Marika Domanski-Lyfors Explained

Marika Domanski-Lyfors
Upright:1.1
Full Name:Marika Susan Domanski-Lyfors
Birth Date:1960 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Position:Defender
Years1:1971–1974
Clubs1:Nödinge SK
Years2:1975–1979
Clubs2:Surte IS
Years3:1980–1985
Clubs3:Jitex BK
Years4:1986–1988
Clubs4:GAIS
Manageryears1:1989–1993
Managerclubs1:Tyresö FF
Manageryears2:1991–1993
Managerclubs2:Sweden women U20
Manageryears3:1992–1996
Managerclubs3:Sweden women (assistant)
Manageryears4:1996–2005
Managerclubs4:Sweden women
Manageryears5:2005–2007
Managerclubs5:Sweden women U21
Manageryears6:2007
Managerclubs6:China women

Marika Susan Domanski-Lyfors (born 17 May 1960), Marika Susan Domanski, is a Swedish football coach and former player. She was head coach of the Sweden women's national team from September 1996 until June 2005 and also coached the China women's national team during 2007. She is nicknamed Mackan.

Playing career

As a Jitex BK player, Domanski-Lyfors won two League Championships (1981 and 1984) and three Swedish Cups (1981, 1982 and 1984). All of Jitex's regular players except left-back Domanski-Lyfors were capped at international level, because national team coach Ulf Lyfors did not rate her as a player. Marika disputed Ulf's judgement, but forgave him to the extent that the two were later married and had son Joakim.[1]

Managerial career

Domanski-Lyfors was manager of Tyresö FF from 1989 to 1993.[2]

Her own nine-year spell in charge of the senior Sweden women's national team was considered a success. During her first international game as Swedish head coach, Sweden won against Italy, 1–0, in Torino on 9 October 1996.[3] The team were runners-up in UEFA Women's Euro 2001 and the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, beaten by Germany in the final of both competitions.[4]

After returning to a role with the Sweden women's national under-21 team, Domanski-Lyfors accepted an offer to become head coach of the China women's national team in March 2007.[5] She oversaw an improvement in the team's results and guided the hosts to the quarter finals of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.[6]

At the tournament, the Chinese hosts engaged in surveillance and intimidation of first round opponents Denmark. Domanski-Lyfors and her assistant Pia Sundhage were unaware of the incidents and Danish coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller absolved them of any blame, although he refused to shake hands after the match.[7]

The Chinese wanted Domanski-Lyfors to stay on for the 2008 Olympics, but she decided against extending her contract. In November 2007 she was appointed a technical director of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF).[8]

In popular culture

Marika Domanski-Lyfors can be seen in the 2013 Sveriges Television documentary television series The Other Sport.

Personal life

Domanski-Lyfors was married to Ulf Lyfors until his death in February 2022.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marika Domanski Lyfors fyller 45 år den 17 maj. Helsingborgs Dagblad. 27 May 2013. 17 May 2005. Swedish. dead. https://archive.today/20130706111835/http://hd.se/familj/2005/05/17/marika_domanski_lyfors_fyller_45/. 6 July 2013.
  2. News: Känslosam EM-premiär: "Ulf hade varit stolt" . Emotional EC premiere: "Ulf would have been proud" . 4 July 2022 . 25 April 2023 . . sv.
  3. Web site: Drottning Victoria fyller 100. Helsingborgs dagblad. Swedish. Göran Sjögren. 11 May 2004. 9 January 2017.
  4. Web site: Domanski-Lyfors leaves fine legacy . UEFA. 27 May 2013. 17 June 2005. Kevin. Ashby.
  5. Web site: Domanski-Lyfors in final talks for China job. FIFA. 27 May 2013. 24 March 2007.
  6. Web site: Soccer: Marika Domanski-Lyfors, China's Swedish coach might not be sticking around. The New York Times. 27 May 2013. 24 September 2007.
  7. Web site: Danish coach accuses Chinese of spying at 2007 Women's World Cup . 27 May 2013. Grant. Wahl. Grant Wahl. Sports Illustrated. 1 August 2008.
  8. Web site: Marika Domanski Lyfors åter till SvFF. Swedish Football Association. 27 May 2013. 29 October 2007. Swedish.