Joachim Björklund
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Joachim Björklund (born March 15, 1971 in Växjö) is a Swedish footballer. For many years he formed a solid defense duo with Patrik Andersson on the Swedish national team. Björklund was selected for the Euro 1992, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000. He was also a member of the Swedish squad that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Taking the leap from junior team obscurity to becoming a star in S.K. Brann, he was later sold to what then arguably was the top club in Scandinavia, IFK Gothenburg. Here, his side achieved a surprise 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the group stage of the 1994-95 Champions League. At the end of the following season, he was transferred to Vicenza Calcio and the following year to Glasgow Rangers where he won a Scottish league championship medal before moving to Valencia CF in Spain. He spent three years at Valencia before moving to S.S.C. Venezia in Italy, where he was employed for just one season.
Bjorklund joined Sunderland AFC the start of the 2002-03 season but was unable to prevent them from being relegated as statistically the worst Premiership team to date. 2003-04 was better, as he helped Sunderland finish third in Division One and reach the F.A Cup semi final. But his services were no longer required by manager Mick McCarthy and he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had just been relegated from the Premiership. He left the club after just one season having failed to get them promoted.
[edit] Clubs
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (2004–2005)
- Sunderland AFC (2002–2004)
- A.C. Venezia (2001–2002)
- Valencia CF (1998–2001)
- Rangers (1996–1998)
- Vicenza Calcio (1995–1996)
- IFK Göteborg (1993–1995)
- S.K. Brann (1990–1992)
- Östers IF (–1989)
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Sweden squad - 1994 World Cup Third Place | |
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1 Ravelli | 2 R. Nilsson | 3 P. Andersson | 4 Björklund | 5 Ljung | 6 Schwarz | 7 Larsson | 8 Ingesson | 9 Thern | 10 Dahlin | 11 Brolin | 12 Eriksson | 13 M. Nilsson | 14 Kåmark | 15 Lučić | 16 Limpar | 17 Rehn | 18 Mild | 19 K. Andersson | 20 Erlingmark | 21 Blomqvist | 22 Hedman | Coach: Svensson |
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This biographical article related to Swedish football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.Categories: 1971 births | Living people | Swedish footballers | Olympic competitors for Sweden | Vicenza Calcio players | S.S.C. Venezia players | Serie A players | Non-Italian football players in Italy | Rangers F.C. players | Sunderland A.F.C. players | Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players | S.K. Brann players | FA Premier League players | UEFA Euro 1992 players | FIFA World Cup 1994 players | UEFA Euro 2000 players | Swedish football biography stubs
