In brief
There are many notable figures in Sweden’s football history who have left their mark on the global scene through their outstanding careers.
Players such as Ibrahimovic, Larsson, and Andersson have performed exceptionally well and gained considerable success despite Sweden’s patchy team results.
From legendary goalkeepers like Ravelli to prolific forwards like Nordahl, the history of football in the country is filled with a wide variety of gifted players who have won numerous awards.
Sweden acknowledges that they haven’t lived up to their typical expectations and that their perfectionism in daily life has carried over into football. Sweden was regarded as one of the best teams in Europe from 1945 until the late 1950s. They lost to Brazil 5-2 in the 1958 home final, which prevented them from winning the World Cup. All subsequent events have served as a sharp reminder of how George Raynor’s almost men could have planted the seeds for a massive fortress of invincibility.
However, Sweden has remained a dark horse in world football ever since the Englishman led Blagult to gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics. The Scandinavian nation has qualified for six European Championships and made 12 World Cup appearances. Their greatest accomplishment in recent memory was making it to the semi-finals of Euro 1992 before losing to Germany.
It is remarkable that Sweden, which has the fourteenth-largest population in Europe, has been able to unleash some of its hidden abilities over the past seven decades and maintain its position among the top countries. Even though they have struggled to replicate their 1950s glory due to a lack of team performances and tournament survival instincts, the proud nation still benefits from a constant flow of outstanding people, 15 of whom have been ranked in this article using a number of ranking criteria.
Factors that rank
World-wide accomplishments (awards, appearances, goals, assists, etc.)
Club accomplishments, including awards, appearances, goals, assists, and more
Individual honours
Football’s legacy
The Top 15 Swedish Football Players in History
Rank
The player
Duration of Career
Place
Club or clubs
International goals (caps)
1.
Ibrahimovic, Zlatan
1999–2023
Attacker
Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Malmo FF
122 (62)
2.
Larsson, Henrik
1989–2013
Attacker
Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona, Manchester United, Raa IF, Helsingborgs IF, and Hogaborgs BK
106 (37)
3.
Liedholm, Nils
1943–1961
A midfielder who attacks
AC Milan, IFK Norrkoping, and IK Sleipner
21 (10)
4.
Nordhal, Gunnar
1937–1960
Attacker
Karlstad BIK, IFK Norrkopinh, AC Milan, Roma, Hornefors IF, and Degerfors IF
33 (43)
5.
Gren Gunnar
1937–1976
Moving forward
AC Milan, Fiorentina, Genoa, Garda BK, IFK Goteborg, Orgryte, GAIS, and Oddevold
57 (32)
6.
Ljungberg, Freddie
1994–2014
Winger
West Ham United, Seattle Sounders FC, Chicago Fire, Celtic, Halmstad, Arsenal, Shimizu S-Pulse, and Mumbai City
75 (14)
7.
Nilsson, Erik
1934–1953
The left-back
Malmo FF
57
8.
Hamrin Kurt
1952–1972
Winger
IFK Stockholm, AIK, Juventus, Padova, Fiorentina, AC Milan, and Napoli
32 (17)
9.
Brolin, Tomas
1984–1998
Moving forward
Hudiksvalls ABK, Leeds United, FC Zurich, Crystal Palace, Parma, GIF Sundsvall, IFK Norrkoping, and Nasvikens IK
47 (27)
10.
Ravelli, Thomas
1976–1999
Goalie
IFK Goteborg, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Oster
143
11.
Andersson, Patrik
From 1989 to 2005
Protector
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Monchengladbach, Blackburn Rovers, and Malmo FF
96 (3)
12.
Skoglund, Lennart
1946–1968
Winger on the left
Inter Milan, Sampdoria, Palermo, Karrtorps IK, Hammarby IF, and AIK
11 (1)
13.
Carlsson, Henry
1939–1953
Attacker
Atletico Madrid, AIK, and Stade Francais
26 (17)
14.
Nilsson Torbjorn
From 1971 to 1990
Attacker
1. FC Kaiserslautern, PSV, IFK Goteborg, and Jonsereds IF
28 (9)
15.
Thern, Jonas
1985–1999
A midfielder
FC Zurich, Benfica, Napoli, Roma, Rangers, and Malmo FF
75 (6)
15 Jonas Thern Work History: 1985–1999
If you like a half-volley that’s been absolutely twatted, you’ll enjoy this from Jonas Thern 22 years ago today.
