Erik Nilsson
Encyclopedia
Erik Nilsson was a Swedish
footballer
.
Nilsson played his youth days with Limhamns IF, before he moved in 1934 to Allsvenskan
club Malmö FF
, where he played until 1953. There he won five league titles and five Swedish Cups. During his playing days he rejected an offer from A.C. Milan
.
Nilsson played 57 times for the Sweden national football team
, and participated in several international tournaments. He played in the 1938 FIFA World Cup
, where Sweden finished fourth. He played in the 1948 London Olympics
, where Sweden celebrated its best international result with a gold medal, defeating Yugoslavia 3:1 in the final. Two years later he played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
where Sweden finished third, thus becoming one of only two players to play in World Cups before and after World War II
(the other being Switzerland
's Alfred Bickel
). In the 1950 World Cup, Nilsson was also elected into the All-Star team of the tournament. He won another medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
, where Sweden won the bronze after defeating West Germany 2:0.
In 1950, Nilsson was awarded the Guldbollen
as the year's best Swedish football player. In 2003, he was inducted into the SFS Hall Of Fame.
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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Nilsson played his youth days with Limhamns IF, before he moved in 1934 to 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...
club Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
, where he played until 1953. There he won five league titles and five Swedish Cups. During his playing days he rejected an offer from A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
.
Nilsson played 57 times for the Sweden national football team
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, and participated in several international tournaments. He played in the 1938 FIFA World Cup
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
, where Sweden finished fourth. He played in the 1948 London Olympics
Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Olympic Games title was won by Sweden, managed by Englishman George Raynor.-Summary:Sweden, whose Football Association forbade professionalism within domestic football, ran out as winners and only used 12 players throughout the entire tournament but there were exceptional performances put...
, where Sweden celebrated its best international result with a gold medal, defeating Yugoslavia 3:1 in the final. Two years later he played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
where Sweden finished third, thus becoming one of only two players to play in World Cups before and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(the other being Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
's Alfred Bickel
Alfred Bickel
Alfred Bickel, also referred to as Fredy Bickel was a Swiss football player and coach...
). In the 1950 World Cup, Nilsson was also elected into the All-Star team of the tournament. He won another medal in the 1952 Helsinki 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...
, where Sweden won the bronze after defeating West Germany 2:0.
In 1950, Nilsson 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....
as the year's best Swedish football player. In 2003, he was inducted into the SFS Hall Of Fame.