Roland Nilsson – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Defender

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Helsingborg

Date Of Birth

November 27, 1963

Age

Height (cm)

179

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

6886

87.2

Per Game

Goals

Per Game

Assists

0.01

Per Game

Roland is undoubtedly one of the Swedish all-time greats and in his prime was one of the best full-backs in the world. In 1987, aged 24, he was a member of the IFK Gothenburg team that won the UEFA Cup by beating Dundee United 2-1 on aggregate.

Ron Atkinson signed the Swede with film-star looks for Sheffield Wednesday for £375,000 in December 1989 and he had five very successful years at Hillsborough. Despite being relegated in his first season Wednesday bounced back at the first attempt and the same season won the League Cup beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final. Two years later under Trevor Francis he was in the Owls side that lost both the FA Cup and League Cup finals to Arsenal, the former after a replay. By 1990 he was a regular in the national side and played in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy. Sweden had a disastrous tournament losing all three group games including matches against Scotland and Costa Rica. With the 1992 European Championships on home soil Sweden performed well, winning their group after a good victory over England, but going out to Germany in the semi final. Roland again was an ever present.

He played in all six games during the 1994 World Cup when Sweden created a major surprise by reaching the semi finals only to lose to the eventual winners Brazil. He had returned to Sweden in May 1994 to join his hometown club Helsingborgs and he remained there until the summer of 1997 when after an approach from Big Ron he was tempted back to the Premiership. City paid £200,000 for the veteran Swede and from his first game he looked a bargain with his composed and stylish play. His arrival coincided with city’s best season for years. In two seasons at Highfield Road he was outstanding with his cool defensive qualities and excellent positional play, not to mention his astounding fitness for a 36-year old. After 69 first team games he returned to Helsingborgs as a player and Director of Football and retired from the national side after Euro 2000 with 116 caps to his name. In the summer of 2001 Gordon Strachan persuaded him to return to Coventry as a coach as the Sky Blues aimed to bounce back into the Premiership at the first attempt. After just a handful of games Strachan was sacked and Roland was handed the task of managing the team. With the help of Richard Money Roland rejuvenated the club’s fortunes, going eleven matches without defeat and winning the Manager of the Month award for his first month in the job. Sadly the promising season petered out in the final seven games and a seemingly certain play-off position was thrown away. The popular Nilsson was sacked along with his number two Jim Smith.
 Back in Sweden Roland became coach of second division side GAIS, Gothenburg’s second club and won them promotion in 2005. He consolidated their position in the top flight before moving to Malmo in 2007.

Championship (England)

2001-2002

694′

0 (0)

Worthington Cup (England)

2001-2002

91′

0 (0)

Premier League (England)

1998-1999

2367′

1997-1998

2880′

5247′

0 (0)

FA Cup (England)

1998-1999

164′

1997-1998

390′

554′

0 (0)

Coca-Cola Cup (England)

1997-1998

300′

0 (0)

Totals:

6886′

0 (0)