Have it.pic.twitter.com/xNbezebhCo
— A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) April 12, 2020
One important player in Swedish football is Jonas Thern. The midfielder played for prominent European teams including Benfica, Napoli, and Roma in the late 1980s and was a vital part of Malmo’s mostly successful squad, which won five straight titles between 1985 and 1989.
Although the success of each of these expeditions varied, they all contributed to Thern’s rise to prominence as a player. Examples include his 75 appearances (6 goals) for the national team, where he also wore the captain’s armband, and his 1989 Swedish Ballon d’Or award.
The International Career of Thern
Caps of Sweden
75
Sweden’s objectives
6.
Sweden Helps
N/A
14 Torbjorn Nilsson’s Professional History: 1971–1990
Despite stints with PSV and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Torbjorn Nilsson’s reputation was largely established in Sweden, where he has 28 caps for the national team.
An intimidating striker, he helped IFK Goteborg win two league titles, two Swedish Cups, and most importantly, the 1982 UEFA Cup. He is the team’s all-time greatest scorer with 329 goals in 444 appearances. An incredible career for a player who, at the age of 32, hung up his boots after never wanting his individual performances to overshadow the team’s.
The International Career of Nilsson
Caps of Sweden
28
Sweden’s objectives
9.
Sweden Helps
N/A
13 Henry Carlsson Work History: 1939–1953.
Henry "Garvis" Carlsson was born in 1917 in Falköping, Sweden. He played 87 games for Atlético Madrid. He made 26 appearances for Sweden and won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics https://t.co/MJItKLTIdI pic.twitter.com/LfdaAIcUZF
— Daniel 🇺🇦 (@beeftomatoes) February 7, 2023
Henry Carlsson worked in his home country of Sweden throughout the majority of his career, in contrast to several of his peers in this ranking. This is in spite of the fact that he also played for Stade Français in France and for Atletico Madrid for four years, which was his final professional stint.
Despite being a small striker, the Falkoping native was a true menace on the field—figuratively speaking, since he has never been sent off in his career—and his abilities allowed him to score nearly 100 goals in the domestic league. Carlsson also had success on the international scene, scoring 17 goals in 26 games for the Blagult and leading Sweden to the Olympic championship in 1950.
The International Career of Carlsson
Caps of Sweden
26
Sweden’s objectives
17
Sweden Helps
N/A
12 The Career of Lennart Skoglund: 1946–1968
Lennart Skoglund pic.twitter.com/OWUOFhmCRa
— Mo Jabbar (@MoJabbar96) September 16, 2019
Lennart Skoglund did so in the colours of his rival, Inter, while several of his fellow Swedes gleamed with AC Milan. Playing in the midfield position since the early post-World War II era, he was especially well-known for his technical skill and had an avant-garde reputation.
He was chastised for his theatrics when his boots were taken off, despite being a talented player on the field. Unfortunately, this way of life concealed a horrible reality, which was embodied by a persistent sense of loneliness that led Skoglund to make multiple suicide attempts once his career reached its twilight.
Skoglund’s Global Profession
Caps of Sweden
11.
Sweden’s objectives
One
Sweden Helps
N/A
11 Patrik Andersson’s Work History: 1989–2005
A tough-tackling defender who served as a wall to opposing attackers around Europe, Patrik Andersson was named Sweden’s greatest football player of the year by the Guldbollen in 1995 and 2001. Throughout his 16-year career, Andersson was a true defensive force, playing for Malmo, Blackburn Rovers, Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich, and becoming one of the few Swedish players to run out for Barcelona.
His inclusion in the UEFA Team of the Year for his contribution to Bayern’s Champions League-winning campaign in 2001 was the high point of his career. In addition to earning 96 caps for his nation and a bronze medal at the 1994 World Cup, he was a member of the squad that advanced to the Euro semifinals 1991
Andersson’s Global Profession
Caps of Sweden
96
Sweden’s objectives
3.
Sweden Helps
0
10 Thomas Ravelli Work History: 1976–1999
Thomas Ravelli is largely regarded as Sweden’s best custodian ever. He is known for his outgoing and eccentric attitude off the pitch, as well as his positional awareness and ability to read the game and plan his defence on it. Ravelli wasn’t considered a penalty-saving expert, but he made a splash when he stopped two penalties in Sweden’s 1994 World Cup quarterfinal penalty shootout victory over Romania, the tournament in which they placed third.
