Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Roland Hamrin (Swedish: [ˈkɵʈː hamˈriːn]; born 19 November 1934) is a Swedish retired footballer who played as a winger. He began his career in his home country with AIK, but later played for several Italian clubs, most notably Fiorentina, with whom he won two Coppa Italia titles, a Cup Winners' Cup, and a Mitropa Cup over nine years, making over 350 appearances for the club and scoring over 200 goals in all competitions. A prolific goalscorer, he is currently the eighth highest goalscorer of all-time in Italy's Serie A, with 190 goals.[1]
Hamrin in 1970 | ||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Kurt Roland Hamrin | |||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 19 November 1934 | |||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | |||||||||||||||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||
Playing position(s) | Winger | |||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
1946–1947 | Huvudsta IS | |||||||||||||||
1947–1948 | Råsunda IS | |||||||||||||||
1949–1951 | AIK | |||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
1952–1955 | AIK | 62 | (54) | |||||||||||||
1956–1957 | Juventus | 23 | (8) | |||||||||||||
1957–1958 | Padova | 30 | (20) | |||||||||||||
1958–1967 | Fiorentina | 289 | (150) | |||||||||||||
1967–1969 | A.C. Milan | 36 | (9) | |||||||||||||
1969–1971 | Napoli | 22 | (3) | |||||||||||||
1971–1972 | IFK Stockholm | 10 | (5) | |||||||||||||
Total | 472 | (249) | ||||||||||||||
National team | ||||||||||||||||
1953–1965 | Sweden | 32 | (17) | |||||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
In addition to his success at club level, Hamrin also had a successful international career, and was a member of the Swedish team that reached the 1958 FIFA World Cup Final on home soil; he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Swedish footballers of all-time, as well as one of Fiorentina's greatest players ever.[1]
Club career
Hamrin first played for AIK in Sweden, whom he joined in the 1952–53 season. He then joined Italian side Juventus in 1956 and played 23 games during his single season there, notching eight goals. After that one season, he joined Padova on loan, where he scored 20 goals in 30 games. He would only stay there for one season again, however, as he was sold to Fiorentina in 1958, where he stayed until 1967, playing 289 Serie A games and scoring 150 goals. While at Fiorentina, he won the Coppa Italia in 1961 and 1966, as well as the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup (finishing the competition as the top–scorer with six goals, including one in the second leg of the final, a 2–1 home victory over Rangers), and the 1966 Mitropa Cup. Hamrin is commonly regarded as one of Fiorentina's greatest ever players, and is the team's all–time highest goalscorer, with 208 goals. He joined A.C. Milan in 1967 and played there for two seasons, winning the league title in 1968; he also scored both goals for Milan as they overcame Hamburg 2–0 in the 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. The following season, the team won the European Cup. His final Italian club was Napoli, whom he joined from Milan in 1969. In 1971, he return to Sweden, playing one season for IFK Stockholm before retiring in 1972.
International career
Hamrin played 32 times for Sweden between 1953 and 1965, scoring 17 goals. Most Swedes remember him best for the goal he scored against West Germany in the semi finals of the 1958 FIFA World Cup on home soil. The goal allowed Sweden to win the match 3–1, and secure a place in the final against Brazil, where they were defeated 5–2, however.
After retirement
After his retirement as a footballer, Hamrin moved to Florence with his family, where he is still living today. He also worked as scout for A.C. Milan from 1998 to 2008.[2]
A member of "Exilgnagare" – a club for AIK supporters worldwide, Hamrin is probably one of the finest players the club ever produced and is still a big favourite among the supporters at the club. Hamrin, settled in Florence after his spell at Fiorentina; he still follows his beloved AIK, and usually makes the trip home every summer to catch a couple of games.
Style of play
Hamrin was a fast, creative, elegant, and technically skilled right winger, who was gifted with outstanding pace, as well as good vision, and opportunism in front of goal. A direct and efficient two–footed player, he was known in particular for his flair, as well as his incredible dribbling and striking ability with either foot, and stood out for his ability to utilise his speed to get past his opponents; he was also capable of beating players in one–on–one situations with elaborate moves and feints, such as the nutmeg. Moreover, he was a highly prolific goalscorer. Despite his playing ability, however, he was also known to be injury–prone.[1][3].
Honours
Club
Fiorentina
A.C. Milan
Individual
- Allsvenskan top scorer: 1955
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer: 1960–61 (6 goals)[4]
- FIFA XI: 1967[5]
- UEFA President Award: 2014[6]
- Fiorentina Hall of Fame[7]
- Fiorentina All-time XI[8]
- Fiorentina All-time top scorer
References
- Bovolenta, Germano (8 May 2005). "Quando Uccellino era Hamrin". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- "Vi ricordate Hamrin? Noi vi diciamo come vive" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport – Stadio. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- "Hamrin è stato consigliato da un minatore italiano in Svezia". La Stampa Sera (in Italian). 24 May 1956.
- Jarek Owsianski; Davide Rota (18 December 2013). "Cup Winners Cup Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- "FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- "UEFA President attends Swedish awards". uefa.com. UEFA. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- "IV Hall of Fame Viola: Toldo, Chiarugi e non solo entrano nella galleria degli onori" (in Italian). violanews.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- Matteo Magrini (23 August 2016). "Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta" (in Italian). Fiorentina.it. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.