Hans Eskilsson
Encyclopedia
Hans Eskilsson is a former Swedish
football
player, most notable for his time with Hammarby
and for his three appearances for the Swedish national team
. He is now a professional poker
player.
Eskilsson played as a child for Ope IF
(1973-75) then IFK Östersund
(1975-82). After a further three years with Östersund, his senior career flourished with a transfer to former Swedish giants IFK Norrköping
in 1985, followed by a switch to Hammarby IF
in 1987. He moved to Portugal
at the age of 22 and played for Sporting CP, Sporting Braga and Estoril for a season each over the next 3 years.
In 1991 Eskilsson returned to Sweden with AIK
before move to former club Hammarby IF, where he played between the years 1992 and 1995, helping the club get promoted to the Allsvenskan
. After a short spell at Solna
-based Vasalunds IF
, he moved to Scotland
to play for Heart of Midlothian
during the 1995-96 season
. His time in Scotland was blighted by spates of poor form, however he did get on the scoresheet a couple of times - netting a spectacular 2 yard tap in against Partick Thistle.
In 1996 he returned to Hammarby IF
(1996-2001) where he once again helped the club get promoted to the Allsvenskan in 1997. Eskilsson also moved further back the pitch from his normal position up front, reviving his career and forming one of the best central defences in the Swedish top flight division alongside Pétur Marteinsson
. Eskilsson eventually wound up at the right back position before getting his leg broken so seriously, from a two-footed challenge by Daniel Hoch in a derby game against AIK
in 2001, that he had to retire from professional football.
Eskilsson then started a managerial career by taking over home town Östersunds FK
which, however, wasn't very successful. He has since become a professional poker player, habitually wearing more or less ridiculous glasses, and can also occasionally be seen on Swedish TV
, as a football pundit
. He still has strong ties to Hammarby and has sometimes functioned as a scout for the Södermalm
club.
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....
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, most notable for his time with Hammarby
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
and for his three appearances for the Swedish national team
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...
. He is now a professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player.
Eskilsson played as a child for Ope IF
Ope IF
Ope IF is a Swedish football club located in Ope near Östersund in Jämtland.-Background:Ope Idrottsförening is a sports club near Östersund that was founded on 30 January 1922...
(1973-75) then IFK Östersund
IFK Östersund
IFK Östersund is a Swedish football club located in Östersund in Jämtland.-Background:Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Östersund were founded on 7 March 1906 at the Café Temperance in Östersund...
(1975-82). After a further three years with Östersund, his senior career flourished with a transfer to former Swedish giants IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping
IFK Norrköping is a Swedish football club based in Norrköping. The club, formed on 29 May 1897, is currently playing in the first division of Swedish football, Allsvenskan...
in 1985, followed by a switch to 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 1987. He moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
at the age of 22 and played for Sporting CP, Sporting Braga and Estoril for a season each over the next 3 years.
In 1991 Eskilsson returned to Sweden with AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
before move to former club Hammarby IF, where he played between the years 1992 and 1995, helping the club get promoted 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...
. After a short spell at Solna
Solna Municipality
Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna....
-based Vasalunds IF
Vasalunds IF
Vasalunds IF is a Swedish football club based in Solna which is within the Stockholm urban area. The club is affiliated to the Stockholms Fotbollförbund. - History :...
, he moved to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to play for Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
during the 1995-96 season
1995-96 in Scottish football
The 1995–96 season was the 99th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Summary:Rangers won the Premier Division with a record 87 points, finishing four ahead of rivals Celtic. Aberdeen were third with 55 points ....
. His time in Scotland was blighted by spates of poor form, however he did get on the scoresheet a couple of times - netting a spectacular 2 yard tap in against Partick Thistle.
In 1996 he returned to 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...
(1996-2001) where he once again helped the club get promoted to the Allsvenskan in 1997. Eskilsson also moved further back the pitch from his normal position up front, reviving his career and forming one of the best central defences in the Swedish top flight division alongside Pétur Marteinsson
Pétur Marteinsson
Pétur Marteinsson is a retired Icelandic football player. He is the son of former Icelandic international player Marteinn Geirsson.-Club career:...
. Eskilsson eventually wound up at the right back position before getting his leg broken so seriously, from a two-footed challenge by Daniel Hoch in a derby game against AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
in 2001, that he had to retire from professional football.
Eskilsson then started a managerial career by taking over home town Östersunds FK
Östersunds FK
Östersunds FK is a soccer club located in Östersund, Sweden. The club, formed 31 October 1996, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Norrettan .-Background:...
which, however, wasn't very successful. He has since become a professional poker player, habitually wearing more or less ridiculous glasses, and can also occasionally be seen on Swedish TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, as a football pundit
Pundit (politics)
A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities...
. He still has strong ties to Hammarby and has sometimes functioned as a scout for the Södermalm
Södermalm
Södermalm, often shortened to "Söder", is a district in central Stockholm. It covers the large island formerly called "Åsön". With a population of 99,685, it is one of the most densely populated districts of Scandinavia...
club.
External links
- Appearance stats at londonhearts.com