Dan Sahlin
Encyclopedia
Dan Sahlin is a Swedish
former professional football forward who won three caps
for his country
. At club level, he played in the Allsvenskan
for Hammarby IF
and Örebro SK
, in the Football League
for Birmingham City
, and in the Danish Superliga
for AaB.
. He began his football career with Nynäshamns IF, and later played for Division 3 club Västerhaninge IF while also playing bandy
at elite level. Sahlin came late into top-class football: he was nearly 28 years of age when, after lengthy negotiations, he joined Allsvenskan
club Hammarby IF
in February 1995. His debut was eventful: after 11 minutes 3 seconds, he scored the first goal of the 1995 Allsvenskan season
, and in the 44th minute he received his second yellow card. He finished the season with 12 league goals and another 3 in the Swedish Cup
, but his club were relegated
.
In November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for Sweden
, after which he went to England to join Division One
(second tier) club Birmingham City
on loan. He made his debut in the Football League
on 26 November 1995 in a 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City
, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for fellow debutant Danny Hill
. This was the only first-team game that Sahlin played for Birmingham, and he went home to Sweden in December.
Sahlin returned to the Allsvenskan
with Örebro SK
. In 1997 his 14 goals earned him a share in the league top scorer's crown
, together with Christer Mattiasson of Elfsborg
and Mats Lilienberg
of Halmstad
, and the following season his 10 goals made him Örebro's leading scorer. In his last game for ÖSK, Sahlin scored in the 89th minute to confirm a 4–2 win and take his club second in the table. In his three seasons with the club he scored 40 goals from 64 appearances in all competitions.
Sahlin signed a three-year contract with Danish Superliga
club AaB. In July 1998, he made his debut, opening the scoring in the 39th minute in a 4–0 defeat of AGF Aarhus. He picked up a few injuries, including a minor ankle injury which required surgery. While in hospital, Sahlin suffered a staphylococcal infection
in the operated area, which despite lengthy recuperative treatment forced his retirement. He played only six games for AaB, and scored twice.
: he came on as an 83rd-minute substitute to replace Jörgen Pettersson
in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Turkey
which finished as a 2–2 draw. His first start for his country came on 22 February 1996, when he played the first half of the Carlsberg Cup final against Japan
in Hong Kong
. His third and last international appearance came in a friendly
away against Lithuania
in August 1997.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
former professional football forward who won three caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for his country
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
. At club level, he played in the Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
for Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
and Örebro SK
Örebro SK
Örebro SK, also known as ÖSK or just Örebro, is a Swedish football club based in Örebro. The club, formed on 28 October 1908, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan.-The first years:...
, in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, and in the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
for AaB.
Club career
Sahlin was born in FalunFalun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
. He began his football career with Nynäshamns IF, and later played for Division 3 club Västerhaninge IF while also playing bandy
Bandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
at elite level. Sahlin came late into top-class football: he was nearly 28 years of age when, after lengthy negotiations, he joined Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
club Hammarby IF
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
in February 1995. His debut was eventful: after 11 minutes 3 seconds, he scored the first goal of the 1995 Allsvenskan season
Allsvenskan 1995
Allsvenskan 1995, part of the 1995 Swedish football season, was the 71st Allsvenskan season played. IFK Göteborg won the league ahead of runners-up Helsingborgs IF, while Hammarby IF and Västra Frölunda IF were relegated.- League table :...
, and in the 44th minute he received his second yellow card. He finished the season with 12 league goals and another 3 in the Swedish Cup
Svenska Cupen
Svenska Cupen , is a knockout cup competition in Swedish football and the main Swedish football cup. Svenska Cupen usually refers to the men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held. Each year 98 teams compete, comprising the 16 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan...
, but his club were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
.
In November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, after which he went to England to join Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(second tier) club Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on loan. He made his debut in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
on 26 November 1995 in a 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for fellow debutant Danny Hill
Danny Hill (footballer)
Danny Hill is an English football midfielder.-References:* *...
. This was the only first-team game that Sahlin played for Birmingham, and he went home to Sweden in December.
Sahlin returned to the Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
with Örebro SK
Örebro SK
Örebro SK, also known as ÖSK or just Örebro, is a Swedish football club based in Örebro. The club, formed on 28 October 1908, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan.-The first years:...
. In 1997 his 14 goals earned him a share in the league top scorer's crown
Allsvenskan top scorer
The following is a list of top scorers in Allsvenskan, the highest Swedish division of football....
, together with Christer Mattiasson of Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg is a Swedish football club located in Borås. The club has won five national championship titles, the latest in 2006, and two national cup titles. Currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. Elfsborg is based at Borås Arena...
and Mats Lilienberg
Mats Lilienberg
Mats Lilienberg is a Swedish football player currently playing for Höör IF.-Honours:* Allsvenskan top scorer: 1993 , 1997 .* Allsvenskan champion: 1995, 1996, 1997.-External links:...
of Halmstad
Halmstads BK
Halmstads Bollklubb, also called HBK or just Halmstad, is a Swedish football club located in Halmstad in the southwest of Sweden. The club, formed 6 March 1914, competes in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan, and has won 4 national championship titles and 1 national cup title...
, and the following season his 10 goals made him Örebro's leading scorer. In his last game for ÖSK, Sahlin scored in the 89th minute to confirm a 4–2 win and take his club second in the table. In his three seasons with the club he scored 40 goals from 64 appearances in all competitions.
Sahlin signed a three-year contract with Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
club AaB. In July 1998, he made his debut, opening the scoring in the 39th minute in a 4–0 defeat of AGF Aarhus. He picked up a few injuries, including a minor ankle injury which required surgery. While in hospital, Sahlin suffered a staphylococcal infection
Staphylococcal infection
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria which includes several species that can cause a wide variety of infections in humans and other animals through either toxin production or invasion....
in the operated area, which despite lengthy recuperative treatment forced his retirement. He played only six games for AaB, and scored twice.
International career
On 15 November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for SwedenSweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
: he came on as an 83rd-minute substitute to replace Jörgen Pettersson
Jörgen Pettersson (footballer)
Jörgen Pettersson is a former football striker from Sweden who has played 27 international matches for the national team...
in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
which finished as a 2–2 draw. His first start for his country came on 22 February 1996, when he played the first half of the Carlsberg Cup final against Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. His third and last international appearance came in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
away against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
in August 1997.
External links
- Örebro SK stats and photo at sportklubben.net