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1.
Name: Pontus Farnerud (Swe)
Current Club: AS Monaco (Fra)
Date of Birth: 04/06/1980
Position: Central Midfield
Previous Clubs: Landskrona Bois (Swe)
Comment: Considered the best talent in Sweden for years. His skills are superb -
understanding of the game, his technique, his passing, and his
work-ethics are all high class.
Intelligent, wise, offensive midfielder who loves to direct the game.
Together with N-E Johansson the most important player on succesful
Sweden80.
The only thing he lacks from being the complete package is real speed
without the ball, but even that won´t stop him from becoming a
star-player, because the rest is just too good - and he proved it in
sweden, scoring some marvellous goals for Landskrona, they we´re all 100%
finesse.
Joined Monaco last winter after choosing between loads of offers. He
already played several games with Monacos First Team , and the season
coming up, can be his break-through year.
2.
Name: Nils-Erik Johansson (Swe)
Current Club: Bayern Munich (Ger)
Date of Birth: 19/01/1980
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: Brommapojkarna (Swe) & AIK (Swe)
Comment: Swedens next world-class defender. That´s what they all say.
An intelligent and very mature defender, with most skills you could ask
for from a defender. Strong and very difficult to get by on the ground,
great timing in the air, good ball-control and a good passer as well.
Captain in Sweden80 - who totally controls and directs the defence.
He has also made 8 goals in 32 games for Sweden, as a defender! Most
of them with his head.
Raised in one of Swedens best junior club - Brommapojkarna, Stockholm.
Now at Bayern Munich for two years, where he´s expected to join their First Squad
for the season coming up. He´s already made 4 appearences in Bundesliga
as a sub late last season.
He`ll become a key defender for the National Team, without doubts.
If he has something to improve, it´s speed, not at all slow, but neither
very fast.
3.
Name: Johan Elmander (Swe)
Current Club: Orgryte (Swe)
Date of Birth: 27/05/1981
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Holmalund (Swe)
Comment: It´s difficult to count all the teams that chased him last winter when
he left Holmalund (Swe3). French club Auxerre was most keen, and still
keeps in contact with Elmander. Also Barcelona showed interest.
He really doesn´t have any weaknesses in his game. Fast, skilled,
excellent understanding of the game - he´s even big (188cm), he´s also
been used as a midfielder from time to time.
As a junior he already proved that he´s a top talent. At the the highest
level he hasn´t had many opportunities in Orgryte so far. Mostly
because their other two attackers have been in great shape, and the team have been the
success of the season.
Just weeks ago he got the chance to play almost a full game,
immediately he showed his capacity - scoring one, and creating two other
goals.
4.
Name: Jonas Lundén (Swe)
Current Club: IFK Goteborg (Swe)
Date of Birth: 27/12/1980
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Brage (Swe)
Comment: Very explosive with the ball, extremely fast without it. No defender
wants to be left alone with this guy. Has played on an almost regular
basis with a struggling IFK Goteborg, that shows how much confidence
they have with this 18-year old.
Scored the most important goal for Goteborg this year, the one that took
them to the cup-final and an UEFA-cup spot.
By far the best scorer in Sweden80 ( 13 goals/ 23 games) - and he always
try to find the shortest route to the goal. He´s also a very well educated
player who understands the whole of the game well.
Feyenoord has shown a lot of interest in this youngster, also Bayern
Munich and Liverpool are curious.
5.
Name: Tobias Linderoth (Swe)
Previous Clubs: Stabaek (Nor)
Date of Birth: 21/04/1979
Position: Midfield
Previous Clubs: IFK Hassleholm (Swe), Feyenoord (Hol) & Elfsborg (Swe)
Comment: The typical new kind of swedish player. Dimunitive, great technique,
explosive and creative who seems to have an idea with everything he´s
doing - and this year he´s started to show some excellent work-ethics,
he has become tougher after joining the more physical norwegian league.
Considered the best fooballer in Sweden U21.
Came through 1997, was a sensation for newly-promoted Elfsborg
in the Swedish league and draw eyes from a lot of foreign clubs.
Coventry was extremely keen on signing him.
But 1998 was a disaster. He was benched several times by the teams new
coach. Now Tobias joined with his father Anders again ( Stabaeks coach
was one of Swedens best players in the 70´s), and he´s making some
serious progress - this career can´t go wrong anymore.
