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Thomas Ravelli

{{Short description|Swedish footballer (born 1959)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Thomas Ravelli

| image = Thomas_Ravelli_in_January_2014.jpg

| caption = Ravelli at the Swedish Sports Awards inside the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden in 2014

| fullname = Thomas Ravelli

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|8|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Vimmerby, Sweden

| height = 1.86 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Öster

| years1 = 1976–1988

| clubs1 = Öster

| caps1 = 219

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1989–1997

| clubs2 = IFK Göteborg

| caps2 = 211

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1998

| clubs3 = Tampa Bay Mutiny

| caps3 = 23

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1999

| clubs4 = Öster

| caps4 = 8

| goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 461

| totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1977

| nationalteam1 = Sweden U18

| nationalcaps1 = 9

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1979–1981

| nationalteam2 = Sweden U21

| nationalcaps2 = 10

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1981–1997

| nationalteam3 = Sweden

| nationalcaps3 = 143

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalTeam|{{fb|SWE}}}}

{{MedalCompetition |FIFA World Cup}}

{{MedalBronze|1994 United States|}}

}}

Thomas Ravelli ({{IPA|sv|ˈtʊ̌mːas raˈvɛ̌lːɪ|lang}}; born 13 August 1959) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. His 21-year professional career was almost exclusively associated with Öster and Göteborg, for whom he appeared in a combined 416 Allsvenskan games.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/a2Wnva/nu-blir-du-mest-i-sverige-sven|title=Nu blir du mest i Sverige, Sven|publisher=Aftonbladet.se|date=25 June 2001|access-date=29 January 2018}} The most-capped player for the Sweden national team for several years, Ravelli represented the nation at the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups, and UEFA Euro 1992.

Club career

Ravelli was born in Vimmerby where he lived his first five years of life. After a shorter stint in Åtvidaberg the family settled in Växjö. At the club level he played for Östers IF and IFK Göteborg, winning three Allsvenskan championships during his ten-year tenure with the former team before signing for the latter in 1989, at the age of 29.

With Göteborg, Ravelli conquered a further six leagues and his only Swedish Cup. In 1998, already 39, he joined the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer, closing out his career the following year with his first club; in total, he played in nearly 500 official matches as a professional.

International career

Ravelli's international career spanned almost two decades, starting in 1981. He played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, and the 1994 World Cup, with Sweden finishing third in the latter tournament, and appeared in a total of 143 games.[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ravelli-intl.html Thomas Ravelli – Century of International Appearances]; at RSSSF The 1994 World Cup semi-final against Brazil was Ravelli's 116th game for Sweden, overtaking Björn Nordqvist's appearances record.

He is well known for saving two penalties during the shootout against Romania in 1994 World Cup's quarter-final clash, including one in the "sudden death" by Miodrag Belodedici (5–4 win).[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-11-sp-14395-story.html WORLD CUP USA '94 / Quarterfinals: There once was a man named Ravelli... : Sweden: Goalkeeper's performance against Romanian penalty kicks seems like the stuff of legends.]; Los Angeles Times, 11 July 1994 This feat led to him finishing second in the year's race for Goalkeeper of the Year, behind Belgian Michel Preud'Homme,[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy94.html IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1994]; at RSSSF and he was also named by France Football as the seventh best player in Europe.[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy94.html European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1994]; at RSSSF

Style of play

Extroverted, experienced and highly competitive with a tall and slender frame, known for his leadership and vocal presence in goal in spite of his eccentric and temperamental personality, Ravelli was a traditional, consistent and efficient goalkeeper with solid all-round fundamentals, who was regarded in particular for his positional sense and ability to read the game and organise his defence; considered to be a world-class player in his position in his prime, as well as one of Sweden's greatest goalkeepers ever, he also possessed good elevation and shot-stopping abilities, which enabled him to produce acrobatic saves without having to resort to histrionics, and was known for his command of his area and speed when rushing off his line, as well as his ability to close down his opponents and get over the ball quickly. He also stood out for his longevity throughout his career; however, he also came into criticism at times from his managers over his poor work-rate in training.

