Rasmus Lindgren

Rasmus Lindgren (born 29 November 1984) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays for BK Häcken in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He started off his footballing career at Landskrona BoIS, but has spent most of his career in the Netherlands, representing AFC Ajax and FC Groningen, and also had a short stint in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg. He has won 2 caps for the Sweden national team.

Rasmus Lindgren

Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-11-29) 29 November 1984
Place of birth	Landskrona, Sweden
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s)	Centre back, Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team	BK Häcken
Number	21
Youth career
2002–2003	Landskrona BoIS
2003–2005	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005	Ajax	4	(0)
2005–2008	FC Groningen	82	(4)
2008–2011	Ajax	54	(6)
2011–2012	Red Bull Salzburg	20	(1)
2013–2016	FC Groningen	86	(6)
2016–	BK Häcken	107	(1)
National team
2002–2002	Sweden U19	9	(0)
2004–2006	Sweden U21	9	(0)
2008–2009	Sweden	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 August 2020

Club career

Landskrona

Lindgren was born in Landskrona and started his footballing career at Landskrona BoIS' youth academy, alongside future professional footballers such as Pontus Farnerud, Alexander Farnerud, Jonas Olsson, and Johan Andersson.[1][2] He sat on the bench in an Allsvenskan game against Örebro SK in 2003 as an unused substitute, but never made his senior debut for the team.[3][4]

Ajax

In 2003, he moved from Landskrona BoIS in Sweden to AFC Ajax in The Netherlands.[5] Initially, he played for their famous youth system, but he managed to become a member of the first squad in 2005 and would become the captain at the club. He made his debut in the 1–2 away win in the Eredivisie against NAC Breda on 13 February 2005.[6] After the match, Lindgren says he is happy to make his debut and expected to make his way into the first team.[7] He played 4 matches in the 2004–05 Eredivisie, but he didn't manage to secure a place in the starting line-up. Ajax and Lindgren agreed that he would go on loan the next season.

Groningen

Lindgren on-the training field of Groningen in 2006.

On 9 August 2005 it was announced that Lindgren would join FC Groningen for a 1-year loan period.[8] Having made his debut on the opening game, Lindgren would score his first goal, the next game, in a 2–1 loss against RKC Waalwijk seven days later. In the 2005–06 season, he played most matches and FC Groningen was satisfied with his performance. On 1 March 2006 it was announced that Lindgren would sign a new deal, making him a FC Groningen player for four years.[9] His transfer fee was €300,000.[10] During his total ​2 ¹⁄₂-year stay at FC Groningen, Lindgren became one of the most important players in the squad, playing a total of 82 Eredivisie-matches (4 goals). His performances led to a renewal of AFC Ajax' interest in him.

Return to Ajax

On 28 January 2008 he moved back to Ajax, signing a ​3 ¹⁄₂-year deal.[11] The transfer fee was about 2.5 million Euros.[12] In the second half of the 2007–08 season and in the start of the 2008–09 season, he is a regular first team player. However, several injuries limit the number of matches he could play, also resulting in becoming a regular substitute in the 2009–10 season under head-coach Martin Jol.

This situation does not change in the next season under new head-coach Frank de Boer and Lindgren announces in Swedish media that something new might be good.[13] In the beginning of the 2010–11 season Lindgren scored an important goal against PAOK F.C. in the UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round helping AFC Ajax to move to the Play-off round, ultimately leading to qualification to the Group stage. During his second period at AFC Ajax Lindgren played 54 Eredivisie-matches (6 goals), resulting in the 2010–11 Eredivisie title and the 2009–10 KNVB Cup victory.

Red Bull Salzburg

Rasmus Lindgren in his first league match for Red Bull Salzburg.

On 20 June 2011, it was announced that Lindgren would join Red Bull Salzburg on a two-year deal starting from the 2011–12 season. On the opening game of the season, Lindgren made his debut, playing in defensive midfield position, in a 2–0 win over Austria Wien. Soon in the second round of Austrian Cup, Lindgren scored his first goal in a 4–0 win over SAK Klagenfurt. In March, Lindgren scored his first league goal in a 2–2 draw against Admira Wacker Mödling. In the conclusion of the season, the club would win not only Austrian Cup, but also Austrian Champion.

At the end of the season, he was given a free transfer as the club saw the necessity to rebuild the squad.[14]

Return to Groningen

In late November, it was announced that Lindgren would make a return to the Netherlands, rejoining FC Groningen on a three-year deal though unable to make his debut until January.[15] After the move, Lindgren said he was pleased to make his return to Groningen, though he is keen to make a return to Scandinavia.[16] Having been unveiled, Lindgren started training with the club.[17] On 20 January 2013, he made his debut in the Groningen starting lineup in a 2–0 loss to Utrecht. After the match, Lindgren said he was disappointed with his comeback match.[18] He helped the Green-White Army win the KNVB Cup in 2014/15 against defending champions PEC Zwolle. It was their first major trophy and they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.[19][20]

BK Häcken

In May 2016 Lindgren signed with the Allsvenskan side BK Häcken.[21] He made his debut on 17 July 2016 in a league game against Örebro SK.[22] On 30 May 2019 Lindgren won his first silverware with Häcken when he played the full 90 minutes as Häcken won the 2018–19 Svenska Cupen, beating AFC Eskilstuna 3-1 in the final.[23]

International career.