6.
Name: Andreas Isaksson (Swe)
Current Club: Juventus
Date of Birth: 03/10/1981
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Clubs: Trelleborgs FF (Swe)
Comment: Talk of the country this season, before he went to Juventus.
As a 17-year old he´s been doing the most astonishing saves in game
after game. Hardly nobody heard of this goalkeeper until the Swedish
League started, now he´s Juventus 3rd keeper after vd Saar and Rampulla,
joining "the old lady" in beginning of July for £1.1m.
Half-time in the Swedish League several football analysts ranked him
the no.1-goalie in the Swedish league. He also had the highest saving
percentage.
But even if his reflexes are superb and his length (196cm) helps him, he
can develop most other sides of his game. He only seems to work close to
the goal, for example. But one thing is for sure, Sweden hasn´t had a
goalie-talent like Isaksson since the breakthrough of Thomas Ravelli in
the late 70´s.
7.
Name: Kim Kallstrom (Swe)
Current Club: BK Hacken (Swe)
Date of Birth: 24/08/1982
Position: Central Midfield
Previous Clubs: A powerhouse! He´s big, he´s physical, he works all over the pitch. But
he has also got great vision and is a good passer, and he
scores a lot playing midfield, mostly because he´s keen on joining the
attacks behind the forwards. He´s also a very mature person, who of
course captained Sweden82.
His size makes it easy to expect another Johan Mjallby (Celtic), but
Kim have a lot more skills. His team Hacken are a top team in Swedish
Second division, still Kallstrom has dominated some games, playing with
and against guys who are ten years older.
He´s a bet for being capped in the National Selection within a couple of
years.
Lacks only speed without ball, though he can be very quick and decisive
in his game with the ball.
8.
Name: Bojan Djordjic (Swe)
Current Club: Manchester United
Date of Birth: ??/??/1982
Position: Left-Winger
Previous Clubs: Brommapojkarna (Swe)
Comment: This guy is one of the most difficult to rank.
If it only came down to how you handle the ball - he would be listed a
lot higher. It seems impossible to take the ball away from him most of
the time, his technique and dribbling and how he hides the ball away
from defenders are outstanding. But sometimes he hides it also from his
own team-mates. He understands the game well, but oftenly he loves the
ball a lot more.
He can turn out world-class, but his temper and selfishness is
considered a minus (at least in Sweden) and his not so good right-foot
makes him predictable sometimes. Plays in a free, creative role. Doesn´t
care too much about defence.
Bojan certainly plays a non-swedish style (His father Ranko - a
Yugoslavian international - came to Sweden and Norrkoping in the mid
80´s and was one of the most memorable players in the Swedish league for
years).
Manchester United don´t seem to hesitate upon his talent, he´s also been compared
with Ryan Giggs and Jesper Blomqvist, but a better definition might be
the next Anders Limpar (ex-Arsenal).
9.
Name: Erik Edman (Swe)
Current Club: Torino (Ita)
Date of Birth: 11/11/1978
Position: Left-Back
Previous Clubs: Helsingborgs IF (Swe)
Comment: An easy choice as left-wing defender both in Sweden U21, and in Swedish
top team Helsingborg for more than two years, where he found a regular
spot exceptionally fast even though he was just 18 at the time.
Left for Torino and Serie A this summer.
Physically strong, very good left-foot, hard-working defender that plays
very well in both ends of the game.You can see that he has advantages
from originally playing as a central midfielder.
Great character, and he knows what it takes to become a really good
player.
Needs to improve his speed a bit, and get some tougher competition,
before he´s ready for being capped for the Swedish Selection.
10.
Name: Kennedy Bakircioglu (Swe)
Current Club: Hammarby (Swe)
Date of Birth: 02/11/1980
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Assyriska (Swe)
Comment: A lot is being said and written about him in Sweden this year, but he is
still just a talent, even though he´s already shown that he´s one of the
most exciting forwards in the Swedish league this year.
Had big expectations when he joined Hammarby last winter, and hasn´t
disappointed anyone. He´s very, very skilfull with the ball.
Even though Hammarby have been struggling this year, this 18-year old has
shined in many games.