However, this was only one of the highlights of a stellar career in which Ravelli earned Swedish Player of the Year in 1981 and went on to win the country’s goalkeeping championship again, in 1995 and 1997. His remarkable goalkeeping abilities won him 143 caps for the Swedish national team, making him the second most-capped player for his nation, despite the fact that playing all but one season at the club level in his native country limited his ability to disseminate his talent throughout the world.
The Global Career of Ravelli
Caps of Sweden
143
Sweden’s objectives
0
Clean Sheets for Sweden
58
9 Tomas Brolin Work History: 1984–1998
With injuries near the conclusion of his career, Tomas Brolin’s career peaked sharply and abruptly, forcing him to retire at the age of just 28. With his strong shooting, nimble dribbling, and inch-perfect passing—just three of his many skills—he managed to make the most of his brief career, helping Parma win the Coppa Italia in 1992, the UEFA Super Cup in 1993, and the UEFA Cup in the 1994–95 campaign.
Brolin’s career was equally brilliant abroad. With three goals alongside teammates Dennis Bergkamp, Karl-Heinz Riedle, and Henrik Larsson, he finished as the joint-top scorer at Euro 1992. His incredible first-touch goal into the top right corner against England helped him gain recognition just two years before Sweden finished third and was named to the 1994 World Cup All-Star Team. Brolin’s skill is further demonstrated by his 27 goals in just 47 caps.
Regretfully, this did not translate into his brief appearances with Leeds United and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
A personalised picture of Christian Poulsen of Liverpool, Yaya Sanogo of Arsenal, and Eric Djemba-Djemba of Manchester United
Associated
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The Global Career of Brolin
Caps of Sweden
47
Sweden’s objectives
27
Sweden Helps
8.
8 Kurt Hamrin Work History: 1952–1972
Kurt Hamrin was the ideal modern-day winger long before they were ever invented, and he was the first member of that historic 1958 World Cup winning team to appear on this list. With a talismanic goal-scoring record, the dynamic Swedish wideman loved to cut in and assist his teammates. He was equally as strong with his left foot as his right.
He started playing for AIK in his own country before moving on to play for a number of Italian teams, most notably Fiorentina, for whom he is still the team’s top scorer. Over the course of nine years, he made over 350 appearances for the team, scored over 200 goals in all competitions, and won two Coppa Italia crowns, a Cup Winners’ Cup, and a Mitropa Cup. In addition, Hamrin played for AC Milan, where he won the European Cup and Serie A. With 190 goals, he is still the ninth-highest goalscorer in Italy’s Serie A history, surpassing players like Gabriel Batistuta and Alessandro Del Piero.
The International Career of Hamrin
Caps of Sweden
32
Sweden’s objectives
16
Sweden Helps
2.
7 Erik Nilsson Work History: 1934–1953.
Erik Nilsson’s claim to be one of the greatest one-club icons of all time must be up for argument somewhere in the football archives if you look closely enough. The left-back was skilled enough to play for the top European teams and was one of George Raynor’s most valuable assets before to the 1958 World Cup final.
In addition to helping Sweden place fourth and third in the 1938 and 1950 World Cups, he won a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics and a bronze in the 1952 competition. As one of the few football players to have participated in an international competition on either side of World War Two, he was selected for the All-Star squad for the latter.
Despite all of this international praise, attempts to entice him to leave his humble upbringing were met with rejections that were laden with devotion. Nilsson ended his career with only Malmo on his resume, the team he won five league titles and five Swedish Cups with, despite the fact that he had the chance to join the Italian powerhouse AC Milan.
The International Career of Nilsson
Caps of Sweden
57
Sweden’s objectives
0
Sweden Helps
0
6 Freddie Ljungberg’s Work History: 1994–2014
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United and other Swedish players currently playing in the Premier League will seek to Arsenal icon Freddie Ljungberg for guidance on how to win England’s top division. In addition to playing a pivotal role in two Premier League winning campaigns, including the renowned ‘Invincibles’ season under Arsene Wenger, the winger spent the majority of his club career in north London with the Gunners, where he scored in two finals, including the 2002 FA Cup success.
During his ten years as an international, Ljungberg gained 75 caps and played for Sweden in the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, as well as at Euro 2000, 2004 and 2008. From 2006 until he declared his retirement from international competition following UEFA Euro 2008, he served as Sweden’s captain.
