The presence of Swedish players in the English Premier League started in its inaugural season – 1992/1993. Patrik Andersson initiated that presence when he signed for Blackburn Rovers in 1992. This was back when Rovers finished fourth, so it was quite the signing. It was a solid team. Since then, more and more Swedish greats called the Premier League their home. Erik Edman of Tottenham Hotspur, Stefan Schwarz of Arsenal and later Sunderland, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United within recent years, as a few examples. Despite how good each of these players are, they have one thing in common – they never won the league. So how many Swedish players did go on to lift the title?
Swedish Players With Premier League Titles
Jesper Blomqvist
Jesper Blomqvist is an often neglected player that nonetheless played in Manchester United’s treble-winning side of the 1998/99 season. Neglected is perhaps not entirely accurate – it was more a matter of him being overshadowed by the Reds’ world-class squad. But, Blomqvist was a superb player. He had the same problem with the national team. Sweden’s national team of the 1990s, at least the early-to-mid part of the decade, was one of their greatest-ever, reaching the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 1992 at finishing third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Freddie Ljungberg
An Arsenal legend and the only Swedish player with two Premier League titles. Both with Arsenal, of course. One in 2001/02 and the second in the Gunners’ invincible season of 2003/04. Unlike Blomqvist, who was ‘unfortunate’ to play around other players who were even greater than himself, Freddie Ljungberg was instrumental for Arsenal and is considered a legend to this day. He has the opportunity to become a legendary manager too, despite his shaky start. Forty-two is a very young age for a football manager and he will have a lot of time to learn, grow, and improve.
Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson is such an iconic Celtic player. No, sorry. God. Celtic God. Such an iconic Celtic God (and later Barcelona) that few people remember his 2006/07 Premier League title with Manchester United. Although, admittedly, it is perhaps not too surprising few people remember it, considering he only made seven appearances during the season. He was still superb in the few games he did play, though.
Honourable Mentions
Anders Limpar is another victim of Sweden’s golden generation of the 1990s. In any other era, he would’ve been one of the best players for the national team. But during that time, the entire team was a ‘best player’. He won an English League title with Arsenal in the 1990/91 season. However, this was before the inception of the FA Premier League, which exempts him from this list, unfortunately.
There are few examples of one player winning against eleven others in a football match, but that’s what Glenn Hysen did against England at Wembley during 1990 World Cup qualification. He was just as instrumental for Liverpool’s last English League title in 1989-90.
Main Photo
