List of Sweden national football team captains

The Sweden national football team (Swedish: Sveriges herrlandslag i fotboll) represents the nation of Sweden in international association football. The team is controlled by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF) (Swedish: Svenska Fotbollförbundet) and competes as a member of the UEFA and the FIFA. The team played its first official international match on 12 July 1908 against Norway, winning 11–3.[1] Since the match against Norway, 1,104 players have made at least one international appearance for the team.[2] Of them, 131 have served as captain of the national team.[3] This list contains footballers who have served as captain of the Sweden national team and is listed according to their number of matches captained.

The Sweden national team's record appearance-maker as captain is Björn Nordqvist, who led the team out 92 times during his 115-cap tenure. He is the only player to have captained Sweden at the three different major tournaments; 1970 FIFA World Cup, 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1978 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament in 1974, Bo Larsson was the first-choice captain, but Nordqvist wore the armband in the last match against Yugoslavia. Zlatan Ibrahimović is the player with second most captaincies. Original a vice captain behind Henrik Larsson, he took over the armband in the summer of 2010 and wore it until his international retirement in 2016.[4] Midfielder Jonas Thern and defender Erik Nilsson are the most successful captains regarding medals. Thern led Sweden to a semi-final in UEFA Euro 1992 and a third place in 1994 FIFA World Cup. Nilsson led Sweden to third places in both 1950 FIFA World Cup and 1952 Summer Olympics. Birger Rosengren became the first and so far only Swedish captain to win a major international competition after leading the team in the 1948 Summer Olympics. Nils Rosén captained Sweden in their first World Cup in 1934 and Nils Liedholm led the team to their best performance in the World Cup, runners-up in 1958.

Captains

Players are initially listed by amount of matches captained, followed by the chronological order of the first captaincy. Only players who started the match as captain are included here, not players that might have been given the armband due to the starting captain being injured, sent off or substituted off.

Statistics correct as of 10 October 2016.

