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Ralf Edström

{{short description|Swedish footballer (born 1952)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ralf Edström

| image = Ralf Edström (1973).jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Ralf Edström in 1973

| full_name = Ralf Sigvard Edström

| height = 1.91 m

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|10|07|df=y}}

| birth_place = Degerfors, Sweden

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1971

| youthclubs1 = Degerfors IF

| years1 = 1968–1970

| years2 = 1971–1973

| years3 = 1973–1977

| years4 = 1977–1979

| years5 = 1979–1981

| years6 = 1981–1983

| years7 = 1983–1985

| clubs1 = Degerfors IF

| clubs2 = Åtvidabergs FF

| clubs3 = PSV Eindhoven

| clubs4 = IFK Göteborg

| clubs5 = Standard Liège

| clubs6 = AS Monaco

| clubs7 = Örgryte IS

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| caps2 = 52

| goals2 = 28

| caps3 = 153

| goals3 = 81

| caps4 = 37

| goals4 = 14

| caps5 = 51

| goals5 = 27

| caps6 = 49

| goals6 = 16

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 301

| totalgoals = 140

| nationalyears1 = 1969–1971

| nationalteam1 = Sweden U19

| nationalcaps1 = 14

| nationalgoals1 = 9

| nationalyears2 = 1971–1972

| nationalteam2 = Sweden U21

| nationalcaps2 = 7

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| nationalyears3 = 1972–1980

| nationalteam3 = Sweden

| nationalcaps3 = 40

| nationalgoals3 = 15

}}

Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0630-0026, Fußball-WM, BRD - Schweden 4-2.jpg in the 1974 FIFA World Cup]]

Ralf Sigvard Edström (born 7 October 1952) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a forward. Widely regarded as Sweden's best player in the 1970s, he started off his career with Degerfors IF in the late 1960s and went on to represent Åtvidabergs FF, PSV Eindhoven, IFK Göteborg, Standard Liege, and AS Monaco before retiring at Örgryte IS in 1985. A full international between 1972 and 1980, he won 40 caps for the Sweden national team and scored 15 goals. He represented his country at the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups and was awarded Guldbollen as Sweden's best player in 1972 and 1974.

Club career

Starting his career in Degerfors IF, a club known to produce many young talents, Edström moved to Åtvidabergs FF and became national champion in 1972.{{Cite web|date=2019-08-20|title=Allsvensk skyttekung och nickprofil|url=https://kvallsstunden.se/allsvensk-skyttekung-och-nickprofil/|access-date=2021-02-09|language=sv-SE}} He moved to PSV Eindhoven in 1973 and was part of the team that became national champion in 1974/75 and 1975/76. On club level, he became not only Swedish Champion, but also Dutch (twice) and French Champion.{{Cite web|title=Ralf Edström om ✓ Sjukhusbesöken ✓ Pengarna ✓ "Det är allvar – jag skojar inte" ✓ Zlatan|url=https://www.expressen.se/gt/sport/fotboll/-ralf-det-ar-allvar-jag-skojar-inte/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=expressen.se|date=15 June 2018 |language=sv}} He also won the Swedish, Dutch and Belgian Cups and was voted Swedish player of the year twice (1972 and 1974, winning Guldbollen). He injured his knee while at AS Monaco which prevented him from playing any games for Örgryte IS and ultimately led to his retirement from professional football in 1985.

International career

Edström made 40 appearances for the Sweden national team and scored 15 times. He is most noted for his performance in the 1974 FIFA World Cup where he had a big part in Sweden finishing fifth, and he made six appearances and scored four goals during this tournament.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080513233504/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=174515/index.html FIFA profile]

While representing Sweden at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, Edström was arrested for speaking to a person in Buenos Aires; however, the Argentine military released him upon recognising its error (that he was not one of its citizens but a professional footballer who was in the country for the tournament it was hosting).Lundström, Klas. [https://jacobin.com/2022/11/fifa-world-cup-1978-argentina-human-rights-violations-qatar "Argentina's World Cup 1978: When FIFA Backed a Junta"]. 20 November 2022.

Personal life

He has been an expert radio commentator since the 1980s.{{Cite web|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|title=Ralf Edström: "Det var en enorm fotbollsspelare" – Radiosporten|url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/7608254|access-date=2021-02-09|website=sverigesradio.se|date=25 November 2020 |language=sv}}

Career statistics

= Club =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{NFT player|18456|accessdate=}}{{ifkdb|name=#4 Ralf Edström}}

rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |Cup

! colspan="2" |Continental

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="4" |Åtvidaberg

|1971

Allsvenskan226

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1972

|Allsvenskan

1916

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1973

|Allsvenskan

116

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

colspan="2" |Total

! 52

!28

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

rowspan="5" |PSV Eindhoven

|1973–74

Eredivisie3319

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1974–75

|Eredivisie

3216

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1975–76

|Eredivisie

2915

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1976–77

|Eredivisie

185

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

colspan="2" |Total

! 153

!81

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

rowspan="4" |IFK Göteborg

|1977

Allsvenskan84

|2

|4

| colspan="2" |–

| colspan="2" |–

|10

|8

1978

|Allsvenskan

176

|4

|2

| colspan="2" |–

| colspan="2" |–

|21

|8

1979

|Allsvenskan

124

|2

|1

| colspan="2" |–

| colspan="2" |–

|14

|5

colspan="2" |Total

! 37

!14

!8

!7

! colspan="2" |–

! colspan="2" |–

!45

!21

rowspan="3" |Standard Liège

|1979–80

First Division3118

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1980–81

|First Division

209

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

colspan="2" |Total

! 51

!27

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

rowspan="3" |Monaco

|1981–82

Division 13515

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1982–83

|Division 1

141

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

colspan="2" |Total

! 49

!16

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

rowspan="4" |Örgryte

|1983

Allsvenskan00

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1984

|Allsvenskan

00

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1985

|Allsvenskan

00

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

colspan="2" |Total

!0||0

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

colspan="3" |Total

!350||156

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

= International =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web|title=Ralf Edström – Spelarstatistik – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/ralf-edstrom/5062866a-6bac-4772-a23e-4fff5700e4f3|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se.|language=sv}}

