Viktor Claesson

{{Short description|Swedish footballer (born 1992)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Viktor Claesson

| image = UEFA EURO qualifiers Sweden vs Romaina 20190323 Viktor Claesson 28.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Claesson playing for Sweden in 2019

| fullname = Viktor Johan Anton Claesson{{cite web |url=https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619164139/https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=19 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|1|2}}

| birth_place = Värnamo, Sweden

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Left winger

| currentclub = Copenhagen

| clubnumber = 7

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2008

| youthclubs1 = IFK Värnamo

| years1 = 2008–2011 | clubs1 = IFK Värnamo | caps1 = 71 | goals1 = 29

| years2 = 2012–2016 | clubs2 = IF Elfsborg | caps2 = 134 | goals2 = 32

| years3 = 2017–2022 | clubs3 = Krasnodar | caps3 = 114 | goals3 = 32

| years4 = 2022– | clubs4 = Copenhagen | caps4 = 94 | goals4 = 25

| nationalyears1 = 2008

| nationalteam1 = Sweden U17

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2009–2010

| nationalteam2 = Sweden U19

| nationalcaps2 = 9

| nationalgoals2 = 3

| nationalyears3 = 2011–2015

| nationalteam3 = Sweden U21

| nationalcaps3 = 20

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| nationalyears4 = 2012–

| nationalteam4 = Sweden

| nationalcaps4 = 74

| nationalgoals4 = 15

| club-update = 28 May 2025

| nationalteam-update = 16:49, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

}}

Viktor Johan Anton Claesson ({{IPA|sv|ˈvɪ̌kːtɔr ˈklɑ̌ːsɔn}}; born 2 January 1992) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for the Danish Superliga club Copenhagen and the Sweden national team. He is known for his passing and set piece abilities.{{cite web|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/superettan/person/?playerid=7203 |title=Viktor Claesson|publisher=Svenskfotboll.se |access-date=10 February 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.elfsborg.se/enkeltabell/player/4-allsvenskan-2012/3-if-elfsborg/786-viktor-claesson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324083259/http://www.elfsborg.se/enkeltabell/player/4-allsvenskan-2012/3-if-elfsborg/786-viktor-claesson |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2012 |title=Elfsborg.se |publisher=Elfsborg.se |access-date=10 February 2012 }}

Club career

=Early career=

Claesson started his career with local club IFK Värnamo. After progressing through the youth ranks, he made his senior debut in 2009 in a Division 1 Södra match. After a breakthrough campaign during the 2011 Superettan season, Claesson join IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan, the top division of Swedish football.

=Krasnodar=

On 25 January 2017, Claesson signed a 3.5-year contract with Russian Premier League team FC Krasnodar.{{cite web|title=Краснодар укрепил рядыВиктором Клаэссоном|url=http://fckrasnodar.ru/team/news/object/?object_id=127932|website=fckrasnodar.ru|publisher=FC Krasnodar|access-date=25 January 2017|language=ru|date=25 January 2017}} He scored on his debut on 16 February 2017 in a 1–0 Europa League Round of 32 win against Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe, scoring a header on his first touch in any competitive Krasnodar game in the 4th minute. He was selected by UEFA as "Man of the Match".{{cite web|publisher=UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2019653--krasnodar-vs-fenerbahce/|title=Krasnodar-Fenerbahce game report|date=16 February 2017}} He continued his form with two goals in a Russian Cup game against FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast on 28 February 2017{{cite web|publisher=Russian Premier League|url=http://rfpl.org/match/match_11780.html|title=Ural-Krasnodar game report|date=28 February 2017|language=ru}} and a goal against Celta de Vigo in the first leg of Europa League Round of 16 on 9 March 2017.{{cite web|publisher= UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2019674--celta-vs-krasnodar/|title=Celta-Krasnodar game report|date=9 March 2017}}

Claesson missed all of the 2019–20 season with a serious knee injury.

==2020–21 season==

Out of action for over 14 months, Claesson returned from injury on 18 August 2020, playing the last 15 minutes of Krasnodar's 2–0 home win over Arsenal Tula in the Russian Premier League. On 18 September, he scored his first two goals since his return from injury in a 7–2 thrashing of Khimki.{{cite web|url=https://dugout.com/rpl/krasnodar-thrash-khimki-in-a-goal-frenzy|title=Krasnodar thrash Khimki in a goal frenzy|website=Dugout|date=18 September 2020|access-date=22 September 2020}} Four days later, Claesson scored from the penalty spot in the club's first-leg play-off round match against PAOK for qualification to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0261-107026875ebe-c7bd56298bdf-1000--krasnodar-2-1-paok-cabella-edges-hosts-in-front/|title=Krasnodar 2-1 PAOK: Cabella edges hosts in front|website=UEFA|date=22 September 2020}} Krasnodar would win the second leg against PAOK by the same scoreline and secure progression to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/krasnodar-midtjylland-salzburg-advance-to-champions-league/2020/09/30/504d59ca-0362-11eb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html|title=Krasnodar, Midtjylland, Salzburg advance to Champions League|newspaper=Washington Post|date=30 September 2020|access-date=2 October 2020}}

