Mats Magnusson
Encyclopedia
Mats Ture Magnusson is a retired Swedish
footballer who played as a striker.
(two periods), Servette FC
, Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Helsingborgs IF
(upon his return home, he helped the side, featuring a young Henrik Larsson
, reach the Swedish first division
).
At the Lisbon
club, where he arrived in 1987 as a replacement for another Nordic
, Dane
Michael Manniche
, he developed as a top flight goal-poacher, winning two national leagues, and appearing at the European Cup
finals in 1988 (lost to PSV Eindhoven in penalty kicks) and 1990 (losing to A.C. Milan
). In 1989–90, even though Benfica lost to F.C. Porto in the league, Magnusson finished the competition's top scorer, at 33 goals. During his time with the reds, he shared team with countrymen Jonas Thern
(1989–92), Stefan Schwarz
(1990–94) - also his teammates at Malmö - and coach
Sven-Göran Eriksson
(1989–92).
Magnusson had 30 caps
for the Swedish national team
, and played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
finals in Italy
, where he suffered an injury that made him miss nearly one year of football.
, on 25 January 2010, which also coincided with the 68th birthday of club legend Eusébio
. His team, Benfica All Stars, consisted of both retired and current Benfica players, which played "against" Zidane XI, a team consisting of players hand-picked by former French
legend Zinedine Zidane
.
Even though Magnusson had obviously gained a considerable amount of weight since his active days of footbaling, and made the crowd laugh on several occasions (including two occasions where he fell while trying to dominate the ball), he entered the pitch in the closing minutes, and was cheered by an adoring crowd with chants of "Mats Magnusson".
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 who played as a striker.
Football career
During his career, Magnusson played for Malmö FFMalmö 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...
(two periods), Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
, Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
(upon his return home, he helped the side, featuring a young Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS.Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they qualified to Allsvenskan 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before...
, reach the Swedish first division
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...
).
At the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
club, where he arrived in 1987 as a replacement for another Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, Dane
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Michael Manniche
Michael 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:...
, he developed as a top flight goal-poacher, winning two national leagues, and appearing at the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
finals in 1988 (lost to PSV Eindhoven in penalty kicks) and 1990 (losing to 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...
). In 1989–90, even though Benfica lost to F.C. Porto in the league, Magnusson finished the competition's top scorer, at 33 goals. During his time with the reds, he shared team with countrymen Jonas Thern
Jonas Thern
Jonas Magnus Thern is a Swedish association football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder.- Early career :...
(1989–92), 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...
(1990–94) - also his teammates at Malmö - and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
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....
(1989–92).
Magnusson had 30 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Swedish national 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 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...
finals in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he suffered an injury that made him miss nearly one year of football.
Post-retirement
Sixteen years after his retirement, Magnusson made a short comeback to the footbaling scene. He accepted an invitation from old club Benfica to take part in a charity match to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, on 25 January 2010, which also coincided with the 68th birthday of club legend Eusébio
Eusébio
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, GCIH, GCM , commonly known simply as Eusébio, is a retired Mozambican-born Portuguese football forward. He is considered one of the best footballers of all-time by the IFFHS, experts and fans...
. His team, Benfica All Stars, consisted of both retired and current Benfica players, which played "against" Zidane XI, a team consisting of players hand-picked by former French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
legend Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
.
Even though Magnusson had obviously gained a considerable amount of weight since his active days of footbaling, and made the crowd laugh on several occasions (including two occasions where he fell while trying to dominate the ball), he entered the pitch in the closing minutes, and was cheered by an adoring crowd with chants of "Mats Magnusson".
Team
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 1988–89, 1990–91
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: Runner-up 1987–88, 1989–90 - Portuguese Supercup: 1989; Runner-up 1987, 1991
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: Runner-up 1988–89
- MalmöMalmö FFMalmö 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...
:- Swedish LeagueAllsvenskanAllsvenskan 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...
: 1985, 1986, 1987 - Swedish Cup: 1984, 1986
- Swedish League
Individual
- Portuguese League: Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) 1989–90 – 33 goals/32 matches