Melker Hallberg
{{short description|Swedish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Melker Hallberg
| image = MelkerHallberg.jpg
| fullname = Charles Melker Otto Hallberg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ljungbyholm, Sweden
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Kalmar FF
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Möre BK
| youthyears2 = 2010–2011
| youthclubs2 = Kalmar FF
| years1 = 2012–2014
| clubs1 = Kalmar FF
| caps1 = 54
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2014–2018
| clubs2 = Udinese
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015
| clubs3 = → Vålerenga (loan)
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = → Hammarby IF (loan)
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = → Ascoli (loan)
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2017–2018
| clubs6 = → Kalmar FF (loan)
| caps6 = 40
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Vejle BK
| caps7 = 25
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2019–2022
| clubs8 = Hibernian
| caps8 = 45
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2022–2023
| clubs9 = St Johnstone
| caps9 = 44
| goals9 = 2
| years10 = 2023–
| clubs10 = Kalmar FF
| caps10 = 44
| goals10 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2010–2012
| nationalteam1 = Sweden U17
| nationalcaps1 = 19
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2012–2014
| nationalteam2 = Sweden U19
| nationalcaps2 = 9
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2013–2017
| nationalteam3 = Sweden U21
| nationalcaps3 = 23
| nationalgoals3 = 3
| nationalyears4 = 2016–2019
| nationalteam4 = Sweden
| nationalcaps4 = 3
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| club-update = 00:18, 4 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Melker Hallberg (born 20 October 1995) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kalmar FF.{{cite web |title=Melker Hallberg |url=https://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/person/?playerid=7443 |language=sv |publisher=Svenskfotboll |access-date=14 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007232547/http://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/person/?playerid=7443 |archive-date=7 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}
Hallberg began his senior career at Kalmar FF, then in 2014, he signed for Italian club Udinese, and during his time there went on loan to Vålerenga, Hammarby IF, Ascoli and Kalmar FF. He signed for Vejle BK in 2018, where he spent one season. Hallberg then played in three seasons for Scottish club Hibernian. He made his full international debut for the Sweden national team in 2016, and has won a total of three caps and scored one goal.
Career
=Early career=
Hallberg grew up in the small town of Ljungbyholm, shortly to the south of Kalmar. There he started with the local club Möre BK where he played for the first team in the seventh tier of Swedish football at age thirteen.{{cite web |title=Stortalangens första mål sänkte Elfsborg |date=16 July 2012 |url=http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/stortalangens-forsta-mal-sankte-elfsborg/ |language=sv |publisher=Expressen |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324044552/http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/stortalangens-forsta-mal-sankte-elfsborg/ |archive-date=24 March 2014 |url-status=live}}
In 2010 Hallberg was brought into the Kalmar FF youth section. Two years later he became the youngest-ever first-team player for the club when he made his Allsvenskan debut at the age of sixteen.{{cite web |title=Fyraårskontrakt för Melker Hallberg |url=http://www.kalmarff.se/news/2012/10/25/fyraarskontrakt-melker-hallberg |language=sv |publisher=Kalmar FF |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924230515/http://www.kalmarff.se/news/2012/10/25/fyraarskontrakt-melker-hallberg |archive-date=24 September 2017 |url-status=dead }} On July 15, 2012, Hallberg became the fourth-youngest Allsvenskan goalscorer of all time when he scored the game-winning 2–1 goal against IF Elfsborg.{{cite web |title=Tuffare Hallberg ska slå sig in på mitten |url=http://www.ostran.se/SPORTEN/Tuffare-Hallberg-ska-slaa-sig-in-paa-mitten |language=sv |publisher=Östran |access-date=13 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205820/http://www.ostran.se/SPORTEN/Tuffare-Hallberg-ska-slaa-sig-in-paa-mitten |archive-date=29 October 2013 }} In December 2012 he signed a new four-year contract extension. After his second season in Allsvenskan as a seventeen-year-old, Hallberg was ranked as the 14th-best player in the league by newspaper Expressen.{{cite web |url=http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/har-ar-allsvenskans-50-basta-spelare---ar-2013/ |title=Här är allsvenskans 50 bästa spelare - år 2013 |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Expressen |language=sv |access-date=28 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124003/http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/allsvenskan/har-ar-allsvenskans-50-basta-spelare---ar-2013/ |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=live}}
=Udinese=
In August 2014, Hallberg signed for Italian club Udinese. He made his debut in January 2015.
In 2015, he was loaned out to Norwegian club Vålerenga Fotball, and in 2016 he was loaned out to Hammarby Fotboll in his native Sweden.
