Olof Mellberg

Olof Mellberg

Personal information
Full name	Erik Olof Mellberg
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Aston Villa
Number	4
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 October, 2007 (UTC)

Erik Olof Mellberg (IPA: ['uːˌlɔf 'mɛlˌbærj]) (born September 3, 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Swedish football player who currently plays club football for Aston Villa. Besides playing for Aston Villa, Mellberg is an established player for the Swedish national team, and used to captain the side but stepped down from the role after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Shortly thereafter, he also abdicated as team captain of his club team.

Club career

Early career

Mellberg played for local side Gullspång before being picked up by then Swedish Premiership side Degerfors IF. After being relegated he joined capital club AIK, where he made an instant impression and was sold after just 10 months. Spanish side Racing Santander moved to secure the promising Swedish centre half, and although having a difficult time adjusting to Spanish football he soon claimed a starting berth and impressed in his first season. Continuing to play well, Mellberg was said to be on his way to several big Spanish sides, including Barcelona and Valencia.

Aston Villa

However, Aston Villa managed to secure his signature and ever since joining the Birmingham-based club he has been a vital part of the team. Mellberg was left out of boss David O'Leary's first side for a game against Portsmouth, but was soon made the captain of the club for the rest of his reign. Mellberg was a vital part of the team that finished 6th in the Premiership and reached the semi-finals of the league cup in O'Leary's first season.

Mellberg resigned as captain following the 2006 World Cup - he was replaced by Gareth Barry. New Boss Martin O'Neill continued to consider Mellberg as the first choice centre back and on the opening day of the 2006-7 Premiership season Mellberg became the first person to score in a competitive game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. He has most recently has been played at the right back position following the immediate impact of Zat Knight alongside Martin Laursen at centre back.

Mellberg has been strongly linked with a move to Juventus during the January transfer window, though Villa fans remain hopeful he will sign a new contract to remain at Aston Villa.

International career

Mellberg was a member of the Sweden national football team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. He has scored 2 goals in 72 caps, as of July 2006.

During a public practise before the World Championships in 2002, Mellberg broke into a fight with Arsenals Fredrik Ljungberg, after a robust tackle from Mellberg. The two of them were quickly separated by team-mates. Since then, the two of them have been known for not being the best of friends, and in the World Cup 2006, Mellberg and Ljungberg, according to leak from inside the team, had a very fiery argument, after Sweden's draw with Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2003, he was selected as the best Swedish player of the year, winning the Guldbollen.

On September 4 2006, Mellberg, along with Sweden teammates Zlatan Ibrahimović and Christian Wilhelmsson, was sent home from the national squad for breaking an 11 pm curfew ahead of a European Championships qualifier against Liechtenstein .

On October 7 2006, Mellberg returned to Sweden's lineup for their European Championships qualifier against Spain, which they won 2-0.

Personal life

Although he isn't married, Mellberg has two children by long term partner Carolina Kihl. Daughter Saga was born in December 2002 and son John was born in July 2006. Mellberg and his family currently live in Sutton Coldfield in the Midlands, England.

Honours / Achievements

Aston Villa

• Intertoto Cup Winners (2001)

Personal

• Swedish player of the year (Guldbollen) (2003)

External links

• Olof Mellberg at IMDb
• Olof Mellberg at Soccerbase