Jonas Thern
Encyclopedia
Jonas Magnus Thern is a Swedish
association football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder.
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.
(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.
, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
and Euro 92
, and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
in the U.S. Thern also competed for Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
Thern was the Sweden captain for seven years, between 1990 and 1997.
between 2000 and 2001 and Halmstads BK
2001–2003.
He has also worked as a sports commentator
and as a teacher.
S.L. Benfica:
Sweden:
Individual:
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....
association football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder.
Early career
Born and raised in the town of VärnamoVärnamo
Värnamo is a locality and the seat of Värnamo Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden, with 18,696 inhabitants in 2010.-History:Värnamo traces its history back to a village in the medieval age; the first written mention of it stems from the 13th century...
in southern central Sweden, Thern started his professional career in 1985 when he joined the classic Swedish club of 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 stayed for four years, earning him two titles in the 1986 and 1988 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...
. In 1989, he won 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 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 MannicheMichael Manniche
Michael Manniche is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a centre forward.Even though he played for four different clubs in his country, he is best known for his spell with Portugal's Benfica.-Football career:...
(1983–1987), and the Swedish "armada" ; Mats Magnusson
Mats Magnusson
Mats Ture Magnusson is a retired Swedish footballer who played as a striker.-Football career:During his career, Magnusson played for Malmö FF , Servette FC, Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Helsingborgs IF .At the Lisbon club, where...
(1987–1992), Thern (1989–1992), Glenn Strömberg
Glenn Strömberg
Glenn Peter Strömberg is a Swedish former footballer. He won the 1982 UEFA Cup with IFK Göteborg. Apart from Göteborg, he has also played for Benfica and Atalanta. He was voted Swedish footballer of the year, winning Guldbollen 1985. For his majestic way of playing in the midfield he was nicknamed...
(1982–84) and Stefan Schwarz
Stefan Schwarz
Hans-Jürgen Stefan Schwarz is a Swedish former footballer.Born to a German father, he played as a midfielder and a left-back. He started playing football at youth level in Kulladals FF and began his career at his hometown club Malmö FF...
(1990–1994) alongside coach Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
(1982–1984 and 1989–1992).
Thern went on to play for Napoli (1992–94), Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
(1994–97) and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
(1997–99), but his career was cut short by injuries.
International career
For SwedenSweden 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...
, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
and Euro 92
1992 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was hosted by Sweden between 10 and 26 June 1992. It was the ninth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. Eight national teams contested the championship, which was won by Denmark, one of...
, and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
in the U.S. Thern also competed for Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
Thern was the Sweden captain for seven years, between 1990 and 1997.
Coaching career
After he retired as a player he become head coach for IFK VärnamoIFK Värnamo
IFK Värnamo is a Swedish football club located in Värnamo. The club is currently playing in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan. The most famous player from the club is Jonas Thern, who was captain of the Swedish national team in World Cup '94 USA....
between 2000 and 2001 and Halmstads BK
Halmstads BK
Halmstads Bollklubb, also called HBK or just Halmstad, is a Swedish football club located in Halmstad in the southwest of Sweden. The club, formed 6 March 1914, competes in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan, and has won 4 national championship titles and 1 national cup title...
2001–2003.
He has also worked as a sports commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and as a teacher.
Honours and awards
Malmo FF:- AllsvenskanAllsvenskanAllsvenskan 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...
: Winner (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989) - Allsvenskan play-offAllsvenskan play-offsThe Allsvenskan play-offs was a Swedish football cup held to decide the Swedish football champions between 1982 and 1990. The cup was created to increase the average attendance for Allsvenskan since public interest had dropped remarkably in the previous years. The four best placed teams in...
: Winner (1986, 1988)
- Svenska CupenSvenska 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...
: Winner (1986, 1988)
S.L. Benfica:
- Portuguese LigaPortuguese LigaThe Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
: Winner (1990–91) - Portuguese SuperCup: Winner (1989)
Sweden:
- FIFA 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...
: Third place (1994)
Individual:
- GuldbollenGuldbollenGuldbollen, , is a Swedish football award given by the Aftonbladet and the Swedish Football Association to the best male Swedish footballer each year....
(Golden Ball): Winner, Best Swedish Player (1989)