==2021–22 season==

On 3 March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Krasnodar announced that his contract was suspended and he would not train with the team, but the contract was not terminated and remained valid.{{cite press release|publisher=FC Krasnodar|url=https://fckrasnodar.ru/team/news/object/?object_id=141382|title="КРАСНОДАР" ПРИОСТАНОВИЛ КОНТРАКТЫ С НЕСКОЛЬКИМИ ИГРОКАМИ|date=3 March 2022|access-date=3 March 2022|language=ru}} On 5 March 2022, his contract was terminated and he was released from the club.{{cite press release|publisher=FC Krasnodar|url=https://fckrasnodar.ru/team/news/object/?object_id=141383|title="Краснодар" расторг контракт с Виктором Классоном. Официальный сайт ФК "Краснодар"|date=5 March 2022|access-date=5 March 2022|language=ru}}

=Copenhagen=

On 30 March 2022, Claesson signed with Copenhagen in Denmark until the end of the season.{{cite press release|publisher=Copenhagen|url=https://www.fck.dk/nyhed/viktor-claesson-bliver-fck-spiller-resten-af-saesonen|title=VIKTOR CLAESSON BLIVER FCK-SPILLER RESTEN AF SÆSONEN|date=30 March 2022|access-date=31 March 2022|language=da}} On 3 April, he scored the winning goal in his debut match for the club after coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute.

On 16 June 2022, Claesson signed an extension with Copenhagen until 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.fck.dk/en/news/viktor-claesson-signs-until-2026|title=Viktor Claesson signs until 2026|website=Copenhagen|date=16 June 2022|accessdate=21 August 2022}}

International career

In May 2018, Claesson was named in Sweden’s 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb|title=Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists |website=Goal.com|access-date=2 December 2021}} He was one of Sweden's main men for the duration of the tournament, in which the Blågult reached the quarterfinals.

In a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Spain on 10 June 2019, Claesson suffered a serious knee injury, rupturing the cruciate knee ligaments, after a clash with Jordi Alba.{{cite web|url=https://eng.premierliga.ru/news/rfpl/news_25382.html|title="It's like learning to walk again." Viktor Claesson returns after a year on the sidelines|website=Premier Liga|date=18 September 2020|access-date=22 September 2020}}

He was named in Sweden's UEFA Euro 2020 squad, and appeared in all four games as Sweden was eliminated in the round of 16 by Ukraine.{{Cite web|title=Viktor Claesson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/viktor-claesson/8925db8b-d657-4269-9b58-ba32964ab4ed/|access-date=6 July 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se.|language=sv}} He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win against Poland in the group stage. On 19 November 2023, Claesson registered one goal and one assist against Estonia in their 2-0 win in their European Qualifiers game.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 16 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|viktor-claesson/158311}}

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, Russian Cup, Danish Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
rowspan="4"|IFK Värnamo

|2009

|Division 1 Södra

|16

5colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–165
2010

|Division 1 Södra

|25

1110colspan="2"|–202811
2011

|Superettan

|29

1310colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–3013
colspan="2"|Total

!70||29||2||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0||74||29

rowspan="6"|IF Elfsborg

|2012

|Allsvenskan

|27

5006{{efn|name=UEL}}2colspan="2"|–337
2013

|Allsvenskan

|23

3308{{efn|Two appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}3colspan="2"|–346
2014

|Allsvenskan

|26

5726{{efn|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|–397
2015

|Allsvenskan

|29

11536{{efn|name=UEL}}1colspan="2"|–4015
2016

|Allsvenskan

|29

832colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–3210
colspan="2"|Total

!134||32||18||7||26||6||0||0||178||45

rowspan="7"|Krasnodar

|2016–17

|Russian Premier League

|13

1124{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}2colspan="2"|–185
2017–18

|Russian Premier League

|30

10004{{efn|name=UEL}}2colspan="2"|–3412
2018–19

|Russian Premier League

|29

12419{{efn|name=UEL}}2colspan="2"|–4215
2019–20

|Russian Premier League

|0

00000colspan="2"|–00
2020–21

|Russian Premier League

|24

6108{{efn|Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}2colspan="2"|–338
2021–22

|Russian Premier League

|18

320colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–203
colspan="2"|Total

!114||32||8||3||25||8||0||0||147||43

rowspan="5"|Copenhagen

|2021–22

|Danish Superliga

|10

1colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–101
2022–23

|Danish Superliga

|30

13738{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}1colspan="2"|–4517
2023–24

|Danish Superliga

|26

54011{{efn|name=UCL}}2colspan="2"|–417
2024–25

|Danish Superliga

|20

53111{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}1colspan="2"|–347
colspan="2"|Total

!86

24144304colspan="2"|–13032
colspan="3"|Career total

!404||117||42||14||81||18||2||0||529||149

{{notelist}}

Image:Viktor_Claesson_2017.jpg

=International=

{{updated|match played 19 November 2023|{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=27726|title=Viktor Claesson|website=EU-Football.info|date=30 June 2018|access-date=19 June 2021}}}}

