Johan Mjällby facts for kids
Mjällby in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karl Johan Siward Mjällby | ||
| Date of birth | 9 February 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Järfälla, Sweden | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1976–1984 | IK Bele | ||
| 1984–1989 | AIK | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1998 | AIK | 135 | (8) |
| 1998–2004 | Celtic | 144 | (13) |
| 2004–2005 | Levante | 3 | (0) |
| 2006 | AIK | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 292 | (21) | |
| International career | |||
| 1990–1991 | Sweden U21 | 7 | (0) |
| 1997–2004 | Sweden | 49 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010–2014 | Celtic (assistant) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Bolton (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Västerås SK | ||
| 2018 | Gefle IF | ||
| 2019–2020 | FC Stockholm Internazionale | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Johan Mjällby (born February 9, 1971) is a Swedish football manager and former player. He was a strong centre-back (a defender) during his playing days. Johan played for teams like AIK in Sweden, Celtic in Scotland, and Levante in Spain.
He also played for the Swedish national team from 1997 to 2004. He played in 49 games and scored 4 goals for his country. Mjällby was the team captain during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the UEFA Euro 2000 and 2004 tournaments. After retiring as a player, he became an assistant manager for clubs like Bolton Wanderers and Celtic.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Football
When Johan Mjällby was young, he was good at both football and tennis. He had to choose which sport to play professionally. He decided to focus on football. In 1984, he joined AIK, a big club in Sweden. Before that, he played for IK Bele.
Time at AIK
Mjällby spent 14 years playing for AIK. He became a key player in midfield, known for his tough tackling. In 1992, AIK won the league, but Mjällby did not take a medal. He felt he had not played enough to earn it. He finally won a league title with AIK in 1998, which was a special moment for him.
Playing for Celtic
In November 1998, Mjällby moved to Celtic in Scotland. He joined for about £1.2 million. He made his first appearance for Celtic in a famous 5–1 win against their rivals, Rangers. He played as a central defender in that game.
Mjällby became a very important player for Celtic. He helped the team win many trophies. In the 2000–01 season, Celtic won the "Domestic Treble." This means they won the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish League Cup, and the Scottish Cup all in one year.
He also played in the UEFA Champions League for Celtic. In 2003, Celtic reached the final of the UEFA Cup. They played against FC Porto but lost 3–2 after extra time. Mjällby was a big part of that team. He was sometimes called "Big Dolph" by fans because he looked a bit like the actor Dolph Lundgren. He left Celtic in 2004 after six successful years.
Short Time at Levante
After Celtic, Mjällby signed with Levante in Spain. This team had just been promoted to the top league. However, he had bad luck with injuries, especially to his knee. He had two operations but could not fully recover. Because of his injuries, he had to retire from playing football.
Return to AIK and Retirement
After retiring from Levante, Mjällby went back to Sweden. He tried to make a comeback and rejoined his old club, AIK, in 2006. But his knee injury continued to cause problems. On May 16, 2006, he had to retire from professional football for good.
International Career
Playing for Sweden's Youth Team
Johan Mjällby played seven games for the Swedish Under-21 team. He then made his first appearance for the senior Swedish national team in 1997. His first goal for Sweden came in a game against England in 1998.
UEFA Euro 2000 Tournament
At the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament, Mjällby scored a goal for Sweden in their first match against Belgium. Sweden lost that game 2–1.
Captain at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
Mjällby was the captain of the Swedish team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He became captain because another defender, Patrik Andersson, was injured. Mjällby played very well with his defensive partner, Andreas Jakobsson. Sweden won their group, which included strong teams like England and Argentina. They were knocked out in the second round by Senegal.
UEFA Euro 2004 and Final Games
Mjällby was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2004, but he did not play in any matches. He played his last game for Sweden in October 2004. In total, he played 49 games for his country and scored 4 goals.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Johan Mjällby became a football coach.
Assistant Manager at Celtic
In March 2010, Mjällby became the assistant manager at Celtic. He worked alongside his former teammate, Neil Lennon, who was the temporary manager. Mjällby said he and Lennon wanted to bring a "will-to-win" spirit to the team. He stayed as assistant manager until April 2014.
Assistant Manager at Bolton Wanderers
In October 2014, Mjällby joined Bolton Wanderers as an assistant manager. He worked with Neil Lennon again. He left Bolton in September 2015 for personal reasons.
Head Coach at Västerås SK
In February 2016, Mjällby took on a new role. He became the head coach of Västerås SK, a team in the Swedish Division 1. He has also managed other Swedish clubs since then, including Gefle IF and FC Stockholm Internazionale.
Achievements and Awards
Johan Mjällby won many awards during his playing career.
With AIK
- Allsvenskan (Swedish League): 1992, 1998
- Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup): 1995–96, 1996–97
With Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04
- Scottish League Cup: 1999–2000, 2000–01
- Scottish Cup: 2000–01, 2003–04
- UEFA Cup runner-up: 2002–03
See also
In Spanish: Johan Mjällby para niños
