Roland Nilsson
Nilsson in November 2011
Roland Nilsson ( born November 27, 1963 in Helsingborg ) is a former Swedish football player who now works as a coach. The defender, who earned 116 caps for the Swedish national team, completed his active career in Sweden and England. Both as a player and as a coach, he won the Swedish championship title.
- 2.1 In England as player-coach
- 2.2 trainer in Sweden
- 2.3 move abroad
Playing career
Debut
Nilsson made his debut in 1981 as a 17 -year-old wearing the jersey of Helsingborgs IF in the Division 1 he quickly was able to hold on to the position of right-back in the team and was considered one of the great talents of Swedish football. In the same year he participated with the Swedish Junior National Team at the U -18 Football Championship in 1981, as second in the group behind Poland the semi-finals but was missed.
Successful years with IFK Gothenburg
1983 Nilsson moved in the Allsvenskan for IFK Göteborg. Here he found, however, in the first two seasons mainly on the bench again. Only in the season 1985 he was able to work out a permanent place in defense. His club to the European Cup of Champions 1985/86 qualifies as the Swedish championship in 1984 and reached the semi-final against Barcelona. After a 3-0 first-leg victory there was in the second leg after a hat-trick of Pichi Alonso a 0-3 defeat, so that the shoot had to decide. Unhappy different Nilsson and his team with 4:5 from. A short time later Nilsson made her debut in the Swedish national team in the 0-0 draw against Greece on 1 May 1986.
It was followed by the successful 1987 in which Nilsson was a mainstay of the team in the UEFA Cup, which was won by a 1-0 home win and a 1-1 draw against Dundee United. Moreover, succeeded in winning the Swedish championship title.
First stay in England
After the end of the season 1989, in which only the seventh place was occupied, Nilsson left Sweden and moved to England for £ 375,000 for first division club Sheffield Wednesday. Although the club missed the league, Nilsson nevertheless decided to stay with the club and managed the chances of promotion to the Football League First Division. In 1991, the League Cup was won and two years later the club was in both the League Cup and FA Cup in the final. Curiously, both were lost in each game with 1:2 against Arsenal. Due to its solid gameplay Nilsson made her very popular with the fans and is considered by some as the best foreign professional of all time with the club.
Upon reaching the 1990 World Cup, the Swedish national team for the first time since the 1978 World Cup qualifying again for an international tournament and Nilsson was at the tournament to the Swedish squad. However, the team was eliminated after three defeats 1:2 as a group Last in the preliminary round, Nilsson played all three games. Also at the European Championships 92 in their own country the defender was part of the permanent staff and made the semi-finals, where Germany was able to prevail 3-2 up.
Return to Sweden
In January 1994, Nilsson explained to his English employer that he wants to return to Sweden. The association asked him to wait until the end of the season and then gave him the release. He then returned free transfer back to his home club Helsingborgs IF. In the summer, he reached with the national team at the 1994 World Cup 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.
With Helsingborgs IF Nilsson could surprise in the Allsvenskan and the cup. Although the major titles was missed in 1995 succeeded in retaining the runner-up and a year later the third place. 1996 was one of his best years. Neither the League nor the national team, he missed a game. At the end of the season he was awarded the Guldbollen as Sweden's football of the year.
Again to England
1997, although already 33 years old, Coventry City Nilsson submitted a contract offer for a return to England. Ron Atkinson, once the coach, who had brought to Sheffield Nilsson, and now operates in Coventry wanted to have him back and the club had over £ 200,000 for him. After a weak start to the season Atkinson was sacked and the team struggled all season against relegation, which was avoided until the final day. Nilsson played one more season for the club, before he returned in the summer of 1999 back to Helsingborgs IF.
Return to Helsingborgs IF
In October 1999, Nilsson was able to celebrate another championship title, the first championship HIFs. During the Euro 2000 he joined since 1941 for the last time at a tournament. After an error it had committed in the first game against Belgium before the break, by Bart Goor led to 0:1, he was replaced at half-time. Then he no longer was used and the team retired in the first round out. On 11 October 2000, he took leave from international football with a 0-0 draw in the match against Slovakia. This has been his 116th international match, so he stands in the international game list behind Thomas Ravelli (143 inserts) in second place.
Coaching career
In England as player-coach
After the season 2000 Nilsson returned as imaginary transitional solution as player-coach at Coventry City, who were in acute danger of relegation. After a series of victories he was offered a permanent position. A short time later, however, left him the happiness and after it went downhill again, Nilsson only focused on the coaching job and hung the boots to kick the nail. This brought the success and not back in April 2002, Nilsson was released.
Coach in Sweden
Nilsson returned to Sweden and initially took a Jugentrainerposten at Helsingborgs IF. In 2004, he accepted an offer from GAIS Gothenburg, to be their trainer. Ranking third Superettan 2005 he qualified with the club for the play-offs for the Allsvenskan. After a 2-1 win in the first leg against Landskrona BoIS handed a 0-0 draw in the return leg to move up to make it perfect. In the 2006 season he reached the league with the 10th Place.
In January 2008 Nilsson took over as coach at Malmö FF. In the first two seasons, he finished with the team at the end of the season places in the mid table area. In the season of 2010, finally dueled in the previous years, especially with young players such as Ivo Pekalski, Daniel Larsson, Agon Mehmeti, Guillermo Molins and Johan Dahlin strengthened team with Helsingborgs IF for the title. With a two point lead the club to Lennart Johansson trophy took on the last day as an award.
Move abroad
After the championship success, rumors regarding a change to Denmark on to FC Copenhagen. In March, was first reported by actual negotiations between Malmö FF and the Danish Club. On April 1, finally gave FC Copenhagen on his club's website known to have the Swedes from 1 July as their new head coach. While he ranked with the club in the Danish championship at the top, the team failed in the European Cup early. First, they missed against Viktoria Plzen to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2011/ 12, then they finished the group stage of the UEFA Europa League 2011/12 after just one win against Vorskla Poltava behind for the Round of qualified Standard Liege and Hannover 96 as group of third parties. On 9 January 2012, the club announced that the collaboration with Nilsson was over.
Achievements
- World Cup Third: 1994
- UEFA Cup winners: 1987
- Swedish Champion: 1984, 1987, 1999 (players ), 2010 ( Trainer)
- League Cup: 1991
- Guldbollen: 1996