Tomas Axnér

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Tomas Axnér (born 30 November 1969 in Spånga, Sweden) is a Swedish former handball player and current coach. He is the head coach of Sweden’s women’s national team and of Danish club Team Esbjerg.

Playing career
- Axnér began at Lödde HK and also played for IK Wargo and Pölsemannen before moving to H43 Lund in 1992, where he played in Sweden’s top division.
- In 1995/96 he joined Lugi HF and helped the team reach the Swedish Cup final in 1996 (they lost to Redbergslids IK).
- He then played in Germany for VfL Gummersbach and GWD Minden in the Handball-Bundesliga.
- After five years in Minden, he returned to Sweden to play for H43 Lund as player‑assistant coach to Ola Månsson. In 2012 he briefly returned to the court for Trelleborg HBK during the European Championship break.
- He is one of the few players besides Stefan Lövgren to score 1000 goals in both the Swedish league and the Bundesliga.

Coaching career
- Axnér began coaching while still playing, becoming assistant coach of Lugi HF in 2010, then head coach from 2012 to 2014, with a one-year break.
- He returned as Lugi’s head coach from 2015 to 2020.
- In 2020 he became head coach of Sweden’s women’s national team. He also temporarily coached the U18 women’s team in 2022 when the main coach was suspended.
- He led Sweden to 11th place at the 2020 European Championship and to 4th place at the 2024 Olympic Games. He extended his contract with the national team in March 2024 through 2026.
- In the summer of 2024 he also became head coach of Danish club Team Esbjerg, while continuing as Sweden’s head coach. The Esbjerg players helped choose him, seeking a long‑term coach with top‑level playing experience.

Personal life
- His daughter Tyra Axnér is also a handball player, and he has coached her on the national team. He trained as a teacher but has never worked as one.