.jpg) Toivonen withSweden at the2018 FIFA World Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nils Ola Toivonen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-07-03)3 July 1986 (age 38) | ||
| Place of birth | Degerfors, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder,forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2005 | Degerfors IF | 41 | (8) |
| 2006 | Örgryte IS | 25 | (6) |
| 2007–2009 | Malmö FF | 51 | (17) |
| 2009–2014 | PSV | 139 | (61) |
| 2014–2016 | Rennes | 46 | (14) |
| 2015–2016 | →Sunderland (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | Toulouse | 58 | (7) |
| 2018–2020 | Melbourne Victory | 38 | (23) |
| 2020–2022 | Malmö FF | 54 | (14) |
| Total | 442 | (147) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003 | Sweden U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Sweden U19 | 11 | (6) |
| 2006–2009 | Sweden U21 | 28 | (13) |
| 2007–2018 | Sweden | 64 | (14) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Nils Ola Toivonen (Swedish pronunciation:[ˈûːlaˈtɔ̌ɪvʊnɛn]; born 3 July 1986) is a Swedish former professionalfootballer who played as anattacking midfielder andforward.
After beginning his career in his home town team ofDegerfors, he spent time in thetop flight forÖrgryte before he got signed byMalmö FF before the2007 season. Having spent two seasons with Malmö, breaking through with 14 league goals in2008, he joinedEredivisie clubPSV Eindhoven in January 2009. Toivonen remained there for five and a half seasons, winning theKNVB Cup in 2012, until a €2.5 million move toRennes. After a successful spell with Rennes inLigue 1, Toivonen had a stint withSunderland in thePremier League before returning to France in 2016 to suit up forToulouse. He played in Australia forMelbourne Victory between 2018 and 2020, and then returned to Malmö FF before officially retiring from professional football in 2022.
A full international for Sweden between 2007 and 2018, he earned 64caps and scored 14 goals for his nation, and was part of their squads forUEFA Euro 2012 and the2018 FIFA World Cup in which Sweden reached the Quarter-Finals .
His father Yrjö was born in Finland and emigrated toDegerfors to work in a factory.[3] Toivonen started his career atDegerfors IF,[4] where he became involved in their campaign in 2005 to avoid relegation fromSuperettan.
He was then bought byÖrgryte, and their managerZoran Lukić. The first, and only, season in Örgryte ended sadly. Lukić was sacked, and Örgryte finished last inAllsvenskan, and thus was relegated toSuperettan. In November 2006, he won the "Newcomer of the Year" award at the annual Swedish football awards.[5]
He soon signed a four-year contract withMalmö FF,[6] in a transfer worth more than $1.1 million.[citation needed] He became Malmö's second most expensive player of all time (only Brazilian internationalAfonso Alves cost Malmö more money, when the club bought him for approximately $1.3 million in 2004, also from Örgryte).[7][8] In the 2007 season, Toivonen's first at Malmö, the club finished 9th in Allsvenskan and Toivonen scored three goals. The 2008 season went somewhat better for Malmö, finishing 6th, and this was the absolute breakthrough for Toivonen.[9] In 27 games, he managed to score 14 goals as well as seven assists.[4] This drew the attention of some Premier League and Eredivisie clubs, most notablyWest Ham United andPSV Eindhoven.[10][11]
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Toivonen signed a contract with PSV Eindhoven in early 2009.[12] The transfer fee was, according to some source, €3.5 million, and according to other sources €4.5 million.[9] He received a red card in a February 2009 match againstFC Volendam, which sidelined him for two matches. His first half season in the Netherlands, saw Toivonen score 6 goals in 14 appearances for his new club.[13][14]
On 8 November 2009, Toivonen scored four out of five goals againstADO Den Haag in a 5–1 win, scoring a hat trick in the first 42 minutes of the game. His first full season in the Eredivise proved very successful, adapting quickly, scoring 13 goals.[13]
The first game of the new season kicked off on 7 August 2010 and saw PSV head to theAbe Lenstra Stadion to face Heerenveen.[15] Toivonen struck two second half goals, beforeOrlando Engelaar added a third, helping to secure a comfortable 3–1 victory.[16] 14 August 2010 saw Toivonen net his second hat trick for PSV, scoring three goals[17] in a 6–0 win overDe Graafschap.[18] He added the third goal in a 3–1 win againstNEC Nijmegen on 11 September that helped his side climb to first in the Eredivisie rankings.[19] 24 October saw his side record a memorable 10–0 win over rivalsFeyenoord at thePhilips Stadion.[20] Toivonen scored the first of six goals in the second half.[21] On 4 December Toivonen added two goals to his account in a 5–2 win overHeracles Almelo.[22]
