Lars Eriksson (footballer, born 1965) explained

Lars Eriksson
Fullname:Lars Rickard Eriksson
Birth Date:21 September 1965
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Height:1.86 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1986–1989
Years2:1989–1995
Years3:1995–1996
Years4:1996–1998
Years5:1998–2001
Clubs1:Hammarby IF
Clubs2:IFK Norrköping
Clubs3:Charleroi
Clubs4:FC Porto
Clubs5:Hammarby IF
Caps1:50
Goals1:0
Caps2:189
Goals2:0
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Caps5:73
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:330
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1986–1990
Nationalteam1:Sweden U21/O
Nationalcaps1:15
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1988–1995
Nationalteam2:Sweden
Nationalcaps2:17
Nationalgoals2:0
Pcupdate:1 March 2017
Ntupdate:1 March 2017

Lars Rickard "Lasse" Eriksson (born 21 September 1965) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He represented Hammarby IF, IFK Norrköping, Charleroi, and FC Porto during a career that spanned between 1986 and 2001. A full international between 1988 and 1995, he won 17 caps for the Sweden national team and was a part of Sweden's 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, and 1994 FIFA World Cup squads. He also represented the Sweden Olympic team at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Early life

Eriksson grew up in Haninge in Stockholm County where he started playing football at the local club Vendelsö IK.[1] He moved to Hammarby IF as a youngster in 1977 at age 12.[2] During his early teens, he lived abroad for a few years together with his family before returning to Hammarby and their B-team.

Club career

Hammarby IF

Eriksson made his professional debut for Hammarby in Allsvenskan in 1986, aged 21, replacing Mark White as starter halfway through the season.[3] He made his debut in a 5-1 win against Kalmar FF with Hammarby only conceding 1,2 goals per game during the remainder of the season with Eriksson between the posts.

He stayed as the club's first choice goalkeeper for another two seasons, before leaving in 1988 when Hammarby got relegated to Division 1.[4]

IFK Norrköping

Before the start of the 1989 season he signed with IFK Norrköping in Allsvenskan. The team finished in second place during the regular series the same year, but won the subsequent play-off, ultimately being crowned Swedish champions. Eriksson saved two penalties in the third and decisive game of the finals against Malmö FF on 15 November 1989.[5]

In 1990, he was awarded "player of the year" by the Östergötland Football Association.[6]

He would later play another five seasons at Norrköping, with the team consequently finishing in the top half of the table. Lars Eriksson featured in every competitive game for the club during this tenure.[7] He also won two Swedish Cup-titles with "Peking", in 1990–91 and 1993–94.

Charleroi

Halfway through the 1995–96 season, he moved abroad for the first time in his career.[8] He signed for the Belgian Pro League league club Charleroi S.C.[9] However, he would only feature in 9 competitive games for the side before moving to Portuguese club FC Porto in March 1996.[10]

FC Porto

At Porto, he was crowned Liga NOS champion during three consecutive seasons, in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98. However, he was used sparingly and only featured in 13 competitive games. During his tenure at the club he mostly served as a backup for Vítor Baía, Andrzej Woźniak, Silvino Louro and Henrique Hilário.[10]

Return to Hammarby IF

During the 1998 Allsvenskan midseason he returned to his native country, signing a deal with his first professional club Hammarby in July the same year.[11] After returning with an injury, Eriksson's comeback would however be postponed up until the season of 1999, when he also was appointed captain of the team.[12]

In 2001, he won Allsvenskan for the second time in his career. Hammarby secured the title from a victory against Örgryte IS on 21 October, on the second to last match day of the campaign. As he already had decided on retiring after the season, Eriksson was praised by the fans at the home ground Söderstadion together with then manager Sören Cratz, who also were to leave the club.[13]

After the season, he was voted goalkeeper of the year at the annual Fotbollsgalan, hosted by the Swedish Football Association.[14] In 2004, Eriksson was voted as Hammarby's sixth biggest profile throughout the history of the club.[15]

International career

Lars Eriksson debuted for the Swedish under-21 national team against England in 1986. He would later win 15 caps for the team, making his final appearances during the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[16]

He made his debut in the national senior team on January 12 in 1988, starting in a 4-1 win over East Germany in Maspalomas.[16] In total he would play 17 matches for his country up until 1995, often being used as bench cover for Thomas Ravelli. He took part in several major tournaments, the 1988 Summer Olympics, 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.[17]

Style of play

Eriksson was known a goalkeeper with good reactions and a strong line play. He was also noticed for his frequent ability of saving penalties.[18]

Managerial career

After his playing career ended, he was assigned the role as a goalkeeping coach at Hammarby in 2002. He would remain at this position up until 2007, when he was promoted to director of football at said club. He was however fired two years later, in May 2009, due to lack of results and financial reasons.

In late 2009, he joined the staff of the newly-appointed Sweden national team manager Erik Hamrén as the goalkeeping coach. He was a part of the personnel during the Euro 2012 and Euro 2016, mainly working with the Sweden national team starter Andreas Isaksson, before leaving his post after the latter tournament.[19]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[20] !National team!Year!Apps!Goals
Sweden198810
198910
199020
199120
199240
199310
199450
199510
Total170

Honours

IFK Norrköping

FC Porto

Hammarby

Sweden

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VIKARE som lirat eller lirar i Sveriges högsta serie.. Vendelsö IK . February 28, 2017 . February 28, 2017.
  2. Web site: "Jag hade gärna velat vara kvar". Aftonbladet . May 20, 2009 . February 28, 2017.
  3. Web site: 1986. HIF Historia . February 28, 2017 . February 28, 2017.
  4. Web site: 1989. HIF Historia . February 28, 2017 . February 28, 2017.
  5. Web site: Straffdrama avgjorde guldmatchen -89. SVT . October 29, 2015 . February 28, 2017.
  6. Web site: Nyman och Egnell årets spelare. Östergötlands Fotboll Förbund . December 20, 2016 . February 28, 2017.
  7. Web site: Bengt Andersson står sig. SVT . July 27, 2005 . February 28, 2017.
  8. Web site: Inga guldpojkar. Network Norrköping . August 18, 2014 . February 28, 2017.
  9. Web site: CHARLEROI A ENFIN TROUVE UN GARDIEN: LARS ERIKSSON A DIT OUI. Le Soir . November 24, 1995 . February 28, 2017.
  10. Web site: Eriksson: "Sei que não dei muitas alegrias, mas fui feliz no Porto". Mais Futebol . March 5, 2014 . February 28, 2017.
  11. Web site: 1998. HIF Historia . February 28, 2016 . February 28, 2017.
  12. Web site: 1999. HIF Historia . February 28, 2016 . February 28, 2017.
  13. Web site: Lasse Eriksson var den stora hjälten precis som för 12 år sedan. October 22, 2001. Aftonbladet. February 28, 2017.
  14. Web site: Årets Målvakt - Lars Eriksson. SVFF . November 5, 2001 . February 28, 2017.
  15. Web site: Historik. Hammarby Fotboll . Swedish . https://web.archive.org/web/20110326220649/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/. 2011-03-26. 2017-03-01. dead.
  16. Web site: Landslagsdatabasen: Lars Eriksson. SVFF . February 28, 2017 . February 28, 2017.
  17. Web site: Lasse Eriksson: "Jag sade till Ravelli att vänta ut rumänerna". Vaasan Sverige . September 23, 2013 . February 28, 2017.
  18. Web site: Lars Eriksson Hellström. Hammarby Fotboll . Swedish . https://web.archive.org/web/20110508230401/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/?playerid=31&teamId=177. 2011-05-08. 2017-03-01. dead.
  19. Web site: May 26, 2016. Ny målvaktstränare efter EM. Sydsvenskan. February 28, 2017.
  20. Web site: Joakim Nilsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll . 2021-06-04 . www.svenskfotboll.se. . sv.