The centre-back has since won a European Championship gold medal in 2022, silver in 2018 and bronze in 2024 - as Sweden extended their lead atop the all-time EURO medal table - plus a silver at the World Championship in 2021.
Tonight (15th January), the 2026 European Championship gets underway, with Sweden co-hosting alongside neighbours Denmark and Norway. Sweden will be one of the last sides to take to the court, as their opening match against Netherlands throws-off at 20:30 CET on the 17th.
But despite all his success, as Gottfridsson gets ready for his 13th major competition and his second in front of a home crowd, it is revenge for a disappointing World Championship a year ago that is driving him on.
12 months ago, Sweden topped their Preliminary Round group in Baerum, Norway, but things fell apart in the Main Round, where they drew with Portugal before suffering losses to Brazil and Norway to finish 14th - their worst result in the Worlds since a shock failure to qualify in 2013.
"You really want revenge. You don't want to experience the feeling from last year again," said Gottfridsson to TT news agency. "It has been many years since we received such a poor ranking, and there are no excuses for it."
That said, the now 33-year-old knows that the team weren't at their best a year ago, so soon after Michael Apelgren had taken over as head coach.
"Micke was thrown in during the autumn, then there was the championship and we had serious injuries in quick succession to central figures in the defence (Oscar Bergendahl and Max Darj), plus Felix Claar was gone, so there were three heavy injuries."
A year on, and Apelgren - who doubles up as Gottfridsson's head coach at club level too, with PICK Szeged in Hungary - has had more time to work with the squad.
"We have had time to build something that we like and believe in. It feels a lot better, and I feel that I can personally stand much more for what we are in now," the coach said.
Injuries, or a lack of them, have been kinder to Sweden in the build-up this time around, as even veteran goalkeeper Andreas Palicka has made a recovery from an elbow injury that was expected to keep him out of this month's championship.
Sweden begin their campaign in Group E, playing their three matches at Malmo Arena. Two of the four host venues are in Sweden, the other being the Kristianstad Arena, while matches will also take place in Baerum, Norway and Herning, Denmark.
Sweden squad for EHF EURO 2026
Goalkeepers: Andreas Palicka (Kolstad, 176 caps/19 goals), Mikael Appelgren (Veszprem, 102/2), Fabian Norsten (Aalborg Handball, 18/0)
Left-wings: Hampus Wanne (Hoj Handball, 116/463), Felix Montebovi (HK Malmo, 3/4)
Line players: Max Darj (Fuchse Berlin, 133/161), Felix Moller (Aalborg Handball, 36/65), Oscar Bergendahl (SC Magdeburg, 66/103)
Right-wings: Daniel Pettersson (SC Magdeburg, 100/226), Sebastian Karlsson (Paris Saint-Germain, 37/110)
Left-backs: Jonathan Carlsbogard (FC Barcelona, 91/178), Nikola Roganovic (HK Malmo, 5/8), Eric Johansson (THW Kiel, 53/150)
Centre-backs: Felix Claar (SC Magdeburg, 85/243), Jim Gottfridsson (Pick Szeged, 177/536), Axel Mansson (IFK Kristianstad, 4/4)
Right-backs: Albin Lagergren (SC Magdeburg, 132/411), Lukas Sandell (Rhein-Neckar Lowen, 79/204)
Sweden's Group E matches
Saturday 17th January, 20.30 CET: Sweden vs Netherlands
Monday 19th January, 20.30 CET: Georgia vs Sweden
Wednesday 21st January, 20.30 CET: Sweden vs Croatia
Follow the 2026 European Handball Championship on Flashscore.