Thomas Ravelli

Thomas Ravelli (2009)

Thomas Ravelli ( born August 13, 1959 in Vimmerby ) is a former Swedish football player. He was keeper of the Swedish national football team.

Family and origin

Ravellis parents were from Austria, Father Peter was a doctor from Sillian in East Tyrol, his mother Grete is originally from Millstatt in Carinthia. In the early 1950s the immigrant Ravellis to Sweden. Ravellis twin brother Andrew played together with him during Östers IF and the national team. Ravelli is married and has three children.

Career

He played 1981-1997 in a total of 143 appearances for the Swedish national team, and was thus up to the September 10, 2013 Record - national team of Sweden. Then he was outbid by Anders Svensson, but remained record - keeper of Sweden. On 8 June 1995, he surpassed in the game against England with his 126th match the European record by Peter Shilton. This he extended to 143 games and held it until 23 February 2000 he was outbid by Lothar Matthäus. With his 127th game on 8 or 10 June 1995 (depending on whether the games of Hussain Said at the Olympic Games in 1980, 1984 and 1988 and the qualifiers are counted them), he was also as previously Europeans last world record holder. This he remained until May 21, 1996 he was replaced by Adnan Al Khamees Talyani (UAE). He was the first world record holders in recent history, which has been detached during his playing days.

He participated among others in the 1990 World Cup, European Championships in 1992 and 1994 World Cup. His twin brother Andrew was also football players, but not nearly as successful as his brother. Ravelli was Swedish Champion in 1980 and 1981 with Östers IF and 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1996 with IFK Gothenburg. In the 1994 World Cup, he became the hero when he parried two penalties in the quarter-final match against Romania. Because of this action, he is still very popular in the country.

After his career end Ravelli has continued to work for his old club IFK Göteborg. He is also a very popular guest on television shows and frequently encountered as a goalkeeper at charity games.