According to Vilahamn, he was doing “fine” in Sweden. However, his track record suggests he was doing better than “fine”.
When he began his coaching career in 2008 at Ytterby IS, he led the men’s side to back-to-back promotions, and he did the same at his next club, which was another men’s team, Qviding FIF, guiding them from the fifth tier of Swedish football to the third in his two seasons in charge.
Then came Hacken. At first, Vilahamn was assistant manager of the men’s team, but two years later he was leading out the women’s team.
Despite calling the first six months of his tenure “terrible”, Vilahamn still made sure they qualified for the Women’s Champions League and reached consecutive Swedish Cup finals.
“We were getting good results and I was in a happy place there, but when I become happy I want to take the next step,” Vilahamn said.
“I know how to win in Sweden, but I need to get to know England and get the experience from Vicky and everybody around me.
“I don’t [want to] go into the Women’s Super League and be stupid. I need to be sharp.”
Vilahamn is taking confidence from other Scandinavian managers’ recent success in the WSL.
“You need to believe in yourself in this world. When you look at what Jonas (Eidevall) did at Arsenal and Brian (Sorensen) at Everton – those two I know quite well – I know they can do it here, I can do it here,” Vilahamn said.
“I have a high belief that my philosophy, connected to the Tottenham philosophy, will be what the players need and want, and they can perform the best way.
“Hopefully we can do magic together.”