Although Ravelli was not known to be a penalty-saving specialist, Ravelli drew attention to himself in the media when he stopped two penalties in Sweden's quarter-final penalty shoot-out victory over Romania at the 1994 World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/07/12/a-wild-and-crazy-goalie/|title=A wild and crazy goalie|publisher=Chicago Tribune|last=Hersh|first=Phil|date=12 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2017/11/lindahl-brings-award-back-to-cobham.html|title=Lindahl brings award back to Cobham|publisher=Chelsea F.C|date=30 November 2017|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/opinion-buffon-may-never-be-bettered-but-italy-can-replace-him-515138|title=OPINION: Buffon may never be bettered... but Italy can replace him!|publisher=Calcio Mercato|last=Hall|first=Richard|date=25 March 2016|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=8/news=happy-birthday-you-1679223.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175106/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=8/news=happy-birthday-you-1679223.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2015|title=Happy birthday to you!|publisher=FIFA|date=12 August 2012|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/08/sports/08iht-rob_1.html|title=Peter Shilton's despond|work=The New York Times|last=Hughes|first=Rob|date=8 February 1995|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-12-sp-14611-story.html|title=WORLD CUP USA '94: Semifinals: The nut in the nets: Sweden's Ravelli seems like a normal fellow, but the truth cuts holes in that scenario|work=Los Angeles Times|last=L. Jones|first=Grahame|date=12 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/11/sports/world-cup-94-a-would-be-salesman-buys-dream-for-sweden.html|title=WORLD CUP '94; A would-be salesman buys dream for Sweden|work=The New York Times|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|date=11 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/07/02/round-of-16/53f67ace-2937-4035-b0d5-53ed354b4999/|title=Round of 16|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Goff|first=Steven|date=2 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/11/save-the-world-a-shot-at-a-time/79a3d083-3030-4e82-9240-bc1a890d67ac/|title=Save the world, a shot at a time|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Howard|first=Johnette|date=11 June 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/13/sports/13iht-sweden_2.html|title=Chance of a lifetime is in their hands|work=The New York Times|last=Hughes|first=Rob|date=13 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/17/world-cup-team-capsules/d71402d1-574c-4792-b2dc-e8fd9a8e9da9/|title=World Cup team capsules|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=17 June 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}

Ravelli was also known for his temperament among teammates, and he was also known to be a prankster, at one point cutting holes into Martin Dahlin's underwear.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-07-12-9407120217-story.html|title=A WILD AND CRAZY GOALIE|website=Chicago Tribune|date=12 July 1994 }}

Personal life

Ravelli's twin brother, Andreas, is also a former footballer. Their father, Dr. Peter Ravelli, was an Austrian immigrant of Italian descent who moved to Sweden in 1952,[http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/0006/10/ravelli.html/ Thomas Ravellis släkthistoria stolen (Thomas Ravelli's family history stolen)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405110412/http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/0006/10/ravelli.html|date=5 April 2008}}; Aftonbladet, 10 June 2000 (in Swedish)[https://web.archive.org/web/20150404101835/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=81962.html Thomas Ravelli]; UEFA, 10 July 2003{{cite news|url=https://www.expressen.se/gt/noje/ravelli-jag-var-radd-for-att-gora-bort-mig/|title=Ravelli: "Jag var rädd för att göra bort mig"|trans-title=Ravelli: "I was afraid of making a fool out of myself"|publisher=Expressen|last=Fredriksson|first=Jimmy|language=sv|date=4 May 2014|access-date=2 November 2017}} and the siblings played alongside each other at Öster and the national team.

Ravelli participated as a celebrity dancer in Let's Dance 2019, broadcast on TV4.{{cite web|url=https://www.tv4.se/lets-dance/klipp/thomas-ravelli-jasmine-takacs-vals-11980460|title=Thomas Ravelli & Jasmine Takács – Vals|trans-title=Thomas Ravelli & Jasmine Takács – Waltz|publisher=TV4|language=sv|date=19 April 2019|access-date=25 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://afaae.com/sweden/dan-ekborg-had-to-leave-lets-dance/|title=Dan Ekborg had to leave "Let's dance"|publisher=AFAAE|date=19 April 2019|access-date=25 April 2019}}