A fast dribbler that seems to create all the time. He also has an
accuarate shot, and good timing in the air.
But he needs to improve all the tactical sides of his game. Without the
ball he´s still far from being top- class, and he hasn´t scored as often
has he should - on the other hand he has only been playing high-level
football for less than a year. Manchester United gave him a trial last winter, but
it never came to a deal.
Seeing him play, makes it easy to draw comparisons with a player like
Yksel Osmanovski (Bari) even though Bakircioglu is a lot bigger. Origins
from Turkey.
11.
Name: Stefan Ishizaki (Swe)
Current Club: AIK (Swe)
Date of Birth: 17/05/1982
Position: Midfield
Previous Clubs: Ragsved
Comment: Lots of Swedish clubs wanted to sign him last winter, he chose Swedish
champions AIK, and is now the big talent of the club. He has already
played in their First Team, but yet only in pre-season games and cup
games, not in the league.
He is a very complete midfielder. Very fast, very hard-working, great
ball-control in crowded midfield situations, reads the game well, is also good in the air,
being pretty tall, even if he is half japanese. Ambitious and mature
character, who seem to know what it takes to become a high-class player.
Predicted for an international career.
Needs to put on some weight before he´s ready for the highest level in
Sweden.
12.
Name: Olof Mellberg (Swe)
Current Club: Racing Santander (Spa)
Date of Birth 03/09/1977
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: Degerfors (Swe) & AIK (Swe)
Comment: Tall, lanky but still a physically strong player, who, of course, is
excellent in the air.
He´s the captain for Sweden Under 21. Joined Santander last year from
Swedish champions AIK, and has already drawn interest from bigger
Spanish clubs - Atletico Madrid is very keen on buying him, but expect
Mellberg to stay another year in Santander.
Not a typical Swedish defender. Mellberg plays a very one-dimensional,
defensive and physical game, and not only is he strong and tall, he´s
also fast.
If he could improve his skills with the ball, he can become a really
interesting defender for the future. Reminds some of Joachim Bjorklund
(Valencia).
13.
Name: Mattias Lindstrom (Swe)
Current Club: Helsingborg (Swe)
Date of Birth: 18/04/1980
Position: Central Midfield
Previous Clubs: None
Comment: Expected to have his break-through soon. Now that Helsingborg`s Marcus
Lantz left for Torino and Serie A he might get his opportunity. Has a
great potential, but needs to play more games at the highest level, he´s
still too inconsistent to be ranked higher.
He´s a very strong, very fit and hard-working midfielder who´s good at
stealing the ball, and likes to come into positions via long runs. In
Sweden80 he has a defensive role in the midfield, behind
Farnerud, but he actually prefers to play more offensively.
He shoots really good, and scored 6 times in 24 games with Sweden80.
Sometimes compared with Stefan Schwarz (Sunderland) but he´s not as smart
and mean as Schwarz, yet!
14.
Name: Tonton Moukoko (Swe)
Current Club: Djurgarden (Swe)
Date of Birth: 22/12/1983
Position: Left-winger
Previous Clubs: ?
Comment: Only 15 years old and it´s risky to predict what will become of him. But
this guy can have a really bright future. In Djurgarden they say he´s
their talent of the decade. Not since Stefan Rehn have they had
anything like this. Moukoko has been on trial with Bologna (Ita) but prefered to stay
with Djurgarden.
Djurgarden`s First Team already used him in a pre-season game, though he´s
still one or two years away from playing on a regular basis at the highest
level, partly because he´s not fully-grown yet.
Described as an almost complete player, great technique, fast, reads the
game very well, hard-working who is prepared to do the job to become a
top player. Problems with a number of injuries has hold him back this
year. Born in DR Congo.
15.
Name: Christoffer Andersson (Swe)
Current Club: Helsingborgs IF (Swe)
Date of Birth: 22/10/1978
Position: Winger or Wing-back
Previous Clubs: Nybro (Swe)
Comment: His problem is that he´s too allround. Has been used as a winger on both
sides in defend, midfield and attack in his team Helsingborg. In Sweden
U21 he plays regularly as right-wing defender - and the right side is
what he prefers, even if he´s "two-footed".
Smallish and explosive with great ball-control, unpredictable, and a
real sharp shooter.
