Joachim Björklund
Joachim Björklund (2010)
Joachim Björklund ( born March 15, 1971 in Växjö ) is a former Swedish football player.
Career
Debut
Björklund played in youth at Östers IF. 1990, he joined SK Brann in the Norwegian Tippeligaen. Here he quickly fought his way to a regular place and made his debut in 1991 in the Swedish national team. A year later he was part of the Swedish squad for the Olympic Games in Barcelona and the European Championships at home, where he stood in all four games on the court.
Successful Years with IFK Gothenburg
After three years in Norway in 1993, he went back to Sweden to IFK Göteborg. With the club he won from 1993 to 1995 three times in a row, the Swedish title.
At the World Championships in 1994, he belonged to the permanent staff, and came in all Swedish games used. He reached the national semi-final against Brazil. After a 0-1 defeat you missed the final, but was able to after a significant 4-0 win against listless pleased Bulgarians over the bronze medal.
In the Champions League season 94/95 Björklund could surprise with his team, as FC Barcelona and Manchester United were beaten, and the group managed to win. Although the club subsequently failed to Bayern Munich on away goals, players like Björklund had aroused interest outside Sweden.
Abroad
In summer 1995, Björklund joined the Italian club Vicenza Calcio, playing in Serie B. At the end of the season, in which he played 33 games season, managed third place and with it promotion to the Serie A.
However Björklund left the club after just one season and went to Scotland to Glasgow Rangers. In his first season he won the Scottish championship with the club. After a second place the following year and winning the Scottish League Cup, he finished his commitment to Scotland.
Back in Southern Europe
Björklund hired in 1998 at Valencia in La Liga on. After 19 years without a title, the Copa del Rey was recovered in the season 1998/99 again. Atlético Madrid was clearly defeated in the finals 3-0. 2000 and 2001, the club was in each case the final of the UEFA Champions League, Björklund but was not on the lawn.
After the Swedish national team had failed to qualify for Euro 96 and World Cup 98, was achieved with the participation in the EURO 2000, the return to a major tournament. As with the last few tournaments Björklund again belonged to the tribe of the team. However, Sweden dropped out after only one point win against Turkey as a group Last prematurely. The last of his 78 international matches played Björklund on 11 October 2000 against Slovakia.
2001 left Björklund Spain and returned to Italy. One season he was at SSC Venice under contract. However, the commitment is not marked by success, the newly Ascended Club is only Table.
On the island
2002 wrote Björklund at AFC Sunderland. However, he also missed here with only 19 points against relegation in the Premier League. This is the worst result of the club's history. In the following season in the First Division managed the third place and the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where the Millwall FC in Old Trafford prevailed 1-0 to. Coach Mick McCarthy sorted him out at the end of the season and Björklund moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were relegated to the Football League Championship. Here he came only at the beginning of the season to some missions and stated after the season for his resignation.
After ending his active career, he was hired by his former club Valencia CF as a talent scout for the Scandinavian region.
Achievements
- World Cup Third: 1994
- Swedish Champion: 1993, 1994, 1995
- Scottish Champion: 1997
- Scottish League Cup: 1998
- Copa del Rey: 1999
- National football team (Sweden)
- Swede
- Born in 1971
- Man