.jpg) Larsson playing forSweden in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bengt Ulf Sebastian Larsson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-06-06)6 June 1985 (age 40)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Eskilstuna, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sweden (assistant manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2001 | IFK Eskilstuna | ||
| 2001–2004 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2007 | Arsenal | 3 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | →Birmingham City (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| 2007–2011 | Birmingham City | 157 | (18) |
| 2011–2017 | Sunderland | 176 | (12) |
| 2017–2018 | Hull City | 40 | (2) |
| 2018–2022 | AIK | 123 | (21) |
| Total | 526 | (54) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Sweden U17 | 23 | (6) |
| 2003 | Sweden U19 | 9 | (4) |
| 2004–2006 | Sweden U21 | 12 | (0) |
| 2008–2021 | Sweden | 133 | (10) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024– | Sweden (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bengt Ulf Sebastian Larsson (Swedish pronunciation:[ˈlɑ̌ːʂɔn]; born 6 June 1985) is a Swedish former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder. Beginning his career at hometown clubIFK Eskilstuna, Larsson was signed byArsenal. He made threePremier League appearances for the Gunners, before joiningBirmingham City, initially on loan for the2006–07 season, before a permanent transfer in the winter of 2007. Larsson spent five years at Birmingham, experiencing promotion to, and relegation from, the Premier League on two occasions. He joinedSunderland on 1 July 2011 upon the expiry of his contract, after Birmingham suffered relegation. He left Sunderland in 2017 to sign forHull City in theEFL Championship where he spent one season. He returned to his native Sweden in 2018 to sign forAIK, and helped them win the2018 Allsvenskan title before retiring in 2022. Larsson is renowned for being a set-piece specialist.[3]
A full international between 2008 and 2021, Larsson representedSweden at the2008,2012,2016 and2020 editions of theUEFA European Championship, as well as theFIFA World Cup in2018, at which he helped his country reach the quarter-finals. He amassed133caps for his country, scoring ten goals.
Larsson was born inEskilstuna[2] and initially played football for his hometown team,IFK Eskilstuna. He joinedArsenal aged 16 during the summer of 2001, on a four-year professional contract.[4]
Having been on the substitutes bench for a match againstPanathinaikos, he made his first-team debut againstManchester City in theLeague Cup on 27 October 2004, where he played out of position atleft back. He played in two further League Cup matches that season.[5]
He made his Premier League debut on 1 February 2006, replacingSol Campbell at half time as Arsenal lost 3–2 at home toWest Ham United.[6] Due to Campbell's defensive errors in that match, Larsson started the next two league matches in defence in his absence, a 2–0 win away toBirmingham City three days later,[7] and a 1–1 draw at home toBolton Wanderers on 11 February, in which he was substituted forDennis Bergkamp as Arsenal sought their equaliser.[8]
Larsson joinedChampionship clubBirmingham City on a season-long loan from Arsenal in August 2006,[9] with an option to make the move permanent.[10] Larsson made an immediate impact, scoring late winners in his first few games, againstCrystal Palace andShrewsbury Town.[11] He also scored two goals againstNewcastle United in theFA Cup.[12]
At the end of January 2007, Larsson signed permanently for Birmingham City on a four-year deal for a £1 million fee.[13] He scored Birmingham's goal of the season, againstSheffield Wednesday in April 2007, running half the length of the field with the ball and finishing from inside the goal area.[14][15]
In the2006–07 season, Larsson was used mainly on the right wing, occasionally filling in at right-back or left-back when players were injured. His performances on the wide right of midfield in the2007–08 season, in particular a man-of-the-match showing againstBolton Wanderers,[16] indicated this to be his best position.
Recalled to the starting eleven by new managerAlex McLeish for the game atTottenham Hotspur in December 2007, Larsson scored a spectacularstoppage-time goal to give Birmingham their first away win in the Premier League for over three months.[17] He scored half of his six goals that season withdirect free kicks, two in consecutive games, against Tottenham andPortsmouth,[18] and one from 30 yards (27 m) againstLiverpool.[19] With four weeks of the season remaining,Opta statistics rated Larsson as the most accurate taker of a direct free kick in the Premier League,[20] though this ability failed to save Birmingham from relegation.
