Olof Mellberg

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Olof Mellberg
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Mellberg with Copenhagen in 2013
Personal information
Full name Erik Olof Mellberg
Date of birth (1977-09-03) 3 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Gullspång, Sweden
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Centre back
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)
International career
1996–1999 Sweden U21 27 (4)
2000–2012 Sweden 117 (8)
Managerial career
2016– IF Brommapojkarna
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Erik Olof Mellberg (pronounced [ˈuːˈlɔf ˈmɛlːˈbærj]; born 3 September 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Swedish former footballer and current manager of IF Brommapojkarna. 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 playing the majority of his career at Aston Villa as well as spells with Italian side 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.

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

File:Mellberg, Olof.jpg
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 and 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 Division, scoring twice, and was an important part of the squad that finished second in Segunda Division 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.

International career

File:Olof Mellberg Euro 2012 vs France.jpg
Mellberg playing for Sweden at UEFA Euro 2012.

Mellberg made his debut against 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 has scored 7 goals in 107 caps, as of August 2011.

During an open team practice before the 2002 World Cup, Mellberg broke into a fight with his teammate former Arsenal winger Fredrik Ljungberg after a robust tackle from Mellberg.[10] The two of them were quickly separated by team-mates. 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]

After the 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]

International goals

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.
# 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

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.[18]

Career statistics

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

Honours

Club

AIK
Aston Villa
Juventus
Olympiacos
F.C. Copenhagen

Individual

References

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First Goal Ever Scored at Emirate stadium (Aston Villa vs Arsenal)

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by Sweden Captain
2002–2006		 Succeeded by
Fredrik Ljungberg
Preceded by Aston Villa Captain
2003–2006		 Succeeded by
Gareth Barry

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/article175580.ab
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  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotbollsbladet/landslagsfotboll/vm2006/article380721.ab
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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