Karl Svensson

{{short description|Swedish former professional footballer (born 1984)}}

{{About|the Swedish football defender|the Swedish goalkeeper|Kalle Svensson|the neo-nazi murderer|Hampus Hellekant|the gymnast|Karl Johan Svensson}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Karl Svensson

| image =

| fullname = Karl Wilhelm Svensson{{cite news |last=Jonsson |first=Petra |url=https://www.expressen.se/gt/kalles-nya-svensson-liv/ |title=Kalles nya Svensson-liv |trans-title=Kalle's new Svensson life |work=Expressen |date=17 February 2007 |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=sv}}

| height = 1.89 m

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1984|3|21}}

| birth_place = Jönköping, Sweden

| currentclub =

| position = Centre-back

| years1 = 2000–2002

| clubs1 = Jönköpings Södra

| caps1 = 36

| goals1 = 7

| years2 = 2003–2006

| clubs2 = IFK Göteborg

| caps2 = 55

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2006–2007

| clubs3 = Rangers

| caps3 = 27

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2007–2009

| clubs4 = Caen

| caps4 = 7

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2011

| clubs5 = IFK Göteborg

| caps5 = 26

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2012–2014

| clubs6 = Jönköpings Södra

| caps6 = 53

| goals6 = 0

| totalcaps = 204

| totalgoals = 12

| nationalyears1 = 2001

| nationalteam1 = Sweden U17

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2003

| nationalteam2 = Sweden U19

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2004–2006

| nationalteam3 = Sweden U21

| nationalcaps3 = 17

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2006

| nationalteam4 = Sweden

| nationalcaps4 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

}}

Karl Wilhelm Svensson ({{IPA|sv|ˈkɑːɭ ˈsvɛ̌nːsɔn}}; born 21 March 1984) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for Jönköpings Södra, IFK Göteborg, Rangers, and Caen. He won one cap for the Sweden national team and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

= Early career =

Karl Svensson started off his professional career with his boyhood club Jönköpings Södra, and signed with the IFK Göteborg ahead of the 2003 Allsvenskan season.{{Cite web|title=IFK Göteborg|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/1k5nRG|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Aftonbladet|date=10 April 2003 |language=sv}} He was a part of the IFK Göteborg team that reached the 2004 Svenska Cupen final, but ultimately lost 3–1 to Djurgårdens IF.{{Cite web|title=2004 — svenskfotboll.se|url=https://www2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/svenska-cupen-herrar/resultat-tidigare-ar/2004/|access-date=4 June 2020|website=www2.svenskfotboll.se}} Svensson was sent off in the final after picking up two yellow cards.

= Rangers =

Svensson signed with the Scottish Glasgow-side Rangers on 26 May 2006 for an undisclosed fee on a three–year contract.{{Cite news|date=26 May 2006|title=Karl Svensson till Rangers|language=sv|work=gp.se|url=https://www.gp.se/sport/karl-svensson-till-rangers-1.1134690|access-date=4 June 2020}}{{Cite news|date=26 May 2006|title=Rangers snap up Sweden's Svensson|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/5022224.stm|access-date=4 June 2020}} The fee was reported to have been in the region of £600,000.{{Cite book|last1=Esplin|first1=Ronnie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4H72lQMU5IC&q=svensson&pg=PT100|title=The Official Biography of Rangers|last2=Walker|first2=Graham|date=13 October 2011|publisher=Headline|isbn=978-0-7553-6313-1|language=en}} He made his Rangers debut in the first match of the Scottish Premier League that season, a 2–1 victory away against Motherwell.{{Cite web|date=30 July 2006|title=Lyckad Rangers-debut av Kalle|url=https://www.svt.se/sport/artikel/lyckad-rangers-debut-av-kalle|access-date=4 June 2020|website=SVT Sport|language=sv}} He made a total of 27 Scottish Premier League appearances during his time with the Rangers, but rarely played from February 2007 and onward.{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Jordan|date=29 July 2017|title=What happened to Rangers XI that faced Motherwell on 2006/07 opening day?|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/07/29/what-happened-to-rangers-xi-that-faced-motherwell-on-200607-open/|access-date=4 June 2020|website=HITC|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Keown|first=Gary|date=28 June 2007|title=Rangers boss is killing Svensson's dreams|url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/11490/Rangers-boss-is-killing-Svensson-s-dreams|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Express.co.uk|language=en}}

= Caen =

On 27 June 2007, Svensson signed a three–year contract with French side Caen, newly promoted to Ligue 1.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6245568.stm|title=Svensson joins Caen from Rangers|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=27 June 2007}} His time in France was plagued with injuries and little playing time.{{Cite web|date=19 October 2011|title=Inga motgångar kan stoppa Kalle Svensson|url=https://www.jnytt.se/artikel/inga-motgangar-kan-stoppa-kalle-svensson|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Jnytt|language=sv-SE}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= Return to Sweden =

On 19 January 2009, Svensson signed a four–year contract with his former club IFK Göteborg.{{Cite news|date=19 January 2009|title=Karl Svensson tillbaka i IFK Göteborg|language=sv|work=Sveriges Radio|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2835&artikel=2577454|access-date=4 June 2020}} On 23 December 2011, he signed a three-year contract with his hometown club Jönköpings Södra IF in the Swedish second division, Superettan.{{Cite web|title=Kalle Svensson lämnar IFK Göteborg - klar för Jönköping|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/kalle-svensson-lamnar-ifk-goteborg---klar-for-jonkoping/|access-date=4 June 2020|website=fotbollskanalen|language=sv}} Svensson retired from professional football after the 2014 Superettan season.{{Cite news|last1=Jönköping|first1=P4|last2=sport.jkpg@sverigesradio.se|date=18 January 2015|title=J-södra: Svensson slutar|language=sv|work=Sveriges Radio|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=91&artikel=6070352|access-date=4 June 2020}}

International career

After having represented the Sweden national U17, U19, and U21 teams, Svensson made his first and only full international appearance for the Sweden national team in January 2006 against Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web|title=Saudiarabien - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/saudiarabien-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1570548|access-date=4 June 2020|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv|archive-date=1 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501142018/https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/saudiarabien-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1570548|url-status=dead}} He was a part of Sweden's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, but did not play.{{Cite news|date=16 May 2007|title=Back: Karl Svensson|language=sv|work=Sveriges Radio|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2835&artikel=1370673|access-date=4 June 2020}}