Jonas Thern

Jonas Thern
Personal information
Full name Jonas Magnus Thern
Date of birth (1967-03-20) 20 March 1967
Place of birth Falköping, Sweden
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder, Sweeper
Youth career
1982–1985 Värnamo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1987 Malmö FF 41 (6)
1987 Zürich 2 (1)
1988–1989 Malmö FF 35 (5)
1989–1992 Benfica 100 (10)
1992–1994 Napoli 48 (1)
1994–1997 Roma 59 (3)
1997–1999 Rangers 23 (5)
Total 308 (31)
National team
1987–1997 Sweden 75 (6)
Teams managed
2000–2001 Värnamo
2002–2003 Halmstads BK
2010 Värnamo

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of Landskrona BoIs.


Jonas Magnus Thern (born 20 March 1967) is a Swedish football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder between 1985 and 1999. Thern also earned 75 caps and scored six goals for Sweden between 1987 and 1997. He captained the Sweden squad that finished third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Thern's playing career took him from Malmö FF in Sweden to FC Zürich in Switzerland and further in Europe to Benfica in Portugal, Napoli and Roma in Italy and finally Rangers in Scotland where he finished his career. After his playing career Thern has coached his youth club IFK Värnamo for two periods, between 2000 and 2001 and 2010 as well as Halmstads BK between 2002 and 2003. He has also acted as a youth coach at IFK Värnamo, a sports commentator as well as a teacher. He's currently managing Landskrona BoIs who play in Division 1 in Sweden.

Club career

Early career

Born and raised in the town of Värnamo in southern central Sweden, Thern started his professional career in 1985 when he joined the classic Swedish club of Malmö FF, where he stayed for four years, earning him two titles in the 1986 and 1988 Allsvenskan. In 1989, he won the Guldbollen as Sweden's Footballer of the Year.

In Europe

From there he moved to the continent to play for Benfica. He was part of a successful group of Scandinavian players that played for Benfica at the time, composed of Danish international Michael Manniche (1983–1987), and the Swedish "armada"; Mats Magnusson (1987–1992), Thern (1989–1992), Glenn Strömberg (1982–84) and Stefan Schwarz (1990–1994) alongside coach Sven-Göran Eriksson (1982–1984 and 1989–1992).

Thern went on to play for Napoli (1992–94), Roma (1994–97) and Rangers (1997–99), but his career was cut short by injuries.

International career

For Sweden, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992,[1] and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States.[2] Thern also competed for Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics.[3] Thern was the Sweden captain for seven years, between 1990 and 1997.

International goals

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 12 January 1988 Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas  East Germany 2–1 4–1 Friendly
2. 4–1
3. 15 January 1988 Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas  Finland 1–0 1–0 Friendly
4. 16 August 1989 Malmö Stadion, Malmö  France 1–0 2–4 Friendly
5. 27 May 1990 Råsunda Stadium, Solna  Finland 6–0 6–0 Friendly
6. 4 September 1991 Råsunda Stadium, Solna  Yugoslavia 4–2 4–3 Friendly

Coaching career

After he retired as a player he became head coach for IFK Värnamo between 2000 and 2001 and Halmstads BK 2001–2003.

He has also worked as a sports commentator and as a teacher.

Personal life

Jonas has a son, Simon, who is also a footballer currently playing for SC Heerenveen. He has also a daughter.

Career statistics

International

National teamSeasonAppsGoals
Sweden
198720
1988103
198981
199041
199161
199290
199340
1994110
199560
199680
199770
Total756

Honours and awards

Malmo FF
S.L. Benfica
Rangers F.C
Sweden
Individual

References

  1. ↑ Hughes, Rob (10 June 1992). "Confidence and flair: Dutch favored in Euro 92". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  2. ↑ Ridley, Ian (17 July 1994). "Sweden are the third men". The Independent. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Jonas Thern Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Glenn Hysén		 Sweden Captain
1991–1997 		Succeeded by
Patrik Andersson
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