Ljungberg’s Global Profession
Caps of Sweden
74
Sweden’s objectives
14
Sweden Helps
7.
5 Gunnar Gren Work History: 1937–1976
At an organisation the size of AC Milan, it takes a lot to become a legend. Under the legendary Hungarian manager Lajos Czeizler, Gunnar Gren’s exceptional achievements as a standout mezzala allowed him to reach such a level of prominence. During his tenure at San Siro, he was a member of one-third of the renowned “Gre-No-Li” band, which also included Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Nordahl.
Gren proudly played for the Swedish national team on the international scene, earning 57 caps and competing in several important competitions. Reaching the 1958 FIFA World Cup final, where Sweden placed second, was one of his noteworthy accomplishments. He also played for Sweden, who won gold in the 1948 Summer Olympics, from 1940 to 1958. The forward received the Guldbollen award in 1946 for being Sweden’s top football player of the year.
The Global Career of Gren
Caps of Sweden
57
Sweden’s objectives
33
Sweden Helps
An even more prolific member of that renowned triumvirate was Gunnar Nordahl, who led the Swedish first division scoring charts for IFK Norrkoping in each of four seasons and finished as the top scorer of Serie A in all five seasons he played in between 1950 and 1955. He was also the top goalscorer of the 1948 Summer Olympics, where Sweden won gold.
He is regarded as the first great calcio import and continues to be AC Milan’s highest goalscorer as a result of these extraordinary accomplishments. His skill at poaching didn’t falter on the international scene. He averaged 1.3 goals per game for his country’s national side, which placed second in the 1958 World Cup held in Sweden.
The International Career of Nordahl
Caps of Sweden
33
Sweden’s objectives
43
Sweden Helps
N/A
Unquestionably one of the greatest Swedish football icons, Nils Liedholm is most remembered for his 15 years of playing with AC Milan (394 games, 89 goals). With his countrymen Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Lordhal, the attacking midfielder created one of the most well-known teams of the time, ‘Gre-No-Li’, and won multiple championships for the Rossoneri in Italy.
He played at the highest level long into his 40s thanks to his exceptional physical prowess, and in 1958, at the age of 35 and 263 days, he became the oldest player in history to score a goal in a World Cup final.
Liedholm’s Global Profession
Caps of Sweden
23
Sweden’s objectives
Twelve
Sweden Helps
N/A
2. Henrik Larsson Work History: 1989–2013
A major force in European football in the 1990s and early 2000s, Henrik Larsson famously took matters into his own hands in the 2006 Champions League final by helping Barcelona defeat Arsenal 2-1 with two assists. At the end of the 2002–03 season, he led Celtic to runners-up in the UEFA Cup and four Scottish Premiership titles, marking his pinnacle in Scotland.
With 437 goals in 775 games at the end of his career, the Swedish striker solidified his place among the greatest of all time. He is renowned by his nation for “that” diving header against Bulgaria at Euro 2004 and for leading them to the World Cup Bronze ten years prior in 1994. His choice to chop off his dreadlocks in favour of a ‘R9’ bald appearance later in his playing career was arguably his sole mistake.
The Global Career of Larsson
Caps of Sweden
104
Sweden’s objectives
37
Sweden Helps
9.
1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s tenure from 1999 until 2023
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still regarded as one of the best football players for a variety of reasons. With 511 goals in 866 games, he has an incredible goal total. His record of 12 Swedish Footballer of the Year titles, his position as his country’s leading scorer, and his remarkable total of seven Ballon d’Or nominations should be enough to convince anyone that he is Sweden’s best football player.
The only two players to have scored in every minute (1–90) of a game are Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Throughout his career, ‘Ibra’ was at the forefront of numerous memorable events and was easily recognised on the pitch due to his 6′ 5″ size and beautiful man bun. Quotes like “Now I’m here, I think the people of Paris will have something to look at besides the Mona Lisa” were made popular by his fervent admirers due to his ridiculously large ego and his famous bicycle kick against England from a seemingly impossible 30-yard range.
Essentially, Zlatan’s impact extended well beyond the pitch. Despite being a superb football player, he was a great icon whose reputation endures thanks to his amazing goal-scoring adventures with teams like PSG, Inter and AC Milan, Manchester United, Barcelona, Ajax, and Juventus.
Ibrahimovic’s Global Career
Caps of Sweden
122
Sweden’s objectives
62
Sweden Helps
25
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