In PSV's second game back following the winter break, Toivonen netted the equalizing goal in a 2–1 win againstWillem II.[23] A month later on 20 February 2011, Toivonen scored the third goal, in a 4–1 home win againstNAC Breda that saw PSV move two points clear at the top of the Eredivisie.[24] A crucial game againstSC Heerenveen on 10 April saw Toivonen return to the squad. He started on the bench, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute forZakaria Labyad.[25] Toivonen scored PSV's second goal, deep into stoppage time, securing a 2–2 draw.[26] On 24 April, PSV travelled to Rotterdam to play Feyenoord atDe Kuip. After embarrassingly losing 10–0 in the first meeting of the season, Feyenoord responded by winning 3–1, Toivonen scored the only goal forthe Boerens,[27] ending PSV's title hopes.[28] The 2010–11 campaign saw Toivonen score 15 Eredivisie goals and 3Europa League goals for PSV, making him the club's second leading goalscorer of the season behindBalázs Dzsudzsák.[29]
With strike partner Balázs Dzsudzsák leaving PSV to joinRussian Premier League sideAnzhi Makhachkala,[30] Toivonen was required to fill in and contribute with more goals for the new season. Toivonen scored his first goal of the season in PSV's 3–0 win overADO Den Haag on 21 August.[31] He followed this effort up with another goal in his side's 5–0 thrashing ofAustrian Bundesliga outfitSV Ried in the qualifying stages of theEuropa League.[32] PSV and Toivonen continued their rich goal-scoring form, as they hammered Excelsior 6–1 on 28 August with Toivonen netting a brace.[33]
Due to injuries, Toivonen only made 17 appearances in which he scored eight times. At the end of the season, PSV wanted to sell Toivonen as he had refused to extend his contract which would expire in the summer of 2014.Norwich City showed interest in the player, but preferred countrymanJohan Elmander after Toivonen had been dawdling too long in the opinion of the club.[34]
Although both PSV and Toivonen were dissatisfied after a transfer had failed, Toivonen made 14 appearances in which he scored once. In the winter break PSV announced that Toivonen would not play a single match for PSV in the second half of the season. Both the player and the club wanted to disband.
On 20 January 2014, it was announced that Toivonen had been sold toRennes for a transfer fee of €2.5 million.[35]
On 28 August 2015, Toivonen joinedPremier League sideSunderland on a season-long loan, linking up with his former manager at PSVDick Advocaat.[36] The following day, he made his debut as a half-time substitute forLee Cattermole in atAston Villa, and assisted former PSV teammateJeremain Lens's equaliser in a 2–2 draw.[37] Toivonen scored his first goal on 22 September 2015, in a 4–1League Cup third round defeat at home toManchester City.[38]
On 4 August 2016, Toivonen signed for French clubToulouse FC.[39]
On 31 August 2018, it was announced he had signed withA-League clubMelbourne Victory FC.[40]
In his first season at the club, Toivonen made 26 appearances across all competitions with a return of 17 goals, 15 of which were netted in theA-League. This led to Toivonen being awarded the TAC Victoria Golden Boot at the 2019 Victory Medal awards night.[41] He was also the only Melbourne Victory player to be named to theA-League Team of the Season.[42]
On 30 September 2019, in advance of the2019–20 campaign, Toivonen was named the Victory's new club captain replacingCarl Valeri who held the position between 2015 and 2019.[41] In May 2020, Toivonen was reported as having rejected a contract extension to return to former clubMalmö FF on a free transfer.[43]
Toivonen was officially announced as aMalmö FF player on a 2.5 year-contract on 8 June.[44] On 8 November 2020, Toivonen scored the third goal in a 4–0 win againstIK Sirius to help Malmö FF becomeSwedish Champions for the 21st time, and winning Toivonen his first-ever league title.[45][46] In 2021, Toivonen played eight matches before suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.[47] The team went on to win the league, securing Toivonen his second league title with Malmö FF. Toivonen made his return more than ten months after sustaining his injury, in the 2022 opener againstKalmar FF.[48]
He retired from professional football after the2022 Allsvenskan season.[49]
On 21 August 2007, he scored ahat trick (including two penalties) forSweden U21 againstWales U21 in a 4–3 friendly defeat.[50] He was a member of the U-21 national team at the 2009 European Championship in Sweden and scored three times in the competition againstItaly U21,[51]Serbia U21,[52] and a superb freekick againstEngland U21 which contributed to a comeback from 3–0 down to 3–3 with Toivonen scoring the second goal.[53]
Toivonen's full international debut came on 14 January 2007, whenSweden lost 2–0 away toVenezuela.[54]
Leading up to the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Sweden playedBosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly on 29 May. Toivonen was included in the starting lineup, as Sweden were without strikerZlatan Ibrahimović.[55] Toivonen scored the opening goal in the 44th minute, giving Sweden a lead at half time. This goal was Toivonen's first at international level.Blackburn Rovers defenderMartin Olsson scored a brace in the second half, leading Sweden to a 4–2 win.[56] On 11 August 2010, Toivonen started for the national side in a friendly againstScotland at theRåsunda Stadium in Stockholm.[57] Toivonen grabbed Sweden's third goal in the 55th minute, his second international goal, helping to seal a 3–0 win for the home side.[58]
In May 2018, he was named in Sweden's 23 man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[59] He scored the first goal of the match in a 2–1 defeat toGermany on 23 June 2018.[60] In August 2018, Toivonen announced his retirement from international football.[40]
Toivonen is married to Emma and has two children, Selma and Nils.[61]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Degerfors IF | 2003 | Division 2 Västra Svealand | — | — | ||||||||
| 2004 | Division 2 Västra Svealand | — | — | |||||||||
| 2005 | Superettan | 27 | 5 | — | — | 27 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 8 | ||
| Örgryte IS | 2006 | Allsvenskan | 25 | 6 | — | — | 25 | 6 | ||||
| Malmö FF | 2007 | Allsvenskan | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 3 | |||
| 2008 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 14 | ||||
| Total | 51 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 17 | ||
| PSV | 2008–09 | Eredivisie | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | Eredivisie | 33 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | — | 48 | 14 | ||
| 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 28 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | — | 42 | 20 | ||
| 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 33 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 6 | — | 49 | 26 | ||
| 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 11 | |
| 2013–14 | Eredivisie | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 22 | 2 | ||
| Total | 139 | 61 | 12 | 3 | 46 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 198 | 79 | ||
| Rennes | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 8 | ||
| 2014–15 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 35 | 7 | ||
| 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 15 | ||
| Sunderland (loan) | 2015–16 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | |
| Toulouse | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 38 | 7 | |
| 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | 28 | 2 | ||
| Total | 58 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 66 | 9 | ||
| Melbourne Victory | 2018–19 | A-League | 22 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 17 |
| 2019–20 | A-League | 14 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 11 | |
| Total | 36 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 28 | ||
| Malmö FF | 2020 | Allsvenskan | 21 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 25 | 10 | |
| 2021 | Allsvenskan | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | Allsvenskan | 25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 26 | 6 | ||
| Total | 54 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 17 | ||
| Career total | 462 | 151 | 27 | 6 | 55 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 555 | 180 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 64 | 14 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 May 2010 | Råsunda Stadium,Solna, Sweden |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 August 2010 | Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden |  Scotland | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 3 June 2011 | Zimbru Stadium,Chişinău, Moldavia |  Moldova | 1–0 | 4–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |
| 4 | 11 October 2011 | Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden |  Netherlands | 3–2 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |
| 5 | 30 May 2012 | Gamla Ullevi,Gothenburg, Sweden |  Iceland | 2–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 6 | 5 June 2012 | Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden |  Serbia | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 5 March 2014 | Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium,Ankara, Turkey |  Turkey | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 8 | 9 October 2014 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  Russia | 1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 9 | 31 March 2015 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  Iran | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 10 October 2016 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  Bulgaria | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 9 June 2017 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  France | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 7 October 2017 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  Luxembourg | 8–0 | 8–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 24 March 2018 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden |  Chile | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 14 | 23 June 2018 | Fisht Olympic Stadium,Sochi, Russia |  Germany | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
PSV
Malmö FF
Sweden U21
Individual
Sweden squads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
