played for Örnsköldsviks SK
IF Björklöven
Playing career 1972–1978

Gunnar Svensson (27 June 1956 – 31 January 2020) was a Swedish ice hockey player, head coach and sports agent.

During his playing career Svensson played for Örnsköldsvik and IF Björklöven. He began his coaching career in Örnsköldsvik before signing on to IK Vita Hästen. Svensson coached his first and only Elitserien club when he signed on a five-year contract with Djurgårdens IF in 1984.[1] Svensson's first season in Djurgården went well, the team won the league and beat Färjestads BK in the semifinals.[2] However, Södertälje SK proved to be too hard in the final and became Swedish champions.[2] The following season was quite the opposite; Djurgården was close to being relegated, and Svensson was subsequently fired on 26 January 1986.[1][3] After his stay in Djurgården, he became coach for IF Troja/Ljungby until 1988.[4] This marked the end of Svensson's coaching career and he went on to be a manager in Vita Hästen. He left his post in Vita Hästen for the same post in Malmö Redhawks in 1995.[5] After internal conflicts in the club Svensson left his position as manager in 1996[6] and started to work as a sports agent for players like Henrik Zetterberg,[7] Andreas Pihl[8] and Fredrik Emvall.[8]

Svensson was the father of the NHL's Ottawa Senators winger Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson.[9]

  1. ^ a b "Historia - 1980-1989". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Säsongen 1984/1985". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 18 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Tränare". difhockey.se (in Swedish). Djurgårdens IF Hockey. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Tränare i Troja/Ljungby". troja-ljungby.com (in Swedish). Troja/Ljungby. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  5. ^ Jönsson, Kent (December 6, 2003). "Avhopp, intriger - och sparkade tränare". sydsvenskan.se (in Swedish). Sydsvenska dagbladet. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  6. ^ Kent Jönsson; Johan Wessman (December 13, 2003). "På gott och ont är man beroende av Percy Nilssons pengar". sydsvenskan.se (in Swedish). Sydsvenska dagbladet. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  7. ^ Khan, Ansar (January 23, 2009). "Red Wings' Ken Holland hopes to sign Henrik Zetterberg to extension soon". mlive.com. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  8. ^ a b Bergsten, Per (April 21, 2009). "LHC-duo kan hamna utomlands". corren.se (in Swedish). Östgöta Correspondenten. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  9. ^ Meltzer, Bill (November 7, 2008). "Swedish prodigy Paajarvi could be top-5 pick". nhl.com. NHL. Retrieved 19 August 2009.