!National team

!Year

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="8" |Sweden

|1972

|4

|8

1973

|9

|1

1974

|9

|4

1975

|5

|2

1976

|2

|0

1977

|2

|0

1978

|4

|0

1980

|5

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!40

!15

:Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Edström goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+List of international goals scored by Ralf Edström

! scope="col" |No.

! scope="col" |Date

! scope="col" |Venue

! scope="col" |Opponent

! scope="col" |Score

! scope="col" |Result

! scope="col" |Competition

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

align="center" |1

| rowspan="3" |6 August 1972

| rowspan="3" |Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden

| rowspan="3" |{{fb|SOV}}

| align="center" |1–0

| rowspan="3" align="center" |4–4

| rowspan="3" |Friendly

| rowspan="3" |{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Sovjet – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-sovjet-landskamper-herr-senior/1568474|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center" |2

| align="center"|2–3

align="center" |3

| align="center"|4–4

align="center" |4

| rowspan="2" |17 September 1972

| rowspan="2" |Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway

| rowspan="2" |{{fb|NOR}}

| align="center"|1–0

| rowspan="2" align="center"|3–1

| rowspan="2" |1972–77 Nordic Football Championship

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite web|title=Norge – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/norge-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568476|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center" |5

| align="center"|3–1

align="center"|6

| rowspan="3" |15 October 1972

| rowspan="3" |Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden

| rowspan="3" |{{fb|MLT}}

| align="center"|1–0

| rowspan="3" align="center"|7–0

| rowspan="3" |1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier

| rowspan="3" |{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Malta – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-malta-landskamper-herr-senior/1568477|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|7

| align="center"|3–0

align="center"|8

| align="center"|7–0

align="center"|9

|13 June 1973

|Nepstadion, Budapest, Hungary

|{{fb|HUN}}

| align="center"|3–3

| align="center"|3–3

|1974 FIFA World Cup qualifier

|{{Cite web|title=Ungern – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/ungern-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568483|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|10

| rowspan="2" |23 June 1974

| rowspan="2" |Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, Germany

| rowspan="2" |{{fb|URU}}

| align="center"|1–0

| rowspan="2" align="center"|3–0

| rowspan="2" |1974 FIFA World Cup

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Uruguay – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-uruguay-landskamper-herr-senior/1568501|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|11

| align="center"|3–0

align="center"|12

|30 June 1974

|Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, Germany

|{{fb|West Germany}}

| align="center"|1–0

| align="center"|2–4

|1974 FIFA World Cup

|{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Västtyskland – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-vasttyskland-landskamper-herr-senior/1568503|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|13

|3 July 1974

|Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, Germany

|{{fb|YUG}}

| align="center"|1–1

| align="center"|1–1

|1974 FIFA World Cup

|{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Jugoslavien – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-jugoslavien-landskamper-herr-senior/1568504|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|14

|19 May 1975

|Örjans Vall, Halmstad, Sweden

|{{fb|ALG}}

| align="center"|1–0

| align="center"|4–0

|Friendly

|{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Algeriet – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-algeriet-landskamper-herr-senior/1568518|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|15

|4 June 1975

|Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden

|{{fb|YUG}}

| align="center"|1–0

| align="center"|1–2

|UEFA Euro 1976 qualifier

|{{Cite web|title=Sverige – Jugoslavien – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-jugoslavien-landskamper-herr-senior/1568519|access-date=2021-02-09|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

Honours

Åtvidabergs FF

PSV Eindhoven

IFK Göteborg

Standard Liege

AS Monaco

Individual

  • Allsvenskan top scorer: 1972
  • Guldbollen: 1972, 1974
  • World Soccer World XI: 1975
  • Sport Ideal European XI: 1975{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/unofficial-european-ideal-teams-1971-1980.1985633/ |website=BigSoccer |title=Sport 1975|access-date=4 June 2024 }}
  • Swedish Football Hall of Fame: 2003

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{SvFF player |id= 5062866a-6bac-4772-a23e-4fff5700e4f3 |fid= 658506 }}
  • {{ifkdb|name=#4 Ralf Edström}}

{{navboxes

|title=Awards

|bg=gold

|fg=navy

|list1=

{{1975 World Soccer World XI}}

{{Allsvenskan top scorers}}

{{Swedish Footballer of the Year}}

{{Swedish Football Hall of Fame}}

}}

{{navboxes

|title=Sweden squads

|bg= #FFF01C

|fg= #005B99

|bordercolor= #005B99

|list1=

{{Sweden squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}

{{Sweden squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edstrom, Ralf}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:Swedish men's footballers

Category:Åtvidabergs FF players

Category:Degerfors IF players

Category:IFK Göteborg players

Category:PSV Eindhoven players

Category:AS Monaco FC players

Category:Örgryte IS players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco

Category:Standard Liège players

Category:Sweden men's international footballers

Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players

Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players

Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers

Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands

Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Belgium

Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in France

Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Monaco

Category:Allsvenskan players

Category:Ligue 1 players

Category:Eredivisie players

Category:Belgian Pro League players

Category:Swedish association football commentators

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:People from Degerfors Municipality

Category:Footballers from Örebro County

Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen