Victor Lindelöf

Victor Jörgen Nilsson Lindelöf (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈlɪ̂nːdɛˌløːv]; born 17 July 1994) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a defender for English Premier League club Manchester United and the Sweden national team. Mainly a centre-back, he can also play as a right-back.[3]

Victor Lindelöf
Lindelöf playing for Manchester United in 2017
Personal information
Full name Victor Jörgen Nilsson Lindelöf[1]
Date of birth (1994-07-17) 17 July 1994
Place of birth Västerås, Sweden
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 2
Youth career
IK Franke
Västerås IK
2007–2009 Västerås SK
2012–2013 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Västerås SK 50 (0)
2012–2015 Benfica B 96 (4)
2013–2017 Benfica 48 (2)
2017– Manchester United 82 (2)
National team‡
2010–2011 Sweden U17 5 (0)
2012–2013 Sweden U19 17 (0)
2014–2015 Sweden U21 13 (0)
2016– Sweden 33 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:58, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2019

Lindelöf began his career in Sweden at Västerås SK, making his debut in October 2009. In December 2011, he agreed to move to Benfica in Portugal, initially representing the club at youth and B levels. After making his first-team debut in September 2013, he continued to appear for the club at B level, while also winning three Primeira Liga titles. He joined Manchester United in July 2017.

Lindelöf has represented Sweden at under-17, under-19, under-21, and senior levels. He was a member of the under-21 side that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior international debut in March 2016 and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Lindelöf played in numerous Västerås-based clubs in his youth such as IK Franke,[4] Västerås IK and Västerås SK.[5]

Västerås SK

In October 2009, at the age of 15, Lindelöf made his first-team debut for Västerås SK, when the team won 3–0 against BK Forward.[6] In the following season, he helped his team advance a step higher in the Swedish league system, as they were promoted to the second highest league.[7] In 2011, he travelled to England to have a trial with Stoke City, but they did not make an offer for him.[5]

Benfica

On 1 December 2011, Lindelöf agreed to join Portuguese club Benfica in the summer of 2012,[8] and on 8 June 2015, the contract was extended until 2020.[9] In the 2012–13 season, he played for the youth team and won the Portuguese under-19 championship.[10] On 19 October 2013, he debuted for the first-team in a 1–0 Portuguese Cup win against CD Cinfães, playing the full match. In the 2013–14 season, he scored 2 goals in 33 matches for the reserve team.[10] In the 2015–16 season, he returned to the first-team in a 1–0 win against Nacional in the Taça da Liga.[11] On 16 February 2016, he played the entire match for Benfica in a 1–0 home win against Zenit Saint Petersburg in the first leg of UEFA Champions League's round of 16.[12] Four days later, he scored his first goal for Benfica, in a 3–1 Primeira Liga victory at Paços de Ferreira.[13] On 28 May 2017, he played in the Taça de Portugal final, which Benfica won over Vitória de Guimarães (2–1).[14]

Manchester United
Lindelöf (right) with centre-back partner Chris Smalling playing against PFC CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League.

On 10 June 2017, Manchester United announced that they had agreed a deal with Benfica to sign Lindelöf for a fee of €35 million (with a potential €10 million in add-ons),[15] pending the agreement of personal terms and the player passing a medical.[16] Lindelöf passed his medical at the Trafford Training Centre on 14 June, with the Swede signing a four-year contract with the option of an extra year; Manchester United announced that the contract would begin on 1 July.[17][18]

He made his official debut for the club against Real Madrid in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup; however, it was more than two months before his Premier League debut, brought on during added time against Liverpool on 14 October.[19] Lindelöf scored his first goal for Manchester United on 29 January 2019, scoring their second goal in a 2–2 league draw at home to Burnley.[20]

In September 2019 he signed a new contract until 2024, with the option of a further year.[21]

International career
Lindelöf in Swedish national team, playing against Spain in 2019

Lindelöf made his debut for the under-21 team on 14 October 2014, in the second leg of the qualification play-offs against France.

Although Lindelöf was not named in the final squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, on 15 June 2015 he replaced defender Emil Krafth who was ruled out of the tournament after a back injury.[22] He made his debut in the tournament in the first game against Italy. On 30 June 2015 he successfully converted Sweden's fifth and last penalty against Portugal in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory in the final to become European under-21 champion.[23] He was named in the Team of the Tournament.[24]

Lindelöf received his first call up to the senior Sweden squad in March 2016 for friendlies against Turkey and Czech Republic.[25] He debuted for the country in a 2–1 away loss to Turkey on 24 March 2016.[26]

He was selected in Sweden's squad for UEFA Euro 2016 in France, where he started all three of their group games, although Sweden failed to progress to the round of 16. Lindelöf was also selected in Sweden's 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,[27] but was prevented from participating in the tournament by his club Benfica, who believed that the involvement of their players in the Olympics would harm their chances for the following season.[28]

Lindelöf scored his first international goal for Sweden in a 3–0 win over Bulgaria in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Friends Arena in Stockholm on 10 October 2016.[29]

In May 2018, he was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.[30] Lindelöf missed the first game against South Korea due to illness, but was a regular starter in defense alongside fellow central defender Andreas Granqvist for the remainder of the tournament.[31] Lindelöf and Sweden were eliminated in the quarter final against England.[32]

In March 2019, Lindelöf was called up for Sweden's UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Romania and Norway. However, he chose to withdraw from the squad, citing personal reasons, namely the birth of his first child. He was replaced by Anton Tinnerholm.[33]

