Marcus Antonsson Explained

Marcus Antonsson
Full Name:Carl Marcus Christer Antonsson[1]
Birth Date:8 May 1991
Birth Place:Unnaryd, Sweden
Height:1.84 m
Position:Striker, Left winger
Currentclub:Western Sydney Wanderers
Clubnumber:9
Youthclubs1:Unnaryds GoIF
Youthyears2:2009–2010
Youthclubs2:Halmstads BK
Years1:2010–2014
Clubs1:Halmstads BK
Caps1:71
Goals1:11
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Kalmar FF
Caps2:41
Goals2:22
Years3:2016–2018
Clubs3:Leeds United
Caps3:16
Goals3:1
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Blackburn Rovers (loan)
Caps4:31
Goals4:7
Years5:2018–2021
Clubs5:Malmö FF
Caps5:49
Goals5:15
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Stabæk (loan)
Caps6:10
Goals6:1
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Halmstads BK (loan)
Caps7:27
Goals7:6
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:IFK Värnamo
Caps8:30
Goals8:20
Years9:2023
Clubs9:Al-Adalah
Caps9:15
Goals9:6
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Western Sydney Wanderers
Caps10:24
Goals10:5
Club-Update:2 May 2024

Carl Marcus Christer Antonsson (born 8 May 1991) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers. He can also play as a forward or as a left winger.

He formerly played for English sides Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers.[2]

Club career

Halmstad

Antonsson started his youth career at Unnaryds GoIF before joining Halmstads BK in 2009, making his Allsvenskan debut for Halmstad on 7 November 2010 against Djurgårdens IF. He played 71 league games for Halmstads BK and scored 11 goals.

Kalmar

Antonsson joined Kalmar FF in 2015. He scored 12 goals in 28 appearances in his first season at the club; his 12 goals saw him finish as the third top goalscorer in Allsvenskan. In February 2016, Antonsson extended his contract at Kalmar until 2018.

Antonsson scored 10 goals in his first 12 league games of the 2016–17 Swedish Allsvenskan season for Kalmar FF, making him the top scorer in the Allsvenskan at the time.

Leeds United

On 28 June 2016, Antonsson signed a three-year contract with English side Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.[3] On 5 August, he was given the squad number 10 shirt for the 2016–17 season.[4] On 7 August 2016, he made his competitive debut for the club as a second-half substitute in place of Matt Grimes, during a 3–0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.[5]

Antonsson scored his first goal for Leeds on 10 August in a League Cup fixture against Fleetwood Town.[6] His second goal of the season, and his first in the league, came on 20 August in a 2–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.[7] On 26 October, he scored his third of the season for Leeds in their win against Norwich City in the English League Cup; a dramatic penalty shootout victory after a 2–2 draw in extra time.[8]

Blackburn Rovers loan

On 11 August 2017, Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Antonsson on loan for the season.[9] On 9 September, he scored his first goal for Blackburn Rovers against Rochdale in a 0–3 victory.[10] He went on to score another two goals in September.[11] He found his position changed, being played as a left-sided forward or winger and in November he scored five goals in as many games, going on to win the PFA Player of the Month award for League One.[12]

On 2 January 2018, it was revealed by manager Tony Mowbray that Antonsson had picked up an injury against Scunthorpe on 30 December, and would be ruled out for several weeks.[13] He returned from injury on 19 February against Bury. On 24 April, he gained automatic promotion to the Championship with Blackburn after their 1–0 win against Doncaster Rovers.[14]

Leeds return

After returning to Leeds, Antonsson was told he was not in the plans of new manager Marcelo Bielsa and held negotiations of a transfer to Italian Serie B Side Brescia, now owned by previous Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.[15]

Malmö FF

On 14 July 2018, Antonsson joined Allsvenskan side Malmö FF on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Leeds United after being signed by manager Uwe Rösler.[16] He made his debut for the Swedish club on 21 July 2018, when he came on as a substitute in Malmö's 2–1 away league win over Örebro SK. He crowned a successful autumn with the winning goal at Beşiktaş away from home, as Malmö progressed to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.[17]

