Marcus Antonsson
{{Short description|Swedish footballer (born 1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Marcus Antonsson
| image = Marcus Antonsson 2023.png
| caption = Antonsson with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023
| full_name = Carl Marcus Christer Antonsson{{cite web|title=Retained List 2016-17|url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf|publisher=English Football League|access-date=13 June 2017}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|05|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Unnaryd, Sweden
| height = 1.84 m
| position = Striker, Left winger
| currentclub = IFK Värnamo
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Unnaryds GoIF
| youthyears2 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs2 = Halmstads BK
| years1 = 2010–2014
| clubs1 = Halmstads BK
| caps1 = 71
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = Kalmar FF
| caps2 = 41
| goals2 = 22
| years3 = 2016–2018
| clubs3 = Leeds United
| caps3 = 16
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 31
| goals4 = 7
| years5 = 2018–2021
| clubs5 = Malmö FF
| caps5 = 49
| goals5 = 15
| years6 = 2020
| clubs6 = → Stabæk (loan)
| caps6 = 10
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = → Halmstads BK (loan)
| caps7 = 27
| goals7 = 6
| years8 = 2022–2023
| clubs8 = IFK Värnamo
| caps8 = 30
| goals8 = 20
| years9 = 2023
| clubs9 = Al-Adalah
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 6
| years10 = 2023–2025
| clubs10 = Western Sydney Wanderers
| caps10 = 50
| goals10 = 12
| years11 = 2025–
| clubs11 = IFK Värnamo
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| club-update = 14 May 2025
}}
Carl Marcus Christer Antonsson (born 8 May 1991) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Allsvenskan club IFK Värnamo. He can also play as a forward or as a left winger.
He formerly played for English sides Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers.{{cite web|title=Marcus Antonsson|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/superettan/person/?playerid=7011|publisher=Svenskfotboll|access-date=13 January 2012}}
Club career
=Halmstad=
Antonsson started his youth career at Unnaryds GoIF before joining Halmstads BK in 2009, making his Allsvenskan debut for Halmstad on 7 November 2010 against Djurgårdens IF. He played 71 league games for Halmstads BK and scored 11 goals.
=Kalmar=
Antonsson joined Kalmar FF in 2015. He scored 12 goals in 28 appearances in his first season at the club; his 12 goals saw him finish as the third top goalscorer in Allsvenskan. In February 2016, Antonsson extended his contract at Kalmar until 2018.
Antonsson scored 10 goals in his first 12 league games of the 2016–17 Swedish Allsvenskan season for Kalmar FF, making him the top scorer in the Allsvenskan at the time.
=Leeds United=
On 28 June 2016, Antonsson signed a three-year contract with English side Leeds United for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/1nsxt83dgmour1c2f180hiktyt/title/united-agree-antonsson-deal |title=UNITED AGREE ANTONSSON DEAL |publisher=Leeds United |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 }} On 5 August, he was given the squad number 10 shirt for the 2016–17 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/1d34ltj8uw4g21hgi949e2pbl8/title/201617-squad-numbers-confirmed |title=2016/17 SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED |publisher=Leeds United |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 }} On 7 August 2016, he made his competitive debut for the club as a second-half substitute in place of Matt Grimes, during a 3–0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/dw4fya4ld7kv11fnbvhw59zbt/title/qpr-claim-opening-victory |title=QPR CLAIM OPENING VICTORY |publisher=Leeds United |date=7 August 2016 |access-date=7 August 2016 }}
Antonsson scored his first goal for Leeds on 10 August in a League Cup fixture against Fleetwood Town.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/18arte2t31o0w17cwlqra8yw4r/title/matchday-fleetwood-live! |title=MATCHDAY: FLEETWOOD – LIVE! |publisher=Leeds United |date=10 August 2016 |access-date=10 August 2016 }} His second goal of the season, and his first in the league, came on 20 August in a 2–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/z1zeauk05qph12f4qvpz29u2a/title/matchday-sheffield-wednesday-live!|title=UNITED TOO STRONG FOR WEDNESDAY |publisher=Leeds United |date=20 August 2016 |access-date=20 August 2016 }} On 26 October, he scored his third of the season for Leeds in their win against Norwich City in the English League Cup; a dramatic penalty shootout victory after a 2–2 draw in extra time.{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/21284/norwich-match-report-title |title=NORWICH CITY: PENALTIES SEE LEEDS EDGE CLASSIC |work=Leeds United |date=26 October 2016 |access-date=26 October 2016}}
==Loan to Blackburn Rovers==
On 11 August 2017, Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Antonsson on loan for the season.{{Cite news |title=Antonsson arrives at Ewood Park |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2017/august/antonsson-arrives-at-ewood-park/ |publisher=Blackburn Rovers |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=11 August 2017}} On 9 September, he scored his first goal for Blackburn Rovers against Rochdale in a 0–3 victory.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41132948|title=Rochdale 0–3 Blackburn Rovers|publisher=BBC Sport}} He went on to score another two goals in September.{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=59967&season_id=150|title=Marcus Antonsson {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Leeds United {{!}} Season 2017/2018 {{!}} Soccer Base|website=www.soccerbase.com|access-date=20 December 2017}} He found his position changed, being played as a left-sided forward or winger and in November he scored five goals in as many games, going on to win the PFA Player of the Month award for League One.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-on-loan-striker-marcus-antonsson-letting-his-goals-do-the-talking-at-blackburn-1-8908630|title=Leeds United: On-loan striker Marcus Antonsson letting his goals do the talking at Blackburn|website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk|language=en|access-date=20 December 2017}}
On 2 January 2018, it was revealed by manager Tony Mowbray that Antonsson had picked up an injury against Scunthorpe on 30 December, and would be ruled out for several weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/january/injury-update-on-antonsson/|title=Boss discusses Antonsson injury|website=Blackburn Rovers|language=en|access-date=2 January 2018}} He returned from injury on 19 February against Bury. On 24 April, he gained automatic promotion to the Championship with Blackburn after their 1–0 win against Doncaster Rovers.{{Cite web|title= Will loanee Antonsson return and fight for a place at Leeds after Blackburn's promotion? |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/will-loanee-antonsson-return-and-fight-for-a-place-at-leeds-after-blackburn-s-promotion-1-9134909|website=Yorkshire Evening Post|language=en|access-date=24 April 2018}}
==Return to Leeds==
After returning to Leeds, Antonsson was told he was not in the plans of new manager Marcelo Bielsa and held negotiations of a transfer to Italian Serie B Side Brescia, now owned by previous Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/brescia-target-leeds-left-back-denton-with-antonsson-deal-close-1-9212567|title=Brescia target Leeds left-back Denton with Antonsson deal close|website=Yorkshire Evening Post|language=en|access-date=7 July 2018}}
=Malmö FF=
On 14 July 2018, Antonsson joined Allsvenskan side Malmö FF on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee from Leeds United after being signed by manager Uwe Rösler.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mff.se/aktuellt/nyheter/Nyheter/2018-07-14_valkommen-till-malmo-ff-marcus-antonsson|title=Welcome to Malmö FF, Marcus Antonsson!|website=Malmö FF|language=sv|access-date=14 July 2018}} He made his debut for the Swedish club on 21 July 2018, when he came on as a substitute in Malmö's 2–1 away league win over Örebro SK. He crowned a successful autumn with the winning goal at Beşiktaş away from home, as Malmö progressed to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.{{cite web|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/europa-league/tv-mff-klart-for-slutspel-i-europa-league---skrallvann-borta-mot-besiktas/|title=TV: MFF klart för slutspel i Europa League – skrällvann borta mot Besiktas|language=sv|date=13 December 2018|access-date=14 February 2019|last=Hansson|first=Jonas|publisher=Fotbollskanalen}}
=Värnamo=
On 3 February 2022, Antonsson signed with Allsvenskan newcomer IFK Värnamo.{{cite press release|publisher=Värnamo|url=https://ifkvarnamo.se/nyheter/2022-02-03-marcus-antonsson-ar-klar-for-ifk-varnamo|title=MARCUS ANTONSSON ÄR KLAR FÖR IFK VÄRNAMO|date=3 February 2022|access-date=6 April 2022|language=sv}}
=Al-Adalah=
On 25 January 2023, Antonsson joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Adalah.{{cite web |title=العدالة يتعاقد مع البرتغالي يوجـينيو و السـويدي أنتونـسون |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/1994384}}
=Western Sydney Wanderers=
After 6 goals in 16 games for Al-Adalah, it was announced that Antonsson had signed for Australian A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year contract.{{cite web |last1=Comito |first1=Matt |title=Former Leeds & Blackburn striker ‘very excited’ to take on Wanderers ‘challenge |url=https://keepup.com.au/news/a-league-marcus-antonsson-western-sydney-wanderers-signs-transfer/ |publisher=Keep Up |access-date=12 July 2023 |date=30 June 2023}}
International career
Uncapped by Sweden, Antonsson was linked with a possible call up to the national side for Euro 2016 due to his form with Kalmar FF; however he was not called upon and missed out on the squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/10319451/leeds-united-close-to-signing-top-swedish-striker-marcus-antonsson|title=Leeds United close to signing top Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson|publisher=Sky Sports|date=20 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 27 September 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Svenska Cupen, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Halmstads BK
|2010{{Soccerway|marcus-antonsson/163970|accessdate=4 June 2019}} |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2011
|Allsvenskan |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2012
|18 | 1 | 4 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2Appearances in the Allsvenskan/Superettan play-offs | 1 | 24 | 4 | |||
| 2013
|Allsvenskan |20 | 2 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |||
| 2014
|Allsvenskan |26 | 6 | 1 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 8 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!71 | 9 | 9 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | 84 | 15 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Kalmar FF
|2015 |Allsvenskan |28 | 12 | 6 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 15 | ||||
| 2016
|Allsvenskan |12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 10 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!40 | 22 | 6 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 46 | 25 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Leeds United
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|59967|2016|access-date=27 September 2017}} |16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 3 | |||
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|59967|2017|access-date=27 September 2017}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 3 | |||
| Blackburn Rovers (loan)
|31 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 8 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Malmö FF
|2018 |Allsvenskan |15 | 8 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 13 | |||
| 2019
|Allsvenskan |26 | 6 | 4 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 41 | 10 | |||
| 2020
|Allsvenskan |8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 15 | 10 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | 84 | 26 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!207 | 54 | 29 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 269 | 77 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Blackburn Rovers
- EFL League One runner-up: 2017–18{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Football Yearbook 2018–2019 |year=2018 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-6106-9 |pages=54–55}}
Malmö FF
Individual
- EFL League One Player of the Month: November 2017
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{SvFF player|id=f724a470-6274-4477-a4f2-05f4999c8468|fid=268760|pid=7011}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160702131255/https://www.svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/person/?playerid=7011 archive])
{{IFK Värnamo squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Antonsson, Marcus}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
Category:Stabæk Fotball players
Category:Western Sydney Wanderers FC players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Norway