Personal life

Following his move to Manchester United in 2017, Lindelöf announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend Maja Nilsson.[34] They got married at the end of May 2018, in Sweden.[35] In March 2019, their first child was born.[36]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 August 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe[lower-alpha 3] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Västerås SK 2009[37] Division 1 Norra 10————10
2010[37] Division 1 Norra 90————90
2011[37] Superettan 270————270
2012[37] Division 1 Norra 130————130
Total 500————500
Benfica B 2012–13[38] Segunda Liga 150————150
2013–14[38] Segunda Liga 332————332
2014–15[38] Segunda Liga 412————412
2015–16[38] LigaPro 70————70
Total 964————964
Benfica 2013–14[38] Primeira Liga 10100000—20
2014–15[38] Primeira Liga 001000000010
2015–16[38] Primeira Liga 15100404000231
2016–17[38] Primeira Liga 3214020801[lower-alpha 4]0471
Total 482606012010732
Manchester United 2017–18[39] Premier League 1703030501[lower-alpha 5]0290
2018–19[40] Premier League 301300070—401
2019–20[41] Premier League 351503030—461
Total 82211060150101152
Career total 2768170120270203348
  1. Includes Taça de Portugal and FA Cup
  2. Includes Taça da Liga and EFL Cup
  3. Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  5. Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

International
As of match played 15 November 2019[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Sweden
2016111
201770
2018111
201941
Total333

International goals
As of match played 15 November 2019. Sweden score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lindelöf goal.[42]
International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 October 2016Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden Bulgaria3–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 20 November 2018 Russia1–02–02018–19 UEFA Nations League B
3 5 September 2019Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Faroe Islands3–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Club

Västerås SK

Benfica[43]

International

Sweden

Individual

References
  1. "Squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 19 June 2018. p. 29. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. Gholam, Simeon (15 June 2017). "Who is Victor Lindelof? Manchester United's new signing assessed". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. "Victor Nilsson Lindelöf vann årets back" [Victor Nilsson Lindelöf won defender of the year] (in Swedish). IK Franke. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. Österdahl, Mikael (17 July 2017). "Allt du behöver veta om Victor Nilsson Lindelöf" [Everything you need to know about Victor Nilsson Lindelöf]. muss.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. ""Har haft ett bra år i VSK"" ["Have had a good year in VSK"]. VSK Fotboll (in Swedish). 26 October 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. "VSK Fotboll till Superettan!" [VSK Football to Superettan!]. VSK Fotboll (in Swedish). 17 October 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. "Storklubb värvar svensk 17–åring". Sportbladet. 1 December 2011.
  9. "Victor Lindelöf renova contrato" [Victor Lindelöf renews contract] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  10. "Lindelöf preparado para travar Bernardo Silva" [Lindelöf prepared to stop Bernardo Silva] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  11. "Taça da Liga – 3ª Fase". ForaDeJogo.net.
  12. "Jonas strikes late to earn Benfica narrow win". UEFA.com. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  13. "Benfica: Lindelof celebra primeiro golo pela equipa principal". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 20 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  14. "A Bola - Jogo em direto".
  15. "Comunicado" [Communication] (PDF) (Press release) (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  16. "Reds agree transfer for Victor Lindelof". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  17. "UNITED COMPLETE SIGNING OF VICTOR LINDELOF". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  18. "Victor Lindelof: Manchester United sign £31m Benfica defender". BBC Sport. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  19. "Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho slammed by Rio Ferdinand for bringing Victor Lindelof on in the 92nd minute against Liverpool". Metro. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  20. Henry, Matthew (29 January 2019). "Manchester United 2-2 Burnley: Hosts rescue late point". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  21. "Victor Lindelof: Man Utd defender signs deal to 2024 with option for further year". 18 September 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  22. "Krafth missar U21-EM" (in Swedish). Svenskfotboll. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  23. "Sweden see off Portugal on penalties". UEFA. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  24. "The official Under-21 Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  25. "Hamren names Sweden squad for Turkey, Czech Rep friendlies". internationalsoccerteams.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  26. "Lindelof estreia-se pela seleção principal da Suécia com derrota" [Lindelof debuts for Sweden's main squad with defeat]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 24 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  27. "Ericsons bruttotrupp till OS – svenskfotboll.se". svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  28. "Nilsson Lindelöf stoppas från OS".
  29. "Sweden 3–0 Bulgaria". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  30. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced? - Goal.com".
  31. FIFA.com. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - Players - Victor LINDELOF - Victor Lindelof - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  32. FIFA.com. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - Matches - Sweden - England - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  33. "Janne Andersson om uppgifterna om Lindelöf: "Det kan jag kraftigt dementera"".
  34. Gadd, Mick (22 June 2017). "Victor Lindelof and Maja Nilsson announce their engagement in style". Daily Mirror.
  35. "Fotbollsstjärnans kärleksord till hustrun Maja".
  36. "Manchester United get Victor Lindelof boost after fixture absence". 2 April 2019.
  37. "Lindelöf, Victor". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  38. Victor Lindelöf at ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  39. "Games played by Victor Lindelöf in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  40. "Games played by Victor Lindelöf in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  41. "Games played by Victor Lindelöf in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  42. "Victor Lindelöf". eu-football.info. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  43. Victor Lindelöf at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  44. "OFICIAL: Lindelof renova com o Benfica". Maisfutebol. 8 June 2015.
  45. "Lindelof exulta com título europeu" [Lindelof exults with European title] (in Portuguese). A Bola. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  46. "Här är alla pristagare i Fotbollsgalan 2016" [Here are all the prize winners in the Fotbollsgalan 2016]. DN.se (in Swedish). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  47. "Our Champions League breakthrough team of 2016". UEFA.com. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  48. "Lindelöf vinner Guldbollen 2018". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  49. "Victor Nilsson Lindelöf får guldbollen 2019". aftonbladet.se. Aftonbladet. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
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