After making 9 appearances for the U21 team, he made his debut for Sweden on 19 November 2008, in a 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands. He made his second international appearance in a 2-0 defeat to Serbia.[24]

Career statistics

As of 30 August 2017[25][26]

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
2004–05	AFC Ajax	Eredivisie	4	0	-	-	1	0	0	0	5	0
2005–06	FC Groningen		32	3	4	0	0	0	4	0	40	3
2006–07			30	0	2	1	2	0	0	0	34	1
2007–08			20	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	24	1
2007–08	AFC Ajax		11	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	2
2008–09			22	2	2	0	8	0	0	0	32	2
2009–10			6	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
2010–11			15	1	2	0	7	1	0	0	24	2
Austria			League		Austrian Cup		Europe		Other		Total
2011–12	Red Bull Salzburg	Bundesliga	20	1	3	1	11	0	0	0	34	2
2012–13			0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
2012–13	FC Groningen	Eredivisie	14	0	0	0	-	-	2	0	16	0
2013–14			21	0	0	0	-	-	4	0	25	0
2014–15			23	1	5	0	2	0	0	0	30	1
2015–16			21	4	0	0	1	0	2	1	24	5
Sweden			League		Svenska Cupen		Europe		Other		Total
2016	BK Häcken	Allsvenskan	14	0	3	1	-	-	0	0	17	1
2017			18	1	3	1	-	-	0	0	21	2
Total	Netherlands		235	15	18	1	23	1	12	1	288	18
	Austria		20	1	4	1	12	0	0	0	36	2
	Sweden		32	1	6	2	0	0	0	0	38	3
Career total			287	17	28	4	35	1	12	1	374	23

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie (1): 2010–11
• KNVB Cup (1): 2009–10

Red Bull Salzburg

• Austrian Bundesliga (1): 2011–12
• Austrian Cup (1): 2011–12

Groningen

• KNVB Cup (1): 2014–15

BK Häcken

• Svenska cupen (1): 2018–19

References

1. Micael; erssonmicael. "I Landskrona BoIS är individen viktig". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
2. "Bernt "Linkan" Lindgren tror på BoIS igen". Landskrona BoIS (in Swedish). 28 June 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
3. "253 - Rasmus Lindgren - Lundh". Poddtoppen (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
4. "Groningen-proffset öppnar för hemflytt - FotbollDirekt". Groningen-proffset öppnar för hemflytt - FotbollDirekt. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
5. Lindgren tekent contract Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
6. Rasmus Lindgren maakt officieel debuut Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
7. "Lindgren pleased with debut". Sky Sports. 16 January 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
8. Lindgren verhuurd aan FC Groningen Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
9. Rasmus Lindgren naar FC Groningen Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
10. Soccerway profile Soccerway, retrieved 21 June 2011
11. Ajax versterkt zich met Lindgren Archived 13 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
12. Soccerway profile Soccerway, retrieved 21 June 2011
13. Lindgren: 'Misschien is het wel tijd voor iets nieuws' Voetbal International, retrieved 21 June 2011
14. Ajacied Lindgren verhuist naar Red Bull Salzburg Voetbal International, retrieved 21 June 2011
15. "Rasmus Lindgren has completed a move back to his former club Groningen". Sky Sports. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
16. "Lindgren temptert expectations: "Am not Maradona '" [Lindgren temptert verwachtingen: 'Ben geen Maradona'] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
17. "In short – Minute's silence in Belgium, under 19 loot Germany" [Kortom – Minuut stilte in België, onder 19 loot Duitsland] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
18. "Lindgren disappointed with comeback match in Groningen" [Lindgren baalt van teleurstellende rentree bij Groningen] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
19. "Groningen claim first trophy with KNVB Cup triumph". Goal.com. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
20. https://za.soccerway.com/matches/2015/05/03/netherlands/knvb-beker/bvo-fc-zwolle/stichting-fc-groningen/2028581/
21. "Lindgren vänder hem - klar för Häcken". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
22. "Häcken fick nöja sig med kryss i Lindgrens debut - FotbollDirekt". Häcken fick nöja sig med kryss i Lindgrens debut - FotbollDirekt. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
23. "Häcken vinnare av Svenska cupen - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 March 2020.
24. https://www2.svenskfotboll.se/landslag/landslagsdatabas/landslagsspelare/?fplid=2fdcc0ee-5de9-4f26-8e51-792f0cdd4d20&tab=appearances
25. "Rasmus Lindgren Statistics". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
26. "Rasmus Lindgren Statistics". Voetbal International. Retrieved 16 March 2017.

External links

• Voetbal International profile (in Dutch)
• Rasmus Lindgren at SvFF (in Swedish)