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

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="12"|Sweden

|2012

21
201320
201400
201500
201630
2017122
2018141
201943
202051
2021153
202282
202392
colspan="2"|Total7415

{{updated|match played 19 November 2023.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/46290/Viktor_Claesson.html|title=Claesson, Viktor|website=National Football Teams|access-date=19 June 2021}}

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

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Viktor Claesson

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.|Reference}}

align="center"|123 January 2012Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar{{fb|QAT}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|5–0Friendly

|{{cite web|title=Qatar - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/qatar-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1792869/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|2rowspan=2 | 28 March 2017rowspan=2 | Estádio do Marítimo, Funchal, Portugalrowspan=2 | {{fb|POR}}align="center"|1–2rowspan="2" align="center"|3–2

| rowspan="2" |Friendly

| rowspan="2" |{{cite web|title=Portugal - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/portugal-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/3505225/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|3align="center"|2–2
align="center"|410 September 2018Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden{{fb|TUR}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|2–32018–19 UEFA Nations League B

|{{cite web|title=Sverige - Turkiet - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-turkiet-landskamper-herr-senior/3822223/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|523 March 2019

|Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden

{{fb|ROU}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|2–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

|{{cite web|title=Sverige - Rumänien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-rumanien-landskamper-herr-senior/4105984/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|626 March 2019Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway{{fb|NOR}}align="center"|1–2align="center"|3–3

|UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

|{{cite web|title=Norge - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/norge-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/4105987/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|77 June 2019Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden{{fb|MLT}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|3–0

|UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

|{{cite web|title=Sverige - Malta - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-malta-landskamper-herr-senior/4105991/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|817 November 2020Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France{{fb|FRA}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|2–42020–21 UEFA Nations League A

|{{Cite web|title=Frankrike - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/frankrike-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/4544551/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|925 March 2021Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden{{fb|GEO}}align="center"|1–0align="center"|1–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

|{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Georgien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-georgien-landskamper-herr-senior/4726227/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|1023 June 2021Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia{{fb|POL}}align="center"|3–2align="center"|3–2UEFA Euro 2020

|{{cite web|title=Sverige - Polen - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-polen-landskamper-herr-senior/4405018/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|11

|2 September 2021

|Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden

|{{fb|ESP}}

| align=center|2–1

| align=center|2–1

|2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

|{{cite web|title=Sverige - Spanien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.sehttps//www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-spanien-landskamper-herr-senior/4726233/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|12

|24 September 2022

|Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia

|{{fb|SRB}}

| align=center|1–0

| align=center|1–4

|2022–23 UEFA Nations League B

|{{cite web|title=Serbien - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/serbien-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/5055667/|access-date=24 September 2022|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}

align="center"|13

|19 November 2022

|Stadion, Malmö, Malmö, Sweden

|{{fb|ALG}}

| align=center|2–0

| align=center|2–0

| Friendly

|{{cite web | url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/livescore/#?date=2022-11-19&game=5382450 | title=Svenskfotboll livescore }}

align="center"|14

|9 September 2023

|Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia

|{{fb|EST}}

| align=center|5–0

| align=center|5–0

| UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

|{{cite web | url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/livescore/#?date=2023-09-09&game=5380841 | title=Scenskfotboll livescore }}

align="center"|15

|19 November 2023

|Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden

|{{fb|EST}}

| align=center|1–0

| align=center|2–0

| UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

|{{cite web | url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/livescore/#?date=2023-11-19&game=5380863 | title=Scenskfotboll livescore }}

Honours

Elfsborg

Copenhagen

  • Danish Superliga: 2021–22,{{cite web |title=FC Copenhagen win 14th Danish league title |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/939970/fc-copenhagen-win-14th-danish-league-title/|website=www.dailytimes.com.pk |access-date=22 May 2022}} 2022–23, 2024–25{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediano.nu/oversigt/2025/05/26/mediano-superliga-32-runde|title=Mediano Superliga: Tillykke til FC København|date=25 May 2025|website=Mediano}}
  • Danish Cup: 2022–23{{cite web |title=FCK win 2022/23 Danish Cup |url=https://www.fck.dk/en/news/fck-win-202223-danish-cup |publisher=Copenhagen |access-date=18 May 2023 |date=18 May 2023}} 2024–25{{Cite web|url=https://www.bt.dk/content/item/1824551|title=FCK tager tiende pokaltitel med soloridt på hadebanen|date=29 May 2025|website=www.bt.dk}}

Sweden

Individual

  • Allsvenskan top assist provider: 2015
  • Swedish Midfielder of the Year: 2018
  • Stor Grabb: 2018{{Cite web|title=Stora Grabbars Märke - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/landslag/herr/historik-herr/stora-grabbar/|access-date=8 September 2021|website=Svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}
  • Russian Premier League Left Winger of the Season: 2018–19{{Cite web|title=Лауреаты сезона и список "33-х лучших игроков"|url=https://rfs.ru/news/210104|access-date=14 February 2022|website=rfs.ru|language=ru-RU}}

References

{{Reflist}}