Key
Still active for the national team[lower-alpha 1]
Captained the team at a major international tournament[lower-alpha 2]
Björn Nordqvist captained Sweden in 92 matches and was the captain during the World Cups in 1970 and 1978.
Gustaf Bergström captained Sweden in their first ever game against Norway on 12 July 1908.
Zlatan Ibrahimović captained Sweden for six years, including the European Championships in 2012 and 2016.
Erik Nilsson captained Sweden to third places at the 1950 FIFA World Cup and the 1952 Olympic football tournament.
Birger Rosengren was the captain in all of his caps and he captained Sweden to victory at the 1948 Olympic football tournament.
Nils Liedholm captained Sweden to the final at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, played at home soil.
Tore Keller captained Sweden in four matches and led the team to a fourth place at the 1938 FIFA World Cup.
Anders Svensson is Sweden's most capped player with 148 caps. He was in the captain in 21 of those.
Andreas Granqvist is the current captain of Sweden since 2016.
 List of Sweden national team football players who have served as captain of the team
# Player Sweden career Caps as captain Total caps First to last captaincy
1 Nordqvist, BjörnBjörn Nordqvist1963–1978921151967–1978
2 Ibrahimović, ZlatanZlatan Ibrahimović2001–2016581162008–2016
3 Thern, JonasJonas Thern1987–199755751989–1997
4 Erlandsson, IngemarIngemar Erlandsson1978–198547691981–1985
5 Andersson, PatrikPatrik Andersson1992–200241961995–2002
6 Bergmark, OrvarOrvar Bergmark1951–196538941959–1965
7 Nilsson, ErikErik Nilsson1938–195237571947–1952
8 Mellberg, OlofOlof Mellberg2000–2012361172002–2006
9 Friberg, SvenSven Friberg1915–192830411920–1928
10 Gustavsson, BengtBengt Gustavsson1951–196329571953–1962
11 Hysén, GlennGlenn Hysén1981–199023681987–1990
12Johansson, ÅkeÅke Johansson1955–196522531956–1964
Nilsson, RolandRoland Nilsson1986–2000221161989–2000
14Svensson, AndersAnders Svensson1999–2013211482007–2013
15Grahn, Karl-ErikKarl-Erik Grahn1935–194617411941–1946
Mjällby, JohanJohan Mjällby1997–200417491998–2004
17Fredriksson, StigStig Fredriksson1979–198715581985–1987
18Simonsson, AgneAgne Simonsson1957–196714511966–1967
19Jonasson, SvenSven Jonasson1932–194013421935–1940
Ljungberg, FredrikFredrik Ljungberg1998–200813[lower-alpha 3]752006–2008
21Alfredsson, AxelAxel Alfredsson1924–193211311925–1931
22Kaufeldt, PerPer Kaufeldt1921–193110331926–1931
Lundahl, HarryHarry Lundahl1928–193310141929–1933
Larsson, BoBo Larsson1964–197810701973–1974
25Wicksell, RagnarRagnar Wicksell1911–19219331914–1921
Rosengren, BirgerBirger Rosengren1945–1948991945–1948
27Svensson, ThureThure Svensson1926–19318101926–1930
Nilsson, HarryHarry Nilsson1938–19478341946–1947
Borg, HasseHasse Borg1976–19858491979–1980
Larsson, HenrikHenrik Larsson1993–200981062008–2009
31Nilsson, KnutKnut Nilsson1911–1915791912–1915
Gustafsson, KarlKarl Gustafsson1908–19247321913–1924
Samuelsson, HerbertHerbert Samuelsson1929–19327111931–1932
Andersson, SvenSven Andersson1930–19387271935–1938
Lindh, GöstaGösta Lindh1950–19547311951–1954
Andersson, DanielDaniel Andersson1997–20097742006–2009
Isaksson, AndreasAndreas Isaksson2002–201671332010–2016
38Lindman, HansHans Lindman1908–1911671908–1911
Myhrberg, HermanHerman Myhrberg1909–19136101911–1912
Nordenskjöld, BertilBertil Nordenskjöld1910–1920681915–1920
Malm, TheodorTheodor Malm1908–19206261917–1920
Carlund, VictorVictor Carlund1932–19366121933–1936
Rosén, NilsNils Rosén1925–19346251934
Rehn, StefanStefan Rehn1988–19956451992–1994
Alexandersson, NiclasNiclas Alexandersson1993–200861092005–2007
Linderoth, TobiasTobias Linderoth1999–20086762005–2008
47Börjesson, ErikErik Börjesson1908–19225171913–1919
Andersson, AlbertAlbert Andersson1915–19215111920–1921