Career statistics

=Club=

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

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{Cite web|url=http://www.level-k.com/player/T_Ravelli.htm|title=Thomas RAVELLI|publisher=Level K|language=ja|access-date=13 July 2008}}{{Cite web|title=Thomas Ravelli - ifkdb.se|url=http://ifkdb.se/spelare/Thomas-Ravelli_600|access-date=2021-06-10|website=ifkdb.se}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|Cup

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="14" |Östers IF

|1976

|Allsvenskan

|0

|0

|

|

|1{{Cite web |title=Thomas Ravelli » Europa League 1976/1977 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/thomas-ravelli/uefa-cup-1976-1977/oesters-if/3/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}

|0

|

|

1977

|Allsvenskan

|0

|0

|

|

|

|

|

|

1978

|Allsvenskan

|0

0
1979

|Allsvenskan

|13

0
1980

|Allsvenskan

|26

0
1981

|Allsvenskan

|26

0
1982

|Allsvenskan

|24

0
1983

|Allsvenskan

|28

0
1984

|Allsvenskan

|17

0
1985

|Allsvenskan

|19

0
1986

|Allsvenskan

|20

0
1987

|Allsvenskan

|24

0
1988

|Allsvenskan

|22

0
colspan="2"|Total

!219

0
rowspan="10"|IFK Göteborg

|1989

|Allsvenskan

|22

05020290
1990

|Allsvenskan

|26

020colspan="2"|–280
1991

|Allsvenskan

|28

06040380
1992

|Allsvenskan

|24

01040290
1993

|Allsvenskan

|26

03040330
1994

|Allsvenskan

|25

01080340
1995

|Allsvenskan

|20

06030290
1996

|Allsvenskan

|17

05080300
1997

|Allsvenskan

|23

01070310
colspan="2"|Total

!211

03004002810
Tampa Bay Mutiny

|1998

|Major League Soccer

|23

0colspan="2"|–
Östers IF

|1999

|Division 1 Södra

|8

0colspan="2"|–
colspan="3"|Career total

!461

0

= International =

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

|+Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web |title=Thomas Ravelli, Svensk fotboll |url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/thomas-ravelli/e24b2999-9ef5-4cee-a2ed-95e2cbd9bfcb/ |website=Svensk fotboll}}

!National team

!Year

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="17" |Sweden

|1981

|10

|0

1982

|7

|0

1983

|10

|0

1984

|6

|0

1985

|6

|0

1986

|4

|0

1987

|9

|0

1988

|8

|0

1989

|8

|0

1990

|10

|0

1991

|7

|0

1992

|10

|0

1993

|9

|0

1994

|17

|0

1995

|7

|0

1996

|5

|0

1997

|10

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!143

!0

Honours

Östers IF

IFK Göteborg

Sweden

Individual

  • Guldbollen: 1981
  • Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year: 1995, 1997
  • IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: Silver Ball 1994, Bronze Ball 1995[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy95.html IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1995]; at RSSSF
  • MLS All-Star, 1998{{Cite web |date=August 2, 1998 |title=1998 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com}}
  • Årets Ärkeängel: 1991{{Cite web|title=Alla 47 ärkeänglar {{!}} ifkdb.se|url=https://ifkdb.se/listor/arkeanglar|website=ifkdb.se|access-date=2020-05-06}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{NFT|14176}}
  • {{FIFA|44554}}
  • {{EU-Football.info|17455}}
  • {{ifkdb|name=#1 Thomas Ravelli}}

{{navboxes

|title=Sweden squads

|bg= #FFF01C

|fg= #005B99

|bordercolor= #005B99

|list1=

{{Sweden Squad 1990 World Cup}}

{{Sweden Squad 1992 Euro}}

{{Sweden Squad 1994 World Cup}}

}}

{{Swedish Footballer of the Year}}

{{Swedish Football Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravelli, Thomas}}

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Swedish twins

Category:Swedish people of Austrian descent

Category:Swedish people of Italian descent

Category:Swedish men's footballers

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:Allsvenskan players

Category:Östers IF players

Category:IFK Göteborg players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Tampa Bay Mutiny players

Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars

Category:Sweden men's international footballers

Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players

Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players

Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players

Category:Sweden men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers

Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States

Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:FIFA Men's Century Club

Category:People from Växjö Municipality

Category:Footballers from Kalmar County

Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen