Olof Mellberg
Mellberg with Copenhagen in 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Erik Olof Mellberg | ||
| Date of birth | 3 September 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Gullspång, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1996 | Gullspångs IF | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1997 | Degerfors IF | 47 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | AIK | 17 | (0) |
| 1998–2001 | Racing Santander | 98 | (0) |
| 2001–2008 | Aston Villa | 232 | (8) |
| 2008–2009 | Juventus | 27 | (2) |
| 2009–2012 | Olympiacos | 71 | (7) |
| 2012–2013 | Villarreal | 29 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | Copenhagen | 22 | (3) |
| Total | 543 | (22) | |
| National team | |||
| 1996–1999 | Sweden U21 | 27 | (4) |
| 2000–2012 | Sweden | 117 | (8) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2016– | IF Brommapojkarna | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Erik Olof Mellberg (pronounced [ˈuːˈlɔf ˈmɛlːˈbærj]; born 3 September 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Swedish former footballer and current manager of IF Brommapojkarna. During his career Mellberg played as a central defender or right-back and was described as being "big, strong and exceptional in the air". He is best known for playing the majority of his career at Aston Villa as well as spells with Italian side Juventus and Greek side Olympiacos.
Mellberg played for Sweden in two World Cups and four European Championships and is a former captain of the national team. Mellberg ended his international career with 8 goals in 117 matches.
Erik Olof Mellberg was born in Gullspång, Sweden on 3 September 1977 to parents Berit and Erik. Mellberg's mother Berit was a physical education teacher who passed on her love of sport to her son. As a youth, Mellberg enjoyed playing tennis and dreamed of Wimbledon rather than the World Cup. Mellberg was something of a tennis prodigy and it was not until he was 14 that Mellberg began to focus on football.
Mellberg played for local side Gullspång before being picked up by then Swedish Premiership side Degerfors IF. After being relegated he joined capital club AIK, where he made an instant impression, became Swedish champion 1998 and was sold after just 10 months. Spanish side Racing Santander moved to secure the promising Swedish centre half, and although having a difficult time adjusting to Spanish football he soon claimed a starting berth and impressed in his first season. Continuing to play well, Mellberg was said to be on his way to several big Spanish sides, including Barcelona and Valencia.
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