All-Time Sweden National Team Best XI (Zlatan, Nordahl, Liedholm)

All-time Sweden best XI – Sweden national team is one of football national team from Europe. Currently, Sweden often regarded as dark horse in each major tournament. They have their own success in 1950s, even considered as one of the best football team from late 1940s to 1950s.

Sweden best performance in international football is reaching 1958 World Cup final, which they hosted. They only lose to Brazil with young Pele as their leading star. They also manage to finish in third-place in 1950 dan 1994 edition. In the continental tournament, their best ever ranking is reaching semifinal in 1992 UEFA Euro, which they also hosted.

Traditionally, Sweden is strong team. They can reach 3rd place finish in 1950 World Cup, even with only amateur player policy at that time. Leading to 1958 World Cup whenn they act as host, Sweden FA allowed professional player to play for national team. Sweden succesfully reaching final, but lose to Brazil with 2-5 scoreline.

Some stars in those era such as Nils Liedholm, Kurt Hamrin, Gunnar Gren, Orvar Bergmark, Lennart Skoglund and Kalle Svensson. Sweden have many stars who play in Italian Serie A at that time, including AC Milan’s Swedish trio Gre-No-Li (Gren, Nordahl, Liedholm).

Nordahl, who is 3rd in all-time top scorer in Serie A, not participate in 1958 World Cup because he already retired from national team at that time. Sweden enjoy succesful period in 90s, reaching semifinal in 1992 UEFA Euro and finish third-place in 1994 World Cup. Players like Thomas Ravelli, Roland Nilsson, Patrik Andersson, Jonas Thern and Thomas Brolin are part of that squad.

In 2000s, one particular Swedish player stole the attention of world football, which is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He play for multiple Europe top team like Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United and won many major accolades. Other best Sweden player in modern era are Henrik Larsson, Freddie Ljungberg, Olof Mellberg, Victor Lindelof and Dejan Kulusevski.

All-Time Sweden Best XI

Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best Sweden players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time Sweden national team best XI.

GOALKEEPER

1. Ronnie Hellstrom

Date of birth : 21 February 1949
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 77 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1966-1974 – Hammarby IF (Sweden)
• 1974-1984 – Kaiserslautern (Germany)
• 1988 – GIF Sundsvall (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1970, 1974, 1978

Substitutes :

• Thomas Ravelli (1981-1997), 147 caps
• Kalle Svensson (1949-1958), 73 caps
• Andreas Isaksson (2002-2016), 133 caps
• Magnus Hedman (1997-2004), 58 caps

DEFENDER

2. Bjorn Nordqvist

Date of birth : 6 October 1942
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 115 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1961-1972 – IFK Norrkoping (Sweden)
• 1972-1975 – PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
• 1975-1978 – IFK Goteborg (Sweden)
• 1979-1980 – Minnesota Kicks (United States)
• 1980-1983 – Orgryte IS (Sweden)
• 1984 – Landskrona BoIS (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1970, 1974, 1978

3. Patrik Andersson

Date of birth : 18 August 1971
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 96 caps / 3 goals
Club career :

• 1989-1992 – Malmo FF (Sweden)
• 1992-1993 – Blackburn Rovers (England)
• 1993-1999 – Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)
• 1999-2001 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 2001-2004 – Barcelona (Spain)
• 2004-2005 – Malmo FF (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1994, 2002
• UEFA Euro 1992, 2000

4. Over Bergmark

Date of birth : 16 November 1930
Position : Right-back
Caps / goals : 94 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1948-1954 – Orebro SK (Sweden)
• 1955 – AIK (Sweden)
• 1956-1962 – Orebro SK (Sweden)
• 1962-1964 – AS Roma (Italy)
• 1964-1965 – Orebro SK (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1958

5. Erik Nilsson

Date of birth : 6 August 1916
Position : Left-back
Caps / goals : 57 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1934-1953 – Malmo FF (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1938, 1950

Substitutes :

• Glenn Hysen (1981-1990), 68 caps, 7 goals
• Olof Mellberg (2000-2012), 117 caps, 8 goals
• Andreas Granqvist (2006-2019), 88 caps, 9 goals
• Ake Johansson (1955-1965), 53 caps, 1 goal
• Joachim Bjorklund (1992-2000), 78 caps, 0 goal
• Victor Lindelof (2016-current), 59 caps, 3 goals
• Roland Nilsson (1986-2000), 116 caps, 1 goal
• Bengt Gustavsson (1951-1963), 57 caps, 0 goal
• Mikael Lustig (2008-2021), 94 caps, 6 goals

