Mikael Hellström Explained

Mikael Hellström
Birth Date:11 March 1972
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Height:1.780NaN0
Position:Defender, Midfielder
Youthyears1:–1981
Youthclubs1:Västerhaninge IF
Youthyears2:1982–1989
Youthclubs2:Hammarby IF
Years1:1990–2005
Clubs1:Hammarby IF
Caps1:301
Goals1:18
Nationalyears1:1991
Nationalteam1:Sweden U18
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1999
Nationalteam2:Sweden
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0

Mikael "Hella" Hellström (born 11 March 1972) is a Swedish retired footballer. Throughout his whole professional career he represented Hammarby IF, as a one club man.

Early life

Mikael Hellström started playing football at the local club Västerhaninge IF, before joining Hammarby IF as a youth player in 1982, at age 10.[1] As a youngster, he mostly played a central defender.[2]

Club career

He advanced through the ranks at Hammarby and made his senior debut for the club in Allsvenskan in 1990, aged 18.[3] His first competitive appearance came as a substitute in a local derby on August 13 in a shocking 1-9 loss against Djurgårdens IF.[2]

He soon established himself as a regular starter during the 1990s, a period when Hammarby was known as a yo-yo club bouncing between the first and second tier. He usually played at a central midfield position, being known as a technically gifted player with a great set of leadership and work rate.[1]

During the later years of his career he repositioned himself playing as a left full back. His biggest achievement came in 2001 when Hammarby won Allsvenskan for the first time in the club's history.[4]

During the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League qualification stage, he featured in both games as Hammarby got knocked out by the Serbian side Partizan Belgrade in the second round (1-5 on aggregate).[2]

Mikael Hellström was forced into retirement in 2005, aged 33, due to a hip injury. In total, he made 301 league appearances for Hammarby IF and scored 18 goals. Hellström also captained the side in the seasons of 1999, 2000 and 2002.[2]

In 2004, Hellström was voted as Hammarby Fotboll's twelfth biggest profile throughout the history of the club.[5] Between 2007 and 2008, he worked as a scout for said club during the reign of manager Tony Gustavsson and director of football (as well as former teammate) Lars Eriksson.[6]

International career

Hellström was a part of the Swedish under-20 national team during the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal. He won his first, and single cap, for the side in a 0-2 group stage loss against Brazil on 20 June in said tournament.[2]

In May 1999, he won his first and only cap for the Sweden national team, playing the entire game in a 2–1 friendly over Jamaica on Råsunda Stadium.[7]

Honours

Hammarby

2001

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mikael Hellström från Hammarby 12 säsonger. Svenska Fans . July 15, 2005 . February 20, 2017.
  2. Web site: Mikael Hellström. Hammarby Fotboll . Swedish . https://web.archive.org/web/20110513015203/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/?playerid=17&teamId=177. 2011-05-13. 2017-03-01. dead.
  3. Web site: Trotjänaren. Mikael Hellström är allsvenskans mest lojale spelare. Har gjort 22 säsonger i Hammarby.. Dagens Nyheter . July 6, 2004 . February 20, 2017.
  4. Web site: Intervju: Guldmedaljören från 2001 Mikael "Hella" Hellström. Hammarby IF . January 23, 2015 . February 20, 2017.
  5. Web site: Historik. Hammarby Fotboll . Swedish . https://web.archive.org/web/20110326220649/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/omhammarbyfotboll/historik/. 2011-03-26. 2017-03-01. dead.
  6. Web site: Hammarby kartlägger Sverige. Idrottens Affärer. March 10, 2008 . March 16, 2017.
  7. News: Hellström lägger skorna på hyllan. Sveriges Radio . September 10, 2005 . February 20, 2017.