Olof Mellberg





















































































































Olof Mellberg

Olof Mellberg'13.JPG
Mellberg with Copenhagen in 2013

Personal information
Full name
Erik Olof Mellberg
Date of birth
(1977-09-03) 3 September 1977 (age 41)
Place of birth
Gullspång, Sweden
Height
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position
Defender
Youth career
1994–1996
Gullspångs IF
Senior career*
Years
Team

Apps

(Gls)
1996–1997
Degerfors IF

47

(0)
1997–1998
AIK

17

(0)
1998–2001
Racing Santander

98

(0)
2001–2008
Aston Villa

232

(8)
2008–2009
Juventus

27

(2)
2009–2012
Olympiacos

71

(7)
2012–2013
Villarreal

29

(2)
2013–2014
Copenhagen

22

(3)
Total

543

(22)
National team
1996–1999
Sweden U21

27

(4)
2000–2012
Sweden

117

(8)
Teams managed
2016–2017
IF Brommapojkarna

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Erik Olof Mellberg (pronounced [²uːlɔf ²mɛlːbærj]; born 3 September 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Swedish former footballer and manager.


During his career, Mellberg played as a central defender or right-back and was described as being "big, strong and exceptional in the air".[1] He is best known for his time at Aston Villa, as well as spells with Juventus and Greek side Olympiacos.


Mellberg played for Sweden in two World Cups and four European Championships and is a former captain of the national team. Mellberg ended his international career with 8 goals in 117 matches.




Contents






  • 1 Early years


  • 2 Club career


    • 2.1 Early career


    • 2.2 Aston Villa


    • 2.3 Juventus


    • 2.4 Olympiacos


    • 2.5 Villarreal


    • 2.6 FC Copenhagen




  • 3 International career


  • 4 Managerial career


    • 4.1 Brommapojkarna




  • 5 Personal life


  • 6 Career statistics


    • 6.1 Club


    • 6.2 International


    • 6.3 International goals




  • 7 Honours


    • 7.1 Club


    • 7.2 Manager


    • 7.3 Individual




  • 8 See also


  • 9 References


  • 10 External links





Early years


Erik Olof Mellberg was born in Gullspång, Sweden on 3 September 1977 to parents Berit and Erik. Mellberg's mother Berit was a physical education teacher who passed on her love of sport to her son.[2] As a youth, Mellberg enjoyed playing tennis and dreamed of Wimbledon rather than the World Cup. Mellberg was something of a tennis prodigy[3] and it was not until he was 14 that Mellberg began to focus on football.[2]



Club career



Early career


Mellberg played for local side Gullspång before being picked up by then Swedish Premiership side Degerfors IF. After being relegated he joined capital club AIK, where he made an instant impression, became Swedish champion 1998 and was sold after just 10 months. Spanish side Racing Santander moved to secure the promising Swedish centre half, and although having a difficult time adjusting to Spanish football he soon claimed a starting berth and impressed in his first season. Continuing to play well, Mellberg was said to be on his way to several big Spanish sides, including Barcelona and Valencia.



Aston Villa




Playing for Aston Villa.


However, Aston Villa managed to secure his signature and he became a consistent and vital part of the team.[4] Mellberg was left out of boss David O'Leary's first side for a game against Portsmouth, but was soon made the captain of the club for the rest of his reign. Mellberg was a vital part of the team that finished 6th in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in O'Leary's first season. Mellberg resigned as captain following the 2006 World Cup—he was replaced by Gareth Barry. In 2007 the new manager of Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill, continued to consider Mellberg as the first choice centre back. On the opening day of the 2006–07 Premiership season Mellberg became the first person to score in a competitive game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. During the 2007–08 season, he played at the right back position following the purchase of Zat Knight, who played alongside Martin Laursen at centre back. Mellberg was sent off against Portsmouth on 15 March 2008 for two bookable offences.


In January 2008 it was announced that Mellberg had signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus. His final home game for Aston Villa was against Wigan Athletic on 3 May. The game was designated as "Olof Mellberg" day in appreciation of his service to the club. On his final game for Aston Villa away at West Ham United, as a leaving gift, Mellberg gave every single Villa fan at Upton Park either a home or an away shirt with his name and number on the back and the message Thanks 4 Your Support – being the number 4 of Aston Villa.[5] He also said he would frame the kit which he used on his last ever Aston Villa game – the game against West Ham.[5] To this day Mellberg is very highly thought of and respected by Aston Villa supporters as one of their greatest ever players.



Juventus




Mellberg, right, with Rio Ferdinand in a 0–0 draw between Juventus and Manchester United


In January 2008 it was confirmed that Mellberg had signed a pre-contract agreement with Italian giants Juventus, allowing him a Bosman move to Serie A on a three-year contract for the start of the 2008–09 season. He made his Juventus debut on 16 July 2008 in a friendly match versus Serie B outfit, Piacenza. Juventus surprisingly lost the match 1–0. On 18 January 2009, Mellberg scored his first goal for Juventus against Lazio in the 30th minute.



Olympiacos


On 23 June 2009, it was confirmed that Mellberg agreed with Olympiacos to sign a three-year contract with the club. Olympiacos paid Juventus €2.5 million for the Swede's signature.[6] Despite the rotation of several managers in the club while there, he was always a constant in the central defence and his consistency and experience proved to be invaluable for Olympiakos. Thanks to his passionate play and high professionalism, he has become a fan favourite – to the point that when Olympiakos had a streak of bad games, Mellberg was always the only player who was spared from criticism – and one of the most highly respected players in Greece.


Mellberg turned down a new deal at the end of the 2011–12 season to extend his time in Athens, hoping to find a new challenge with his agent saying, "...we don't close any doors."[7]



Villarreal


On 8 August 2012, Mellberg signed a one-year contract with Spanish club Villarreal.[8] Mellberg appeared 29 times for Villareal in Spanish Segunda División, scoring twice, and was an important part of the squad that finished second in Segunda División and was promoted to Spain major league La Liga.



FC Copenhagen


On 9 July 2013, Mellberg signed a two-year contract with Danish champions FC Copenhagen, but left after one season.



International career




Mellberg playing for Sweden at UEFA Euro 2012.


Mellberg made his debut against Austria in March 2000[9] and was a member of the Sweden national football team in the 2002 World Cup and 2006 World Cup, as well as the Euro 2000, Euro 2004, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He scored 8 goals in 117 caps, before retiring from the national team following Euro 2012.


During an open team practice before the 2002 World Cup, Mellberg broke into a fight with his teammate former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg after a robust tackle from Mellberg.[10] The two of them were quickly separated by teammates. Since then, the two of them have been known for not being the best of friends, and in the 2006 World Cup, Mellberg and Ljungberg, according to leak from inside the team, had a very fiery argument, after Sweden's draw with Trinidad and Tobago.[11] In 2003, he was selected as the best Swedish player of the year, winning the Guldbollen.[12]


During a 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Croatia in October 2005, Mellberg boxed the ball away with his hand in the Swedish penalty area. Croatia were awarded a penalty kick for this, which Dario Srna scored, and Sweden lost the match 0-1.


After the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Mellberg relinquished his captaincy and Ljungberg took his place as Sweden captain.


On 4 September 2006, Mellberg, along with Sweden teammates Zlatan Ibrahimović and Christian Wilhelmsson, was sent home from the national squad for breaking an 11 pm team curfew ahead of a European Championships qualifier against Liechtenstein.[13] On 7 October 2006, Mellberg returned to Sweden's lineup for their European Championships qualifier against Spain, which they won 2–0.[14] In the 2012 European Championships, Mellberg scored twice in their match against England in the group stages to give Sweden a 2–1 lead, however, Sweden went on to lose 2–3.[15] After the tournament, Mellberg decided to end his international career.[16][17]



Managerial career



Brommapojkarna


Mellberg was appointed manager of Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna in November 2015, signing a two year-contract[18] and taking over following their recent relegation to the third tier of Swedish football.


Brommapojkarna won the Division 1 title during Mellberg's first season in charge and won their second successive promotion the following year, in October 2017, to return to the top flight, Allsvenskan. After the season, Mellberg chose not to renew his expiring contract with Brommapojkarna.[19]



Personal life


Mellberg has two children with long term partner Carolina Kihl. Daughter Saga was born in December 2002 and son John was born in July 2006.


Mellberg and Kihl married in Sweden on July 13, 2013.


According to Mellberg's mother, he is considering attending university after his retirement.[20]



Career statistics



Club




























































































































































































































































































































































































































Club performance
League
Cup
League Cup
Continental
Total
Season Club League
Apps Goals
Apps Goals
Apps Goals
Apps Goals
Apps Goals
Sweden
League

Svenska Cupen
League Cup

Europe
Total
1996 Degerfors IF Allsvenskan 22 0 0 0 22 0
1997 25 0 0 0 25 0
1998 AIK 17 0 0 0 17 0
Spain
League

Copa del Rey

Supercopa de España

Europe
Total
1998–99 Racing Santander La Liga 25 0 0 0 25 0
1999–2000 37 0 0 0 37 0
2000–01 36 0 0 0 36 0
England
League

FA Cup

League Cup

Europe
Total
2001–02 Aston Villa Premier League 32 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 36 0
2002–03 38 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 43 1
2003–04 33 1 1 0 5 0 39 1
2004–05 30 3 1 0 2 0 33 3
2005–06 27 0 4 0 2 0 33 0
2006–07 38 1 0 0 1 0 39 1
2007–08 34 2 1 0 2 0 37 2
Italy
League

Coppa Italia
League Cup

Europe
Total
2008–09 Juventus Serie A 27 2 4 0 7 0 38 2
Greece
League

Greek Cup

League Cup

Europe
Total
2009–10 Olympiacos Superleague Greece 25 2 4 1 12 0 41 3
2010–11 23 3 0 0 3 0 26 3
2011–12 23 2 4 1 9 0 36 3
Spain
League

