Bengt Gustavsson
Encyclopedia
Bengt "Julle" Gustavsson (born 13 January 1928 in Ringarum
) is a former Swedish
footballer and trainer. As player he participated in the final of the World Cup 1958 and won national championships with IFK Norrköping
. As coach he led Åtvidabergs FF
into its golden era at the beginning of the 1970s.
and in 1947 joined the then nationally dominating club IFK Norrköping
. At the end of the era of the great Hungarian coach Lajos Czeizler
he was supposed to replace Gunnar Nordahl
in midfield after he moved to AC Milan in 1949. In his first match against AIK he scored three goals, but the Austrian coach Karl Adamek
, who was in charge from 1950 forward, moved him back into the defence where he should excel. In those years Norrköping won the Swedish championship of the years 1948, 1852 and 1956 and reached the cup final
of 1953.
In October 1951 Gustavsson debuted in the national team at their defeat against Denmark in Copenhagen
. This was the last match of the 1948-51 Nordic Football Championship
, which Sweden nevertheless finished as winner. In the following year he participated with Sweden at the football tournament of the 1952 Olympics
in Helsinki
. After losing in the semifinals to the ascending Golden Team of Hungary with 0-6 Sweden won the bronze medal, winning the third place match against Germany with 2-0. In 1953 Gustavsson was awarded the Guldbollen
, the Golden Ball as Swedish footballer of the year.
In 1956 Bengt Gustavsson joined the Italian first division
side Atalanta Bergamo. There he was from the beginning as Libero
a stalwart of the defence. In 1958 Atalanta was relegated to the second division
, but returned to the Serie A the season after under coach Karl Adamek, who the was in charge of the team for a year.
In 1958 Gustavsson was nominated for the campaign of national team in the World Cup 1958 in Sweden, and was there part of the standard formation alongside Gunnar Nordahl, Nils Liedholm
and Gunnar Gren
, who then also plied their trade in Italy. Losing to Brazil in the final 2-5 nevertheless secured the Swedes the best result in any World Cup.
After the season 1960-62 Gustavsson returned to Sweden and joined then second division side Åtvidabergs FF
. In June 1963 her played his 57th and last match for Sweden in a qualifying match for the 1964 European Nations' Cup in Belgrade
against Yugoslavia, which ended in a 0-0 draw. On club level he was player-manager from 1964 on. He finished his career as a player in 1965, but remained at the helm of the south Swedish club.
In 1967 he led the club for the only second time in its history - since a brief stint in 1951/52 - into the Swedish first division, the Allsvenskan
, which was the beginning of the golden era of Åtvidabergs FF. He remained coach of the club until 1970, when the team defeated Sandvikens IF
from Uppsala
with 2-0 in the cup final and won its first national title. Until 1973 three more titles should follow. Players like Conny Torstensson
and Benno Magnusson
are amongst the better known ones which Gustavsson integrated into the time during his time in Åtvidaberg.
From 1971 to 1972 Bengt Gustavsson had a brief spell as coach of the Swedish national youth team. In further years he was to coach Östers IF
from 1973 to 1974, from 1975 to 1978 and in 1985 as assistant IFK Norrköping, from 1979 until 1981 Hammarby IF
and from 1982 to 1983 second division side IK Sleipner
, which was relegated in 1983.
As manager:
Ringarum
Ringarum is a locality situated in Valdemarsvik Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 605 inhabitants in 2005....
) is a former Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer and trainer. As player he participated in the final of the World Cup 1958 and won national championships with IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping is a Swedish football club based in Norrköping. The club, formed on 29 May 1897, is currently playing in the first division of Swedish football, Allsvenskan...
. As coach he led Åtvidabergs FF
Åtvidabergs FF
Åtvidabergs FF is a Swedish football club located in Åtvidaberg. The club, formed 1 July 1907 as Åtvidabergs IF, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club changed to the present name before the 1935–1936 season. The club is affiliated to Östergötlands Fotbollförbund...
into its golden era at the beginning of the 1970s.
Career
He started playing with the local team of GusumGusum
Gusum is a locality situated in Valdemarsvik Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 1,211 inhabitants in 2005. Gusum is the site of the now-defunct foundry Gusums Bruk.-External links:*...
and in 1947 joined the then nationally dominating club IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping is a Swedish football club based in Norrköping. The club, formed on 29 May 1897, is currently playing in the first division of Swedish football, Allsvenskan...
. At the end of the era of the great Hungarian coach Lajos Czeizler
Lajos Czeizler
Lajos Czeizler was a Hungarian football coach born in Heves.With altogether 11 major titles he remains one of the most successful football coaches of all time....
he was supposed to replace Gunnar Nordahl
Gunnar Nordahl
Gunnar Nordahl was a Swedish football player, best known for his play in AC Milan 1949-1956.-Sweden:...
in midfield after he moved to AC Milan in 1949. In his first match against AIK he scored three goals, but the Austrian coach Karl Adamek
Karl Adamek
Karl Adamek was an Austrian international footballer and manager.-External links:* ** *...
, who was in charge from 1950 forward, moved him back into the defence where he should excel. In those years Norrköping won the Swedish championship of the years 1948, 1852 and 1956 and reached the cup final
Svenska Cupen
Svenska Cupen , is a knockout cup competition in Swedish football and the main Swedish football cup. Svenska Cupen usually refers to the men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held. Each year 98 teams compete, comprising the 16 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan...
of 1953.