Värnamo

On 3 February 2022, Antonsson signed with Allsvenskan newcomer IFK Värnamo.[18]

Al-Adalah

On 25 January 2023, Antonsson joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Adalah.[19]

Western Sydney Wanderers

After 6 goals in 16 games for Al-Adalah, it was announced that Antonsson had signed for Australian A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year contract. [20]

International career

Uncapped by Sweden, Antonsson was linked with a possible call up to the national side for Euro 2016 due to his form with Kalmar FF; however he was not called upon and missed out on the squad.[21]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Halmstads BK2010Allsvenskan100010
2011600060
2012Superettan181422[22] 1244
2013Allsvenskan2024120263
201426612278
Total71995418415
Kalmar FF2015Allsvenskan2812633415
20161210001210
Total4022634625
Leeds United2016–17Championship1612032213
2017–1800000000
Total1612032213
Blackburn Rovers (loan)2017–18League One3172110348
Malmö FF2018Allsvenskan158101252813
2019266431114110
2020815220153
Total49151052568426
Career total207542914422564126977

Honours

Blackburn Rovers

Malmö FF

2020

Individual

November 2017[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Retained List 2016-17. English Football League. 13 June 2017.
  2. Web site: Marcus Antonsson. Svenskfotboll. 13 January 2012.
  3. Web site: UNITED AGREE ANTONSSON DEAL . Leeds United . 28 June 2016 . 28 June 2016 .
  4. Web site: 2016/17 SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED . Leeds United . 6 August 2016 . 6 August 2016 .
  5. Web site: QPR CLAIM OPENING VICTORY . Leeds United . 7 August 2016 . 7 August 2016 .
  6. Web site: MATCHDAY: FLEETWOOD – LIVE! . Leeds United . 10 August 2016 . 10 August 2016 .
  7. Web site: UNITED TOO STRONG FOR WEDNESDAY . Leeds United . 20 August 2016 . 20 August 2016 .
  8. Web site: NORWICH CITY: PENALTIES SEE LEEDS EDGE CLASSIC . Leeds United . 26 October 2016 . 26 October 2016.
  9. News: Antonsson arrives at Ewood Park . Blackburn Rovers . 11 August 2017 . 11 August 2017.
  10. News: Rochdale 0–3 Blackburn Rovers. BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: Marcus Antonsson Football Stats Leeds United Season 2017/2018 Soccer Base. www.soccerbase.com. 20 December 2017.
  12. Web site: Leeds United: On-loan striker Marcus Antonsson letting his goals do the talking at Blackburn. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. en. 20 December 2017.
  13. Web site: Boss discusses Antonsson injury. Blackburn Rovers. en. 2 January 2018.
  14. Web site: Will loanee Antonsson return and fight for a place at Leeds after Blackburn's promotion? . Yorkshire Evening Post. en. 24 April 2018.
  15. Web site: Brescia target Leeds left-back Denton with Antonsson deal close. Yorkshire Evening Post. en. 7 July 2018.
  16. Web site: Welcome to Malmö FF, Marcus Antonsson!. Malmö FF. sv. 14 July 2018.
  17. Web site: TV: MFF klart för slutspel i Europa League – skrällvann borta mot Besiktas. sv. 13 December 2018. 14 February 2019. Hansson. Jonas. Fotbollskanalen.
  18. Värnamo. MARCUS ANTONSSON ÄR KLAR FÖR IFK VÄRNAMO. 3 February 2022. 6 April 2022. sv.
  19. Web site: العدالة يتعاقد مع البرتغالي يوجـينيو و السـويدي أنتونـسون .
  20. Web site: Comito . Matt . Former Leeds & Blackburn striker ‘very excited’ to take on Wanderers ‘challenge . Keep Up . 12 July 2023 . 30 June 2023.
  21. Web site: Leeds United close to signing top Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson. Sky Sports. 20 June 2016. 20 June 2016.
  22. Appearances in the Allsvenskan/Superettan play-offs
  23. Book: John . Anderson . Football Yearbook 2018–2019 . 2018 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-6106-9 . 54–55.