On the opening day of the 2010–11 season, Larsson recovered from what theObserver's reporter described as an "anonymous" start to provide assists for both Birmingham's goals as they drew 2–2 withSunderland at theStadium of Light.[21] He again provided an assist, this time forCraig Gardner, in his side's first home game, a 2–1 win againstBlackburn Rovers.[22] Away toFulham on 27 November,Alexander Hleb made "a terrific run"[23] and a "slide-rule" pass to Larsson, who opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, a low shot across the goalkeeper. The game finished 1–1.[24]
Larsson played his part in Birmingham's run to the2011 League Cup Final. He scored from the penalty spot beforeNikola Žigić headed an 84th-minute winner in the quarter-final against local rivalsAston Villa.[25] In the first leg of the semi-final againstWest Ham United,Liam Ridgewell scored from Larsson's corner beforeVictor Obinna was sent off for kicking Larsson in the groin in an off-the-ball incident.[26] Despite speculation over his future at Birmingham – with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, his advisor was given permission to talk to Newcastle United about a proposed move during the January transfer window, but personal terms were not agreed,[27] and the player was booed when he came on as a substitute in the previous game, againstManchester United[28] – Larsson returned to the starting eleven in place of thecup-tiedDavid Bentley[29] and played 100 minutes as Birmingham overturned a 2–1 deficit to win the semi-final 4–3 on aggregate.[30]Roger Johnson flicked on Larsson's corner for Žigić to give his team an unexpected lead in the final atWembley against firm favourites Arsenal. ThoughRobin van Persie equalised,Obafemi Martins scored an 89th-minute winner to give Birmingham their first trophy since 1963.[31]
Larsson took advantage of a defensive mix-up to open the scoring as Birmingham beat Sunderland 2–0 atSt Andrew's on 16 April,[32] and four days later, marked his 200th appearance for the club in all competitions with a penalty, albeit in a losing cause, against reigning championsChelsea.[33] On 1 May, he exploitedMichael Mancienne's mistake to score the equalising goal againstWolverhampton Wanderers, helping his side earn a point despite playing with ten men for more than an hour after Gardner was sent off.[34] No new contract was agreed, and following relegation to the Championship, the club confirmed that Larsson was to leave at the end of the season when his existing deal expired.[35]
On 22 June 2011,Sunderland confirmed that Larsson would join the club on a free transfer under theBosman ruling on 1 July,[36] thus linking him up with former Birmingham managerSteve Bruce. He was given squad number 7 for the 2011–12 season.[37] He marked his debut with the second-half equaliser in a 1–1 draw on the opening day of the season against Liverpool atAnfield, when given room at the far post to produce a "superb first-time angled volley."[citation needed] His second Sunderland goal, direct from a free kick, put his team 4–0 up againstStoke City at the Stadium of Light in their first win of the season.[38] Larsson scored directly from another free-kick against Arsenal at theEmirates Stadium a month later, prompting Arsenal managerArsène Wenger to label his former player "maybe the best in the league as a free-kick-taker."[39]
He scored the opening goal in Sunderland's 2–1 home defeat byWigan Athletic on 26 November, which proved to be Bruce's last game in charge of the Black Cats.[40] Sunderland visited Wolves the following week under caretaker managerEric Black. With Sunderland 1–0 up, Larsson won a penalty, although replays suggested he dived. His penalty was saved byWayne Hennessey; less than 30 seconds later,Steven Fletcher equalised for Wolves, and went on to add a late winner.[41] Larsson made amends in the following game, scoring from a free kick against Blackburn Rovers in injury-time to secure a late 2–1 win inMartin O'Neill's first game as manager.[42] Larsson scored another free kick on 8 January in the FA Cup in a 2–0 win againstPeterborough United atLondon Road.[43] In the fifth round tie with Arsenal, a quick counterattack from Sunderland saw Larsson hit the woodwork, and the ball subsequently hitAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain to put Sunderland 2–0 up and into the quarter-finals.[44] Larsson scored twice as Sunderland drew 3–3 withManchester City at theEtihad Stadium on 31 March.[45]
Larsson produced a "25-yard thunderbolt" as his first goal of the2012–13 Premier League season against West Ham United on 12 January 2013 in a 3–0 win.[46] He provided the assist forStéphane Sessègnon's goal in Sunderland's 1–0 defeat ofEverton on 20 April, pushing the club clear of the relegation zone.[47] The strike against West Ham proved to be Larsson's only goal of the campaign, a season in which was underwhelming on both individual and club levels as Sunderland barely managed to avoid relegation.[48]
His first goal of the 2013–14 season came on 6 November 2013, in a 2–1 win againstSouthampton in the League Cup.[49] His first league goal of the season came againstManchester United on 3 May 2014, where he scored the only goal of the game. The result gave Sunderland their first win atOld Trafford since 1968.[50] After contributing to Sunderland's escape from relegation, he was given a new contract to run until 2017.[51]
On 16 August 2014, Larsson scored a late equaliser for Sunderland in their 2–2 draw withWest Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the2014–15 Premier League season.[52] His second goal of the season was a free kick to open the scoring in a 1–1 draw with Everton on 9 November,[53] and his third, another direct free kick, came in a 2–1 loss at Tottenham on 17 December.[54] Larsson was named Sunderland's Supporters' Player of the Year for the 2014–15 season.[55]
After being released by Sunderland when their relegation from the Premier League coincided with the expiry of his contract,[56] Larsson signed a one-year contract with Championship clubHull City on 9 August 2017.[57] He made his first appearance for the club when he came off the bench as a 74th-minute substitute forKamil Grosicki in the 4–1 home win againstBurton Albion on 12 August 2017.[58] On 30 September 2017, he scored his first goal for Hull City, when he scored the 6th goal in a 6–1 home victory overBirmingham City.[59]
He was offered a new contract by Hull at the end of the 2017–18 season.[60]
On 11 June 2018, Larsson signed forAllsvenskan clubAIK.[61] His first season with AIK was very successful, as he helped the team win theSwedish Championship for the twelfth time in the club's history after claiming the2018 Allsvenskan title.[62] Larsson retired after the2022 season.[63]
Larsson received his first call-up to theSweden squad for theUEFA Euro 2008 qualifying games againstLiechtenstein andNorthern Ireland in October 2007.[64] He was an unusedsubstitute against Liechtenstein but did not make the bench for the Northern Ireland game.[65][66] He made his debut for Sweden in February 2008, playing the whole 90 minutes of afriendly draw againstTurkey inIstanbul.[67] He was named in Sweden's 23-man squad forUEFA Euro 2008,[68] and has since become a regular in the national team.[69]
He scored his first goal at senior international level in March 2011 as Sweden beatMoldova 2–1 in aEuro 2012 qualifier.[70] During the qualifiers in October, Larsson added two more goals to his international tally. The first was the opener in a 2–1 away victory overFinland in Helsinki,[71] and the second was a penalty as Sweden came from behind to beat theNetherlands 3–2 on 11 October at theRåsunda Stadium in Stockholm.[72] In February 2012, Larsson scored two second-half goals to downCroatia 3–1 at theMaksimir Stadium inZagreb.[73]
Larsson was selected in Sweden's squad forEuro 2012. He started all three of theirgroup games and scored the second goal in their 2–0 win overFrance, but Sweden did not make it through to the knockout stages of the competition.[74][75]
On 15 October 2013, Larsson registered 2 assists in their 3–5 loss against Germany in a World Cup Qualification game. He was captain during the game.
Larsson was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[1] In the last warm-up match before the tournament, a goalless draw withPeru on 9 June, he made his 100th senior appearance for his country.[76] At the 2018 World Cup, Larsson played in four games for Sweden as they were eliminated byEngland in thequarter-finals.[77] He got his ninth international goal on 28 March 2021, scoring from the penalty spot in a 3–0World Cup qualifying win overKosovo.[78]
Larsson started in all four matches of Sweden atEuro 2020, serving ascaptain in the absence ofAndreas Granqvist. Following the tournament, he announced his retirement from international football.[79]
Larsson lives inEskilstuna with his wife Tina. As of June 2018[update], the couple have two daughters.[80] His father, Svante Larsson, is a former football player and coach, who briefly played forIFK Eskilstuna (1976–1977).[81][82]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal | 2004–05[83] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005–06[84] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2006–07[12] | Championship | 43 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 50 | 9 | ||
| 2007–08[85] | Premier League | 35 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 6 | |||
| 2008–09[86] | Championship | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2009–10[87] | Premier League | 33 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | |||
| 2010–11[88] | Premier League | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 5 | |||
| Total | 184 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 3 | — | — | 205 | 25 | ||||
| Sunderland | 2011–12[89] | Premier League | 32 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 8 | ||
| 2012–13[90] | Premier League | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 1 | |||
| 2013–14[91] | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 2 | |||
| 2014–15[92] | Premier League | 36 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2015–16[93] | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17[94] | Premier League | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| Total | 176 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 203 | 14 | ||||
| Sunderland U23 | 2016–17[94] | — | — | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Hull City | 2017–18[95] | Championship | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 2 | ||
| AIK | 2018[96] | Allsvenskan | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | — | 18 | 2 | ||
| 2019[96] | Allsvenskan | 28 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | 8[f] | 3 | — | 42 | 11 | |||
| 2020[96] | Allsvenskan | 28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 5 | ||||
| 2021[96] | Allsvenskan | 25 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | ||||
| 2022[96] | Allsvenskan | 27 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 38 | 8 | |||||
| Total | 123 | 21 | 20 | 7 | — | 16 | 4 | — | 159 | 32 | ||||
| Career total | 526 | 54 | 47 | 11 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 620 | 73 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2008 | 9 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 2 | |
| Total | 133 | 10 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 March 2011 | Råsunda Stadium,Solna, Sweden | 29 |  Moldova | 2–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | [70] |
| 2 | 7 October 2011 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium,Helsinki, Finland | 35 |  Finland | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | [71] |
| 3 | 11 October 2011 | Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden | 36 |  Netherlands | 2–2 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | [72] |
| 4 | 29 February 2012 | Stadion Maksimir,Zagreb, Croatia | 39 |  Croatia | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly | [73] |
| 5 | 3–1 | |||||||
| 6 | 19 June 2012 | Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex,Kyiv, Ukraine | 44 |  France | 2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 | [75] |
| 7 | 12 October 2019 | National Stadium,Ta' Qali, Malta | 116 |  Malta | 2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | [73] |
| 8 | 4–0 | |||||||
| 9 | 28 March 2021 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium,Pristina, Kosovo | 127 |  Kosovo | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [78] |
| 10 | 29 May 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 128 | Finland | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | [98] |
Birmingham City
Sunderland
AIK
Individual
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