Copa del Rey

Supercopa de España

Europe
Total
2012–13 Villarreal CF Segunda División 29 2 0 0 29 2
Denmark
League

Danish Cup
League Cup

Europe
Total
2013–14 Copenhagen Danish Superliga 22 3 1 0 6 1 29 4
Total
Sweden
64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64 0
Spain
127 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 127 2
England
232 8 9 0 15 0 4 0 260 8
Italy
27 2 4 0 0 0 7 0 38 2
Greece
71 7 8 2 0 0 24 0 103 9
Denmark
22 3 1 0 0 0 6 1 29 4
Career total
543 21 22 2 15 0 41 1 620 25


International



As of match played 19 June 2012[21][22]















































































Sweden
Year Apps Goals
2000 10 0
2001 9 0
2002 11 0
2003 10 1
2004 13 0
2005 8 1
2006 9 0
2007 9 2
2008 9 0
2009 11 3
2010 5 0
2011 7 0
2012 6 1
Total 117 8


International goals


Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.[22]














































































# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 September 2003
Silesian Stadium, Chorzów
 Poland
2–0
2–0
Euro 2004 qualifier
2. 3 September 2005
Råsunda Stadium, Solna
 Bulgaria
2–0
3–0
2006 World Cup qualifier
3. 6 June 2007 Råsunda Stadium, Solna  Iceland
3–0
5–0
Euro 2008 qualifier
4. 17 October 2007 Råsunda Stadium, Solna  Northern Ireland
1–0
1–1 Euro 2008 qualifier
5. 5 September 2009
Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest
 Hungary
1–0
2–1
2010 World Cup qualifier
6. 14 October 2009 Råsunda Stadium, Solna  Albania
1–0
4–1 2010 World Cup qualifier
7.
3–0
8. 15 June 2012
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex, Kiev
 England
2–1
2–3
Euro 2012


Honours



Club


AIK


  • Allsvenskan: 1998

Aston Villa


  • UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001

Juventus


  • Serie A runner-up: 2008–09

Olympiacos



  • Superleague Greece: 2010–11, 2011–12


  • Greek Cup: 2011–12


F.C. Copenhagen



  • Danish Superliga runner-up: 2013–14


  • Danish Cup runner-up: 2013–14



Manager


Brommapojkarna



  • Division 1 (Swedish Football): 2016


  • Superettan (Swedish football): 2017



Individual




  • Guldbollen: 2003[23]


  • UEFA Euro All-Star Team: 2004[24]



See also


  • List of footballers with 100 or more caps


References





  1. ^ Marcotti, Gabrielle (6 June 2012). "Euro 2012: Sweden". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 June 2012..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ ab http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/article175580.ab


  3. ^ Shaw, Phil (27 June 2002). "Faces you may recognise in Japan and South Korea The World Cup will feature 68 players – not including the England and Republic of Ireland squads – who earn their living in Britain". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2009.


  4. ^ "Mellberg joins Villa". BBC Sport. 18 July 2001. Retrieved 18 July 2001.


  5. ^ ab "Mellberg happy to spend big on Villa fans". Tribal Football. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
    [dead link]



  6. ^ "Mellberg transferred to Olympiacos. Goodbye Olof". juventus.com. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.


  7. ^ . Sky Sports http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7835657/Mellberg-keeping-an-open-mind. Missing or empty |title= (help)


  8. ^ "Official: Villarreal replace Zapata with Mellberg". Goal.com. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.


  9. ^ "Olof Mellberg". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2015.


  10. ^ Carroll, Jack (24 May 2002). "Swedish coach sends Mellberg home". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved 24 May 2002.
    [dead link]



  11. ^ "Swedish duo in dressing-room spat". BBC Sport. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2006.


  12. ^ "Guldbollen". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 January 2008.


  13. ^ "Swedish coach sends Mellberg home". BBC Sport. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2006.


  14. ^ "Swedes blank Spain 2–0 in Euro qualifier". FoxSports. Archived from the original on 15 February 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2007.


  15. ^ Lawton, Matt (15 June 2012). "Sweden 2 England 3: It's Y-Abba D-Abba do! Victory for Roy's band of super troupers". Daily Mail. London.


  16. ^ "Former Villa skipper Mellberg to retire from internationals after Euros". Daily Mail. London. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.


  17. ^ "Mellberg to quit Sweden role". SkySports. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.


  18. ^ http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-news-digest-olof-10511097


  19. ^ "Olof Mellberg och Azrudin Valentic lämnar BP". Brommapojkarna. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.


  20. ^ http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotbollsbladet/landslagsfotboll/vm2006/article380721.ab


  21. ^ "Olof Mellberg". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 27 February 2019.


  22. ^ ab "Olof Mellberg - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 February 2019.


  23. ^ "Guldbollen 2003 - Olof Mellberg". Fogis (in Swedish). 24 February 2004. Retrieved 5 October 2014.


  24. ^ "All-Star Squad revealed". UEFA. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 5 October 2014.




External links








  • Olof Mellberg on IMDb


  • Olof Mellberg at Soccerbase Edit this at Wikidata

  • Olof Mellberg goals










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