Thomas Alsgaard quit his job this week as national team coach for Sweden. Lack of motivation is the “official†reason.
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<p>Alsgaard has functioned as coach for the Swedish men’s team under head coach Inge BrÃ¥ten.</p>
<p>– He decided to quit after Tour de Ski says Per-Ã…ke YttergÃ¥rd, chief of Nordic disciplines in the Swedish ski federation. </p>
<p>Junior national team coach Lars Selin is taking over Alsgaard’s job.</p>
<p>There have been reports of problems surrounding the Swedish team earlier this season. A conflict between Alsgaard and Mathias Fredriksson, among others, created many news reports. Fredriksson said that Alsgaard didn’t participate enough at camps and workouts. </p>
<p>The Swedes also lost sprint coach Ola Rawald after last season. He was not replaced and many of the sprinters have criticized that decision.</p>
<p>Norwegian and Swedish newspapers were busy with the Alsgaard story on Tuesday. In interviews, Alsgaard has claimed that it was Inge Braatens leadership style that was his main reason for quitting. Here are a few quotes from http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/vinter/langrenn/article874237.ece</p>
<p>– I couldn’t live with such a situation. There isn’t a personal conflict between me and Inge Braaten. He has chosen a leadership strategy that I don’t agree with. It was a tough decision. Such choices are difficult, but sometimes you need to choose the least bad choice among two bad options.</p>
<p>– My reason for quitting is very clear: I disagreed a great deal with Inge’s way of leading the team and the organization. His strategy is creating a difficult structure and problems. That is also creating direct problems for the job I’m supposed to do. It prevents me from delivering the quality I feel I have deliver and meeting the demands I’m asking from myself. That gives me only one choice, said Alsgaard to Kanal 24.</p>
<p> – I feel that we lack structure, we are often behind and quick fix solutions are often used. That’s not ideal, and I can’t be involved in this type of organization.</p>
<p>Alsgaard is now completely out of the Swedish ski federation and is not going to Worlds in Japan next month. He might continue to consult with several of the skiers on a volunteer bases.</p>
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Thomas Alsgaard quit his job this week as national team coach for Sweden. Lack of motivation is the “official†reason.