In October 1951 Gustavsson debuted in the national team at their defeat against Denmark in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. This was the last match of the 1948-51 Nordic Football Championship
1948-51 Nordic Football Championship
The 1948–51 Nordic Football Championship was the fifth Nordic Football Championship staged. Four Nordic countries participated: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Sweden won the tournament, its third Nordic Championship win...
, which Sweden nevertheless finished as winner. In the following year he participated with Sweden at the football tournament of the 1952 Olympics
Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Olympic football tournament signalled the arrival of the 'Golden Team'; the 'Magical Magyars': Hungary. Ferenc Puskás, the great Hungarian known as the 'Galloping Major' for his military title, said of the 1952 competition: "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. After losing in the semifinals to the ascending Golden Team of Hungary with 0-6 Sweden won the bronze medal, winning the third place match against Germany with 2-0. In 1953 Gustavsson was awarded the Guldbollen
Guldbollen
Guldbollen, , is a Swedish football award given by the Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year....
, the Golden Ball as Swedish footballer of the year.
In 1956 Bengt Gustavsson joined the Italian first division
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
side Atalanta Bergamo. There he was from the beginning as Libero
Libero
Libero is an Italian word meaning "free". It can also refer to:* Libero , an Italian Internet service provider* Libero , alternative name for Italian film Along the Ridge...
a stalwart of the defence. In 1958 Atalanta was relegated to the second division
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
, but returned to the Serie A the season after under coach Karl Adamek, who the was in charge of the team for a year.
In 1958 Gustavsson was nominated for the campaign of national team in the World Cup 1958 in Sweden, and was there part of the standard formation alongside Gunnar Nordahl, Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm
Nils Liedholm was a Swedish football midfielder and coach. Il Barone , as he is affectionately known in Italy, was renowned for being part of Sweden's "Gre-No-Li" trio of strikers along with Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
and Gunnar Gren
Gunnar Gren
Gunnar Gren was a Swedish football player and coach. He is best known for playing for IFK Gothenburg and AC Milan. He was part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" trio of forwards at A.C. Milan and the Swedish national team...
, who then also plied their trade in Italy. Losing to Brazil in the final 2-5 nevertheless secured the Swedes the best result in any World Cup.
After the season 1960-62 Gustavsson returned to Sweden and joined then second division side Åtvidabergs FF
Åtvidabergs FF
Åtvidabergs FF is a Swedish football club located in Åtvidaberg. The club, formed 1 July 1907 as Åtvidabergs IF, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The club changed to the present name before the 1935–1936 season. The club is affiliated to Östergötlands Fotbollförbund...
. In June 1963 her played his 57th and last match for Sweden in a qualifying match for the 1964 European Nations' Cup in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
against Yugoslavia, which ended in a 0-0 draw. On club level he was player-manager from 1964 on. He finished his career as a player in 1965, but remained at the helm of the south Swedish club.
In 1967 he led the club for the only second time in its history - since a brief stint in 1951/52 - into the Swedish first division, the Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
, which was the beginning of the golden era of Åtvidabergs FF. He remained coach of the club until 1970, when the team defeated Sandvikens IF
Sandvikens IF
Sandvikens IF is a Swedish football club located in Sandviken. The club, formed 6 June 1918, has played 21 seasons in the highest Swedish league, but is currently playing in the fourth highest Swedish league, Division 2. Sandvikens IF are affiliated to the Gestriklands Fotbollförbund...
from Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
with 2-0 in the cup final and won its first national title. Until 1973 three more titles should follow. Players like Conny Torstensson
Conny Torstensson
Conny Torstensson is a former footballer from Sweden. With Sweden he participated at the World Cups 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1978 FIFA World Cup. With Åtvidabergs FF he won national titles...
and Benno Magnusson
Benno Magnusson
Lars Roger "Benno" Magnusson, born 4 February 1953 in Ålem, Kalmar län, Småland, is a former Swedish footballer. He's a brother of fellow footballer Roger Magnusson....
are amongst the better known ones which Gustavsson integrated into the time during his time in Åtvidaberg.
From 1971 to 1972 Bengt Gustavsson had a brief spell as coach of the Swedish national youth team. In further years he was to coach Östers IF
Östers IF
Östers IF is a Swedish football club located in Växjö. The club, formed 20 April 1930 , is currently playing in the second Swedish league called Superettan. In 1968, Öster won Allsvenskan as newcomers. The club is affiliated to the Smålands Fotbollförbund...
from 1973 to 1974, from 1975 to 1978 and in 1985 as assistant IFK Norrköping, from 1979 until 1981 Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
and from 1982 to 1983 second division side IK Sleipner
IK Sleipner
Idrottsklubben Sleipner is a sports club in Norrköping, Sweden; the main sports are football and ten-pin bowling. It was founded in 1903, and named after Odin's horse Sleipnir. Currently, the club's senior men's team plays football in the Division 1 Södra...
, which was relegated in 1983.
Honours
As player:- World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: Finalist 1958 - Swedish Championship: 1948, 1952, 1956
- Swedish Player of the YearGuldbollenGuldbollen, , is a Swedish football award given by the Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year....
: 1953
As manager:
- Swedish CupSvenska CupenSvenska Cupen , is a knockout cup competition in Swedish football and the main Swedish football cup. Svenska Cupen usually refers to the men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held. Each year 98 teams compete, comprising the 16 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan...
: 1970 - Promotion to first division: 1967
External links
- 1953: Bengt ”Julle” Gustavsson, Aftonbladet
- Player: Bengt Gustavsson, European Football - national team matches database 1872-1990