=Vejle BK=
Hallberg joined Danish club Vejle Boldklub in the summer 2018. He left the club at the end of the 2018–19 season.[https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/vejle-siger-farvel-til-svensk-midt/ Vejle siger farvel til svensk midt], bold.dk, 24 June 2019
=Hibernian=
Hallberg signed a three-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in August 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49451651 |title=Melker Hallberg: Hibernian sign Swedish midfielder from Udinese |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=23 August 2019}} He scored his first goal for the club in a Scottish League Cup tie against Celtic on 2 November 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50228375|title=Hibernian 2-5 Celtic|website=BBC Sport |date=2 November 2019 |access-date=28 January 2022}} He was released from his contract with Hibernian in January 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60159317 |title=Runar Hauge: Hibernian close to securing 20-year-old Bodo/Glimt winger |website=BBC Sport |date=27 January 2022 |accessdate=27 January 2022}}
=St Johnstone=
Following his release by Hibernian, Hallberg signed an 18-month contract with St Johnstone in January 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60167281 |title=Melker Hallberg: St Johnstone sign midfielder from Hibs on 18-month deal |website=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2022 |accessdate=28 January 2022}} After prolonged renegotiations, Hallberg left The Saints in July 2023.{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Sean |date=2023-07-05 |title=St Johnstone pull Melker Hallberg deal off table as Steven MacLean reveals half-time warning v Dunfermline |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/st-johnstone/4532737/st-johnstone-pull-melker-hallberg-deal-off-table-as-steven-maclean-reveals-half-time-warning-v-dunfermline/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
=Return to Kalmar=
In August 2023, Hallberg returned to his first club Kalmar FF on a contract until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://kalmarff.se/melker-hallberg-klar-for-kalmar-ff-2/|title=MELKER HALLBERG KLAR FÖR KALMAR FF|trans-title=MELKER HALLBERG READY FOR KALMAR FF|language=Swedish|website=kalmarff.se|date=11 August 2023|accessdate=14 August 2023}}
International career
Hallberg has featured regularly at all age levels of Swedish youth national teams. In August 2013 he got selected for the first time ever to the Swedish U21 squad in a friendly against Norway.{{cite web |title=Hallberg tar nu plats i U21-landslagstruppen |date=6 August 2013 |url=http://www.expressen.se/kvp/sport/hallberg-tar-nu-plats-i-u21-landslagstruppen/ |language=sv |publisher=Expressen |access-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809211846/http://www.expressen.se/kvp/sport/hallberg-tar-nu-plats-i-u21-landslagstruppen/ |archive-date=9 August 2013 |url-status=live}} He was selected for Sweden squads in January 2016{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/nyheter/landslag/20152/12/hallberg-ersatter-olsson-i-abu-dahbi/ |title=Hallberg ersätter Olsson i Abu Dahbi |work=www.svenskfotboll.se |language=sv |date=15 December 2015 |access-date=23 August 2019}} and January 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/lineups?gameId=533552 |title=Sweden vs. Iceland |publisher=ESPN |access-date=23 August 2019}}
Career statistics
{{updated|6 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/football/player.php?player=21859 |title=Eliteprospects.com - Melker Hallberg |date=20 August 2014 |publisher=Eliteprospects |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029232428/http://www.eliteprospects.com/football/player.php?player=21859 |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}{{soccerway|melker-hallberg/209820|accessdate=16 September 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||||
| rowspan=2 | Club
! rowspan=2 | Season ! colspan=3 | League ! colspan=2 | National Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals
! Apps | Goals | |||
| rowspan=4|Kalmar FF
|2012 |11 | 1 | 1Appearances in the 2012–13 Svenska Cupen | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3Appearances in the UEFA Europa League | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2013
|Allsvenskan |29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2014
|Allsvenskan |14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 14 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!54 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 6 |
| rowspan=5|Udinese
|4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | |
| 2015–16
|Serie A |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016–17
|Serie A |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017–18
|Serie A |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Vålerenga (loan)
|2015 |10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 10 | 2 | ||
| Hammarby IF (loan)
|2016 |Allsvenskan |12 | 1 | 4Appearances in the 2015–16 Svenska Cupen | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 16 | 2 | ||
| Ascoli (loan)
|7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 8 | 1 | ||
| rowspan=3|Kalmar FF (loan)
|2017 |Allsvenskan |27 | 2 | 3Appearances in the 2016–17 Svenska Cupen | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2018
|Allsvenskan |13 | 0 | 3Appearances in the 2017–18 Svenska Cupen | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 16 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!40 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| Vejle BK
|25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2Appearances in the Danish Superliga Relegation round | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| rowspan=4|Hibernian
|20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 25 | 2 | |
| 2020–21
|Scottish Premiership |25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 35 | 1 | |
| 2021–22
|Scottish Premiership |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan=2|Total
!45 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 3 |
| rowspan="3" |St Johnstone
|Scottish Premiership |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022–23
|Scottish Premiership |30 |2 |1 |0 |4 |1 | colspan="2" |— |35 |3 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!44 !2 !1 !0 !4 !1 !0 !0 !49 !3 | |||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!241 | 16 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 283 | 20 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
= International =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web|title=Melker Hallberg - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/melker-hallberg/708989e4-0118-4715-8795-0da2efcdb743/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.svenskfotboll.se.|language=sv}} !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |
| rowspan="4" |Sweden
|2016 |2 |1 |
| 2017
|0 |0 |
| 2018
|0 |0 |
| 2019
|1 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!3 !1 |
|---|
: Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hallberg goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of international goals scored by Melker Hallberg ! scope="col" |No. ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Venue ! scope="col" |Opponent ! scope="col" |Score ! scope="col" |Result ! scope="col" |Competition ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
| align="center" |1
|10 January 2016 |Armed Forces Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |{{fb|FIN}} | align="center" |2–0 | align="center" |3–0 |
==Honours==
Individual
- Allsvenskan newcomer of the year: 2013
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{SvFF player|id=708989e4-0118-4715-8795-0da2efcdb743|fid=498423}}
- {{SvFF club player|fid=498423|fid_archive=20140413195755}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041402/http://www2.svenskfotboll.se/landslag/landslagsdatabas/landslagsspelare/?fplid=498423 Melker Hallberg] national team profile at SvFF {{in lang|sv}} (archived)
- {{Elitefootball|21859}}
- {{NFT player|61893}}
{{Kalmar FF squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hallberg, Melker}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Udinese Calcio players
Category:Vålerenga Fotball players
Category:Hammarby Fotboll players
Category:Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC players
Category:Vejle Boldklub players
Category:Hibernian F.C. players
Category:Danish Superliga players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Norway
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Sweden men's international footballers
Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers
Category:Sweden men's under-21 international footballers
Category:People from Kalmar Municipality
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:St Johnstone F.C. players