Ralf Edström facts for kids
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Ralf Edström in 1973
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ralf Sigvard Edström | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Degerfors, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1971 | Degerfors IF | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1968–1970 | Degerfors IF | ||
| 1971–1973 | Åtvidabergs FF | 52 | (28) |
| 1973–1977 | PSV Eindhoven | 153 | (81) |
| 1977–1979 | IFK Göteborg | 37 | (14) |
| 1979–1981 | Standard Liège | 51 | (27) |
| 1981–1983 | AS Monaco | 49 | (16) |
| 1983–1985 | Örgryte IS | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 301 | (140) | |
| International career | |||
| 1969–1971 | Sweden U19 | 14 | (9) |
| 1971–1972 | Sweden U21 | 7 | (4) |
| 1972–1980 | Sweden | 40 | (15) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ralf Sigvard Edström (born on October 7, 1952) is a famous Swedish former football player. He played as a forward, which means he was an attacker who scored goals. Many people think he was Sweden's best player in the 1970s.
Ralf started his football journey with Degerfors IF in the late 1960s. He then played for several big clubs like Åtvidabergs FF, PSV Eindhoven, IFK Göteborg, Standard Liege, and AS Monaco. He stopped playing professionally in 1985 at Örgryte IS.
He also played for the Swedish national team from 1972 to 1980. He played 40 games and scored 15 goals for his country. Ralf represented Sweden in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup tournaments. He was even named Sweden's best player, winning the Guldbollen award in 1972 and 1974.
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Playing for Clubs
Ralf Edström began his career at Degerfors IF, a club known for developing young football talents. He later moved to Åtvidabergs FF and helped them win the Swedish national championship in 1972.
In 1973, he joined PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. There, he was part of the team that won the Dutch national championship twice, in 1974–75 and 1975–76. Ralf became a champion in Sweden, the Netherlands (twice), and France. He also won national cups in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
He was voted Swedish player of the year twice, in 1972 and 1974. This is when he received the prestigious Guldbollen award. Towards the end of his career, while playing for AS Monaco, he injured his knee. This injury unfortunately stopped him from playing any games for Örgryte IS and led to his retirement in 1985.
Playing for Sweden
Ralf Edström played 40 games for the Swedish national team and scored 15 goals. He is especially remembered for his great performance in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He played a big part in Sweden finishing fifth in that tournament. He played six games and scored four goals during the 1974 World Cup.
During the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, Ralf had an unusual experience. He was briefly stopped by military officials in Buenos Aires after speaking to a local person. However, once they realized he was a professional footballer there for the World Cup, they quickly let him go.
Life After Football
After retiring from playing football, Ralf Edström became a radio commentator. He has been sharing his expert opinions on football matches since the 1980s.
Major Achievements
Ralf Edström won many titles and awards during his football career:
Team Trophies
- Åtvidabergs FF
- Allsvenskan (Swedish League): 1972, 1973
- Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup): 1970–71
- PSV Eindhoven
- Eredivisie (Dutch League): 1974–75, 1975–76
- KNVB Cup (Dutch Cup): 1973–74, 1975–76
- IFK Göteborg
- Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup): 1978–79
- Standard Liege
- Belgian Cup: 1981
- AS Monaco
- French Division 1 (French League): 1981–82
Individual Awards
- Allsvenskan top scorer: 1972 (He scored the most goals in the Swedish league)
- Guldbollen: 1972, 1974 (Award for Sweden's best male football player)
- World Soccer World XI: 1975 (Named one of the best players in the world by World Soccer magazine)
- Sport Ideal European XI: 1975 (Named one of the best players in Europe)
- Swedish Football Hall of Fame: 2003 (Recognized as one of the greatest Swedish footballers of all time)
See also
In Spanish: Ralf Edström para niños