Bunke, LennartLennart Bunke1933–19375111937
Gren, GunnarGunnar Gren1940–19585571957–1958
Liedholm, NilsNils Liedholm1947–19585231958
Grip, RolandRoland Grip1968–19745551972–1973
Ravelli, ThomasThomas Ravelli1981–199751431990–1995
54Rydell, SvenSven Rydell1923–19324431929–1932
Kroon, KnutKnut Kroon1925–19344351933
Keller, ToreTore Keller1924–19384251934–1938
Hellström, RonnieRonnie Hellström1968–19804771978–1979
Arvidsson, HåkanHåkan Arvidsson1976–19804171979–1980
Granqvist, AndreasAndreas Granqvist2006–4582016
60Frykman, GötrikGötrik Frykman1911–1916361911–1916
Wenzel, RuneRune Wenzel1919–19303301925–1926
Andersson, ErnstErnst Andersson1931–19373291935–1937
Persson, ErikErik Persson1930–19393321939
Johansson, NilsNils Johansson1959–1966371963
Linderoth, AndersAnders Linderoth1972–19803401979
Fredriksson, EineEine Fredriksson1974–19803201979–1980
Ravelli, AndreasAndreas Ravelli1980–19893411987–1988
Mild, HåkanHåkan Mild1991–20013742001
69Bergström, GustafGustaf Bergström1908–1909261908–1909
Ohlsson, CarlCarl Ohlsson1912–1919241919
Ekroth, HelgeHelge Ekroth1911–19222181920–1922
Pettersson, GöstaGösta Pettersson1921–1923221921–1923
Möller, GustavGustav Möller1921–1923261923
Holmberg, GunnarGunnar Holmberg1922–19272121925–1927
Johansson, HarryHarry Johansson1932–1935291932
Snitt, EinarEinar Snitt1926–19362171935
Emanuelsson, ArvidArvid Emanuelsson1935–19462351938–1945
Jacobsson, SvenSven Jacobsson1937–1947271939–1947
Mårtensson, StureSture Mårtensson1943–1948231946–1948
Nordahl, KnutKnut Nordahl1945–19502261949
Svensson, TommyTommy Svensson1967–19732401970
Karlsson, KentKent Karlsson1973–19772381974–1975
Engqvist, LeifLeif Engqvist1986–19902181990
Larsson, PeterPeter Larsson1983–19922471991
Gren, MatsMats Gren1984–19922221992
Sundgren, GaryGary Sundgren1994–20002301997
Johannesson, MarkusMarkus Johannesson2001–2003252001–2003
Jakobsson, AndreasAndreas Jakobsson1996–20042362002–2004
Jönsson, TommyTommy Jönsson2003232003
Majstorović, DanielDaniel Majstorović2003–20132502009
Elmander, JohanJohan Elmander2002–20152852015
Bergström, EmilEmil Bergström2015–232016
93Öberg, SixtenSixten Öberg1910–1911121910
Appelgren, JosefJosef Appelgren1911–1918181916
Husén, TorstenTorsten Husén1916111916
Bengtsson, GeorgGeorg Bengtsson1913–1917131917
Törnqvist, KonradKonrad Törnqvist1909–19191141918
Horndahl, VictorVictor Horndahl1921111921
Wihlborg, GöstaGösta Wihlborg1919–1923171921
Lund, ValdusValdus Lund1915–19231291922
Carlson, GustafGustaf Carlson1915–19241141924
Kock, PuttePutte Kock1919–19251371924
Persson, ArvidArvid Persson1921–1924121924
Krook, DouglasDouglas Krook1924–19291211926
Lensing, KnutKnut Lensing1927111927
Persson, BrorBror Persson1928111928
Bengtsson, ArthurArthur Bengtsson1925–1930141930
Lindskog, TorstenTorsten Lindskog1930111930
Olsson, GunnarGunnar Olsson1923–1932111932
Nilsson, SvenSven Nilsson1937111937
Mårtensson, MalteMalte Mårtensson1937–19491161943
Bengtsson, HelgeHelge Bengtsson1949111949
Leander, BörjeBörje Leander1941–19501231950
Svensson, Sven-OveSven-Ove Svensson1951–19561311951
Andersson, Karl-ErikKarl-Erik Andersson1948–19541111954
Arvidsson, ArneArne Arvidsson1954–19651271963
Bild, HarryHarry Bild1957–19681281967
Kindvall, OveOve Kindvall1965–19741431974
Nordin, OlleOlle Nordin1970–19791191979
Börjesson, BoBo Börjesson1976–19811231981
Karlsson, ChristianChristian Karlsson1996–1997181997
Erlingmark, MagnusMagnus Erlingmark1990–19981371998
Hansson, PetterPetter Hansson2001–20091432001
Saarenpää, KlebérKlebér Saarenpää2000–20011112011
Nilsson, PerPer Nilsson2001–1162003
Nilsson, MikaelMikael Nilsson2002–20091642004
Lučić, TeddyTeddy Lučić1995–20061862005
Wiland, JohanJohan Wiland2007–2013192011
Larsson, SebastianSebastian Larsson2008–1872013
Hansson, PärPär Hansson2011–2014162014
Johansson, JakobJakob Johansson2013–132014

