Name Christian Wilhelmsson Playing position Role Footballer | 1988–1997 Mjallby Height 1.77 m Years Team | |
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Full name Christian Ulf Wilhelmsson Date of birth (1979-12-08) 8 December 1979 (age 36) Spouse Oksana Andersson (m. 2010) Children Naomi Wilhelmsson, Lennox Wilhelmsson, Leon-Prince Wilhelmsson Parents Tomas Wilhelmsson, Cia Holgard Siblings Erik Wilhelmsson, Andre Holgard, Linnea Wilhelmsson, Felicia Cederberg | ||
CHRISTIAN WILHELMSSON BY ZIZO ALHILALI
Christian Ulf Wilhelmsson ([ˈkrɪstɪjan ˈvɪl(h)ɛ(l)m.ˈsɔn]; born 8 December 1979), nicknamed Chippen, is a Swedish former footballer who played as a left winger.
Contents
- CHRISTIAN WILHELMSSON BY ZIZO ALHILALI
- Christian wilhelmsson a magical player
- Early years Anderlecht
- Nantes and loans
- Saudi Arabia
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- Baniyas Mjllby
- International career
- Personal life
- Club
- International
- Individual
- References
After playing several seasons with Mjällby (three years), Stabæk (four) and Anderlecht (three), he played in quick succession for teams in France, Italy, England and Spain, before spending the better part of four years in the late 2000s in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.
Wilhelmsson played 79 times with Sweden, representing the nation at the 2006 World Cup and in three European Championships.
Christian wilhelmsson a magical player
Early years / Anderlecht
Born in Malmö, Wilhelmsson started his career with Mjällby AIF in 1997, playing in three second division seasons with the club. He then spent as many years in neighbouring Norway with Stabæk Fotball.
In the 2003 summer Wilhelmsson joined R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium, being an undisputed starter during his spell and scoring nine top division goals combined in the capital side's 2004 and 2006 league conquests.
Nantes and loans
In 2006, Wilhelmsson moved to French team FC Nantes. However, on 10 January of the following year, he joined A.S. Roma on loan until the end of the season, when the Italians had the option to buy for €3 millions. He made his Serie A debut on 14 January against FC Messina, but underwent criticism from teammates such as Christian Panucci for his lack of communication on the pitch, a derivative of his poor Italian language skills.
Roma opted against making Wilhelmsson's transfer permanent, preferring to sign Mauro Esposito and Ludovic Giuly instead, and he returned to Nantes, immediately starting seeking a new club following the Canaries' relegation from Ligue 1. Following speculation about a move to various Premier League clubs or Scottish club Celtic, he signed for Bolton Wanderers on a 12-month loan, with an option to make the deal permanent after 20 games.
Despite a disappointing spell with the Trotters – 13 appearances all competitions comprised, mostly as a substitute, his debut coming in a 1–3 away defeat against Portsmouth – Wilhelmsson was instrumental in closing the club's signing of countryman Johan Elmander for a record transfer fee, for 2008–09.
After failing to impress Bolton manager Gary Megson he was again loaned by Nantes, this time moving to Spain and Deportivo de La Coruña on 30 January 2008. He played his first La Liga match against Getafe CF, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw, and made his first start two rounds later, in a home fixture match against RCD Espanyol (2–0 home win).
Wilhelmsson scored his first goal for Depor on 1 March 2008, in a 2–1 home win against Sevilla FC, and finished the campaign firmly established in the side's starting XI – he would start in 13 of his league appearances – as the Galicians eventually finished ninth and qualified to the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
Saudi Arabia
In 2008, Wilhelmsson signed a three-year contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal FC for about €9 million. He helped the club win the league title in his second year, scoring nine goals and making ten assists in 20 appearances; for his contributions he received the Player of the Season award, going on to win four additional major titles during his tenure, including two consecutive Saudi Crown Prince Cup where he scored in both finals.
Wilhelmsson spent the first half of 2011–12 on loan with Qatar's Al Ahli SC, as cover for departing Opoku Agyemang.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Wilhelmsson was announced as a LA Galaxy player on 5 September 2012. He scored in his Major League Soccer debut nine days later, in a 2–0 win against the Colorado Rapids.
The American club opted not to renew Wilhelmsson's contract for the 2013 season.
Baniyas / Mjällby
On 14 January 2013, following his release by the Galaxy, Wilhelmsson signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with Baniyas SC. After a spell with former club Mjällby, the 35-year-old officially announced his retirement. However, in August 2015, he came out of retirement to help the latter team retain their status in the Superettan, which was eventually not avoided.
International career
Gaining his first cap in 2001, Wilhelmsson represented Sweden at UEFA Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, featuring in every one of the national team's four games in the latter tournament and starting in two.
On 4 September 2006 he was one of three international players sent home for breaking a curfew during a night out, the other two being Olof Mellberg and Zlatan Ibrahimović. In March 2011, he was involved in a training ground scuffle with the latter.
Wilhelmsson scored his first brace for Sweden in a Euro 2012 qualifier against San Marino on 6 September 2011 (5–0 away win), for his seventh and eighth international goals. He was also selected for the finals in Poland and Ukraine by manager Erik Hamren, collecting three bench appearances in an eventual group stage exit.
Personal life
Wilhelmsson married Russian-born model Oksana Andersson in May 2010, in Las Vegas.