Bengt Gustavsson facts for kids
Gustavsson in 1968
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 13 January 1928 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ringarum, Sweden | |||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 16 February 2017 (aged 89) | |||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Norrköping, Sweden | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 1947–1955 | IFK Norrköping | 147 | (17) | |||||||||||||
| 1956–1961 | Atalanta | 145 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1961–1965 | Åtvidabergs FF | |||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 1951–1963 | Sweden | 57 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||
| 1964–1970 | Åtvidabergs FF | |||||||||||||||
| 1971–1972 | Swedish national youth team | |||||||||||||||
| 1973–1974 | Östers IF | |||||||||||||||
| 1975–1978 | IFK Norrköping | |||||||||||||||
| 1979–1981 | Hammarby IF | |||||||||||||||
| 1982–1983 | IK Sleipner | |||||||||||||||
| 1985 | IFK Norrköping (Assistant) | |||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Bengt Olov Emanuel "Julle" Gustavsson (born January 13, 1928 – died February 16, 2017) was a famous Swedish football player and manager. He was known by his nickname "Julle". As a player, he helped the Swedish national team reach the final of the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He also won several national championships with his club, IFK Norrköping. Later, as a coach, he guided Åtvidabergs FF to a very successful period in the early 1970s.
Contents
Playing Career
Starting Out in Sweden
Bengt Gustavsson began his football journey with a local team called Gusum. In 1947, he joined IFK Norrköping, which was a very strong club in Sweden at that time. He was first meant to play in midfield. In his very first game against AIK, he scored three goals!
However, his coach, Karl Adamek, soon moved him to play in defense. This turned out to be a great move, as Bengt became an excellent defender. During his time with Norrköping, the team won the Swedish championship three times: in 1948, 1952, and 1956. They also reached the final of the Swedish Cup in 1953.
Playing for His Country
In October 1951, Bengt Gustavsson played his first game for the Swedish national team. This was against Denmark. Even though Sweden lost that game, they still won the 1948-51 Nordic Football Championship.
The next year, he represented Sweden at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Sweden played very well, but they lost to the strong "Golden Team" from Hungary in the semifinals. However, Sweden bounced back and won the bronze medal by beating Germany 2-0 in the third-place match. In 1953, Bengt was recognized as the best Swedish footballer of the year and received the Guldbollen award, also known as the Golden Ball.
Moving to Italy and the World Cup
In 1956, Bengt Gustavsson moved to Italy to play for Atalanta Bergamo. This team was in the Serie A, which is Italy's top football league. He quickly became a key player in their defense, often playing as a Libero. In 1958, Atalanta was moved down to the second division, Serie B. But they quickly returned to Serie A the very next season.
The year 1958 was very special for Bengt. He was chosen to play for Sweden in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Sweden. He was a regular player in the team, alongside other famous Swedish players like Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm. Sweden made it all the way to the final! They played against Brazil, who had the legendary player Pelé. Sweden lost the final 2-5, but reaching the World Cup final was their best result ever in the tournament.
Back to Sweden
After the 1960–61 season, Bengt Gustavsson returned to Sweden. He joined Åtvidabergs FF, which was in the second division at the time. In June 1963, he played his 57th and final game for the Swedish national team. This was a qualifying match for the 1964 European Nations' Cup against Yugoslavia, which ended in a 0-0 draw. From 1964 onwards, he became a player-manager for Åtvidabergs FF, meaning he played and coached at the same time. He stopped playing in 1965 but continued to coach the team.
Managerial Career
Leading Åtvidabergs FF
As a manager, Bengt Gustavsson achieved great success. In 1967, he led Åtvidabergs FF back into the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top division. This was the start of a "golden era" for the club. He coached the team until 1970. In that year, Åtvidabergs FF won their first national title by defeating Sandvikens IF 2-0 in the Swedish Cup final.
Under his guidance, the club went on to win three more titles by 1973. Bengt helped develop many talented players during his time at Åtvidaberg, including famous names like Conny Torstensson and Benno Magnusson.
Other Coaching Roles
After his successful time with Åtvidabergs FF, Bengt Gustavsson coached other teams. From 1971 to 1972, he briefly coached the Swedish national youth team. He also managed Östers IF from 1973 to 1974. He returned to IFK Norrköping as a manager from 1975 to 1978, and again as an assistant coach in 1985. He also coached Hammarby IF from 1979 to 1981 and IK Sleipner from 1982 to 1983.
Honours
As a Player:
- World Cup: Finalist in 1958 (Sweden finished second)
- Swedish Championship: Won in 1948, 1952, and 1956
- Swedish Player of the Year: Awarded in 1953
As a Manager:
- Swedish Cup: Won in 1970
- Promotion to first division: Achieved in 1967
See also
In Spanish: Bengt Gustavsson para niños