Christoffer´s career exploded only last season, and he´s still not fully
educated, he tends to hold on to the ball for too long, and he´s not
always seeing the big picture.
National Team coach Tommy Soderberg considers him a U21-player that is
close for a cap, but it could still take a while. Because if he´s going to
be capped, it´s probably going to be as right-defender, and in his club
Helsingborg that position is now occupied by Roland Nilsson
(ex-Coventry), who also is the first choice in the National Team.
16.
Name: Dime Jankulovski (Swe)
Current Club: Frolunda (Swe)
Date of Birth: 18/06/1977
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Clubs: Lundby (Swe)
Comment: A really big goalkeeper, that uses his size well to limit the angles for
attackers and also to prove who´s the strongest guy in the
penalty-area. Has authority and a lot of guts.
Has played top-level football for just more than a year, and therefore he
should still have some years before he reaches his maximum. But still
he´s considered one of the best already in the Swedish league.
This year he also advanced to be the first choice in Sweden U21.
Very good at one-to-one situations with opponent attackers.
Exceptional reflexes and he makes a lot of spectacular saves, but he
needs to improve his game in the air with better timing.
Considered very mature with a big self-confidence - both Wimbledon and
Feyenoord has already laid their eyes on this goalie - who origins from
Macedonia.
17.
Name: Fredrik Lagemyr (Swe)
Current Club: BK Hacken (Swe)
Date of Birth: 05/08/1983
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: None
Comment: Together with Tonton Mukoko and defender Richard Spong the stars of
Sweden83.
He´s explosive and fast, and he has very good ball-control, but he´s
also tall and still very lanky, therefore is best used when he gets space
to work with. He´s a born scorer.
Because he likes to have space, he often comes deep to get the ball to
be able to meet the opponent with speed. In that way he reminds of
Andreas Andersson (Newcastle).
Expected to be a First Team player in second-divison top-team Hacken as
soon as he gains some more weight, maybe already next season.
18.
Name: Sharbel Touma (Spa)
Current Clubs: Djurgarden (Swe)
Date of Birth: 25/03/1979
Position: Left-winger
Previous Clubs: Syrianska (Swe)
Comment: This guy has had a rocket-career the last couple of months. A talent, who for
some years had serious health problems (Anemia among others) keeping
him from shining before. Now, suddenly, he´s this years best offensive
player in Djurgarden.
Has a free role and works only up front. Very creative, skilled and very
quick, can use both feet and has a really good shot.
Expected to become even better next year since he didn´t prepare a lot
before this season after his latest illness.
If he becomes physically stronger, he could step in and play more
central, just behind the attackers.
He aims for an international career and has the attitude for doing it.
Origin from Lebanon.
19.
Name: Rade Prica (Swe)
Current Club: Helsingborgs IF (Swe)
Date of Birth: 30/06/1980
Position: Forward
Previous Clubs: Ljungby (Swe)
Comment: A power-forward that can take on a defender with either his speed, his
technique or just with force. His size also gives him advantages in the
air. Has most skills in his game, with his physical game as the most
remarkable.
Not very much noticed in Sweden yet. One explanation is that he´s born
1980, and that generation seems loaded with talent. Of course he plays
for Sweden80, but oftenly there used as a midfielder, since Lundén and
Bakircioglu are the first choices.
Also, he plays in Helsingborg who, together with AIK, has the
strongest squads, and that has limited his oppurtunities on the highest
level, even if he recently been tried more often, with a really good
result.
His weakness is that he is considered a moody and inconsistent player.
20.
Name: Olof Persson (Swe)
Current Club: Malmo FF (Swe)
Date of Birth: ??/??/1978
Position: Central Defender
Previous Clubs: Oxie (Swe)
Comment: A favourite of any coach. Loyal with the possibility at playing at
almost any defensive position. This is also his problem, he hasn´t yet
got to play enough at any spot. He´s used as wing-back, central
midfielder and central defender, but the latter is his best position, he
also plays at the centre of defence for Sweden U21, where he´s the captain when Mellberg
doesn´t play.
Tough, strong, mature player - has no real weak sides to his game. The
best player in an otherwise very disappointing Malmo FF this year.
With less injuries and playing a lot more regular in the centre of defence, he
should be able to take his game to an even higher level.
Kenny Akesson
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