Chronology

This is a chronology list of the first-choice captains in Sweden's competitive games. Matches in FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and Olympic Games and each competition's required qualification matches are included here.[5][6]

Key
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
Fourth place

FIFA World Cup

Year Phase Incumbent
1934 Qualification Kroon, KnutKnut Kroon
Final tournament Rosén, NilsNils Rosén
1938 Qualification Andersson, ErnstErnst Andersson
Final tournament Keller, ToreTore Keller
1950 Qualification Nilsson, ErikErik Nilsson
Final tournament
1954 Qualification Gustavsson, BengtBengt Gustavsson
1958 Final tournament Liedholm, NilsNils Liedholm
1962 Qualification Bergmark, OrvarOrvar Bergmark
1966 Qualification
1970 Qualification Nordqvist, BjörnBjörn Nordqvist
Final tournament
1974 Qualification
Final tournament Larsson, BoBo Larsson
1978 Qualification Nordqvist, BjörnBjörn Nordqvist
Final tournament
1982 Qualification Borg, HasseHasse Borg
Erlandsson, IngemarIngemar Erlandsson
1986 Qualification Erlandsson, IngemarIngemar Erlandsson
1990 Qualification Hysén, GlennGlenn Hysén
Final tournament
1994 Qualification Thern, JonasJonas Thern
Final tournament
1998 Qualification
2002 Qualification Andersson, PatrikPatrik Andersson
Final tournament
2006 Qualification Mellberg, OlofOlof Mellberg
Final tournament
2010 Qualification Larsson, HenrikHenrik Larsson
2014 Qualification Ibrahimović, ZlatanZlatan Ibrahimović
2018 Qualification Granqvist, AndreasAndreas Granqvist

UEFA European Championship

Year Phase Incumbent
1964 Qualification Johansson, ÅkeÅke Johansson
1968 Qualification Simonsson, AgneAgne Simonsson
1972 Qualification Nordqvist, BjörnBjörn Nordqvist
1976 Qualification
1980 Qualification Nordqvist, BjörnBjörn Nordqvist
Hellström, RonnieRonnie Hellström
1984 Qualification Erlandsson, IngemarIngemar Erlandsson
1988 Qualification Fredriksson, StigStig Fredriksson
1992 Final tournament Thern, JonasJonas Thern
1996 Qualification
2000 Qualification Andersson, PatrikPatrik Andersson
Final tournament
2004 Qualification Mjällby, JohanJohan Mjällby
Final tournament Mellberg, OlofOlof Mellberg
2008 Qualification Ljungberg, FredrikFredrik Ljungberg
Final tournament
2012 Qualification Ibrahimović, ZlatanZlatan Ibrahimović
Final tournament
2016 Qualification
Final tournament

Olympic Games

Year Phase Incumbent
1908 Final tournament Lindman, HansHans Lindman
1912 Final tournament Myhrberg, HermanHerman Myhrberg
1920 Final tournament Nordenskjöld, BertilBertil Nordenskjöld
1924 Final tournament Friberg, SvenSven Friberg
1936 Final tournament Carlund, VictorVictor Carlund
1948 Final tournament Rosengren, BirgerBirger Rosengren
1952 Final tournament Nilsson, ErikErik Nilsson
1964 Qualification Johansson, NilsNils Johansson

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Players who have not declared their retirement from international football and have been called up to the national team within the last 2 years.
  2. ↑ Includes matches in FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and Olympic football tournament (1908–1952).
  3. ↑ Includes the abandoned match against Denmark on 2 June 2007, for which caps and goals were awarded.

References

  1. ↑ "90 år sedan första landskampen" (PDF) (in Swedish). Bolletinen. April 1998. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sveriges landslagsmän" (in Swedish). SvFF. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Alsiö, Martin; Frantz, Alf; Lindahl, Jimmy; Persson, Gunnar, eds. (2004). 100 år: Svenska fotbollförbundets jubileumsbok 1904–2004, del 2: statistiken (in Swedish). Vällingby: Stroemberg Media Group. ISBN 91-86184-59-8.
  4. ↑ "Zlatan blir lagkapten" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sweden at EU Football" (in Swedish). EU Football. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Kontaktuppgifter och tävlingar" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. Retrieved 13 July 2016.

External links

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