MIDFIELDER

6. Jonas Thern

Date of birth : 20 March 1967
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 75 caps / 6 goals
Club career :

• 1985-1987 – AIK (Sweden)
• 1987 – Zurich (Switzerland)
• 1988-1989 – AIK (Sweden)
• 1989-1992 – Benfica (Portugal)
• 1992-1994 – Napoli (Italy)
• 1994-1997 – AS Roma (Italy)
• 1997-1999 – Rangers (Scotland)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1990, 1994
• UEFA Euro 1992

7. Kurt Hamrin

Date of birth : 19 November 1934
Position : Winger
Caps / goals : 32 caps / 17 goals
Club career :

• 1952-1955 – AIK (Sweden)
• 1956-1957 – Juventus (Italy)
• 1957-1958 – Padova (Italy)
• 1958-1967 – Fiorentina (Italy)
• 1967-1969 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 1969-1971 – Napoli (Italy)
• 1971-1972 – IFK Stockholm (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1958

8. Lennart Skoglund

Date of birth : 24 December 1929
Position : Winger
Caps / goals : 11 caps / 1 goal
Club career :

• 1946-1949 – Hammarby IF (Sweden)
• 1949-1950 – AIK (Sweden)
• 1950-1959 – Inter Milan (Italy)
• 1959-1962 – Sampdoria (Italy)
• 1962-1963 – Palermo (Italy)
• 1964-1967 – Hammarby IF (Sweden)
• 1968 – Karrtorps BK (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1950, 1958

9. Nils Liedholm

Date of birth : 8 October 1922
Position : Attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 23 caps / 12 goals
Club career :

• 1938-1943 – Valdermarsviks IF (Sweden)
• 1943-1946 – IK Sleipner (Sweden)
• 1949-1949 – IFK Norrkoping (Sweden)
• 1949-1961 – AC Milan (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1958

Substitutes :

• Bo Larsson (1964-1978), 70 caps, 17 goals
• Glenn Stromberg (1982-1990), 52 caps, 7 goals
• Stefan Schwartz (1990-2001), 69 caps, 6 goals
• Anders Svensson (1999-2013), 148 caps, 21 goals
• Kim Kallstrom (2001-2016), 131 caps, 16 goals
• Roger Magnusson (1964-1969), 14 caps, 3 goals
• Sebastian Larsson (2008-2021), 133 caps, 10 goals
• Freddie Ljungberg (1998-2008), 75 caps, 14 goals
• Emil Forsberg (2014-current), 81 caps, 20 goals
• Gunnar Gren (1940-1958), 57 caps, 32 goals
• Tomas Brolin (1990-1995), 47 caps, 27 goals

FORWARD

10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Date of birth : 3 October 1981
Position : Forward
Caps / goals : 118 caps / 62 goals
Club career :

• 1999-2001 – Malmo FF (Sweden)
• 2001-2004 – Ajax (Netherlands)
• 2004-2006 – Juventus (Italy)
• 2006-2009 – Inter Milan (Italy)
• 2009-2010 – Barcelona (Spain)
• 2010-2012 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 2012-2016 – PSG (France)
• 2016-2018 – Manchester United (England)
• 2018-2020 – LA Galaxy (United States)
• 2020-2023 – AC Milan (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2002, 2006
• UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016

11. Gunnar Nordahl

Date of birth : 19 October 1921
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 33 caps / 43 goals
Club career :

• 1937-1940 – Hornefors IF (Sweden)
• 1940-1944 – Degerfors IF (Sweden)
• 1944-1949 – IFK Norrkoping (Sweden)
• 1949-1956 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 1956-1958 – AS Roma (Italy)
• 1959-1960 – Karlstad BK (Sweden)

Major tournament participations :

• Summer Olympics 1948

Substitutes :

• Sven Rydell (1923-1932), 43 caps, 49 goals
• Henrik Larsson (1993-2009), 106 caps, 37 goals
• Kennet Andersson (1990-2000), 83 caps, 31 goals
• Ove Kindvall (1965-1974), 43 caps, 16 goals
• Agne Simonsson (1957-1967), 51 caps, 27 goals
• Marcus Berg (2008-2021), 90 caps, 24 goals
• Martin Dahlin (1991-1997), 60 caps, 29 goals

Sweden National Team All-Time Best XI

That’s our pick for 11 of greatest Swedish players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.