Erik Israelsson Explained

Erik Israelsson
Fullname:Erik Gustav Roger Israelsson
Birth Date:25 February 1989
Birth Place:Kalmar, Sweden
Height:1.83 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Lindsdals IF
Years1:2008–2013
Clubs1:Kalmar FF
Caps1:89
Goals1:13
Years2:2014–2017
Clubs2:Hammarby IF
Caps2:76
Goals2:20
Years3:2017–2019
Clubs3:PEC Zwolle
Caps3:17
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:Vålerenga (loan)
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Vålerenga
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Kalmar
Caps6:35
Goals6:4
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalteam1:Sweden U17
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2008
Nationalteam2:Sweden U19
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2008
Nationalteam3:Sweden U21
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Totalcaps:233
Totalgoals:38

Erik Gustav Roger Israelsson (born 25 February 1989) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Starting off his career with Kalmar FF in 2008, he went on to represent Hammarby IF, PEC Zwolle, and Vålerenga before retiring at Kalmar FF in 2022.

Club career

Early career and Kalmar

Israelsson joined Kalmar FF in 2005 from local club Lindsdals IF. He played three games during the 2008 Allsvenskan, when Kalmar were crowned champions. He became a regular at Kalmar from 2010 and onwards, playing 76 games during the following three seasons and scoring 13 times.[1] Before the start of the 2013 Allsvenskan he incurred a fractured toe witch eventually caused him to miss half of the season.[2]

Hammarby

On 6 December 2013, he signed for Hammarby IF.[3] This shortly after Nanne Bergstrand, his former manager at Kalmar, had been appointed as Hammarby's new manager. During his first season at Hammarby, he helped he team to gain promotion to Allsvenskan. In 2015, he scored six goals in 22 games, being voted "player of the year" by the supporters of the club. In a local derby against AIK on 27 September 2015, he scored a late header which secured a 1–0 win for Hammarby. In the aftermath of the goal, he suffered a concussion as well as a broken foot. This goal was later voted as the "goal of the season" by the Hammarby supporters.[4]

On 1 February 2016, he signed a new three-year deal with Hammarby, tying him to the club until 2018.[5] In the 2016 season Israelsson was the club's top scorer, managing to strike 10 goals in the league play.

Zwolle

On 14 January 2017, it was announced that Israelsson had signed a 2.5-year deal with Dutch Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle. The transfer fee was undisclosed.[6] [7] He made his competitive debut for the side on 5 February 2017 in a game against Sparta Rotterdam. Israelsson was brought on as a substitute during the final stage of the game, scoring only minutes later whilst securing a 3–2 win for Zwolle.[8]

Vålerenga

Israelsson first joined Vålerenga on loan in 2018, and then signed permanently until 2020.[9] [10]

Return to Kalmar and retirement

Israelsson announced his return to Kalmar FF ahead of the 2020 Allsvenskan season. He announced his retirement from professional football on 23 September 2022 after battling multiple injuries during his second stint at Kalmar FF.[11] [12]

International career

Israelsson represented the Sweden U17, U19, and U21 teams between 2006 and 2008, winning a total of 9 youth caps.[13]

Honours

Kalmar

2008

2009

Hammarby

2014

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Svenska Fotbollförbundet. Erik Israelsson. 22 May 2016.
  2. Web site: Barometern. Våren förstörd för Israelsson. 24 March 2013 . 22 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Fotbollskanalen. Israelsson klar för Hammarby. 22 May 2016.
  4. Web site: Fotbolldirekt Fotboll. Efter den otäcka knocken - nu hyllas han av Bajen. 22 May 2016.
  5. Web site: Fotbollskanalen. Israelsson förlänger med Hammarby. 22 May 2016.
  6. Web site: PEC Zwolle. PEC Zwolle versterkt zich met Erik Israelsson. 14 January 2017.
  7. Web site: Hammarby Fotboll. Erik Israelsson lämnar Hammarby. 5 February 2017.
  8. Web site: PEC Zwolle. PEC Zwolle pakt drie punten op Het Kasteel. 5 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206021948/http://www.peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/pec-zwolle-pakt-drie-punten-op-het-kasteel2017-02-05. 6 February 2017. dead.
  9. Web site: Hallberg . Jesper . 2018-07-31 . Klart: Israelsson lämnar Holland för norska Vålerenga . 2022-09-23 . Barometern . sv.
  10. Web site: 2020-03-16 . Välkommen hem, Erik Israelsson! . 2022-09-23 . Kalmar FF . sv-SE.
  11. Web site: Studio Kalmar FF möter Erik Israelsson efter beskedet att fotbollskarriären avslutas . 2022-09-23 . Kalmar FF . sv-SE.
  12. Web site: Avslutar karriären efter skadeproblemen . 2022-09-23 . www.aftonbladet.se . 23 September 2022 . sv.
  13. Web site: Erik Israelsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll . 2022-09-23 . www.svenskfotboll.se. . sv.