Lars-Ove Johansson Explained

Lars-Ove Johansson
Fullname:Lars-Ove Johansson
Birth Date:14 November 1938[1]
Birth Place:Härnösand, Sweden
Death Date:[2]
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1953–1956
Youthclubs1:IF Älgarna
Years1:1956–1964
Clubs1:Hammarby IF
Caps1:116
Goals1:65
Years2:1965–1966
Clubs2:IFK Västerås
Nationalyears1:1956–1961
Nationalteam1:Sweden U21
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:8
Nationalyears2:1960
Nationalteam2:Sweden B
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:1961
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0

Lars-Ove "Larsa" Johansson (14 November 1938 – 11 November 2019) was a Swedish footballer who played as a forward, best known for representing Hammarby IF.

Club career

Johansson was born in Härnösand and started to play football with local club IF Älgarna, making his debut for the senior team at age 14 in the Swedish lower divisions. As a youngster, he reportedly attracted interest from Degerfors IF.[3]

Before the 1956–57 season, Johansson instead transferred to Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan, the domestic top tier. Aged 18, he immediately established himself as a starting player, but Hammarby got relegated at the end of the year.[4]

In 1957–58, Hammarby scored an impressive 117 goals in 33 fixtures throughout the campaign, with Johansson playing an integral part, getting instantly promoted from the second division.[5]

Johansson established himself as a frequent starter for Hammarby in Allsvenskan between 1959 and 1963. He got known as a prolific goalscorer with a powerful shot, forming a fruitful partnership with forward Karl-Evert Skoglund.[6] [3]

Being plagued by injuries his whole career, Johansson only played one game Hammarby in 1964, now competing in the second tier again, and left the club at the end of the year.[7] [1] In total, Johansson made 116 league appearances for Hammarby, scoring 65 goals.[3]

Johansson ended his career with IFK Västerås, playing two seasons before announcing his retirement in 1966, aged 28.[1]

International career

After regularly featuring for the Swedish U21's and B-team,[1] Johansson won his first and only senior cap for Sweden on 18 September 1960. He played the full game in a 1–3 loss against Norway, in an away friendly.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Landslagsdatabasen: Lars-Ove Johansson. Swedish Football Association. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  2. Web site: Lars-Ove "Larsa" Johansson. Worldfotboll.net. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  3. Web site: "Larsa" sköt lika hårt som Nordahl. Bolletinen. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  4. Web site: 1957. HIF Historia. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  5. Web site: 1958. HIF Historia. 30 October 2020. Swedish.
  6. Web site: "Ya" avstod från Italien – men inte från Skövde. Bolletinen. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  7. Web site: 1964. HIF Historia. 15 November 2020. Swedish.
  8. Web site: Norge 3 – 1 Sverige. Swedish Football Association. 15 November 2020. Swedish.