Håkan Mild
Encyclopedia
Stig Håkan Mild is a former Swedish
football
midfielder
and current director of sports of IFK Göteborg
, his main club as player, with which he won four Swedish Championships
. He was also part of the Swedish national team
that finished third in the 1994 World Cup
.
which he joined in 1988. He made his debut in the first team of IFK Göteborg the same year, in a friendly match against IF Elfsborg
, September 29. He played his first league game the following season, when he came on as a substitute against Halmstads BK
, July 26. He then scored his first goal in a competitive match in 1990, and became Swedish champion
for the first time that same year, playing in a majority of the club's matches during the season.
He became a regular in the team and won another championship title the next season, as well as winning Svenska Cupen
. He also scored his first goal in Allsvenskan
in 1991, and played four matches in the European Cup
. He was at the time a member of the Swedish Olympic team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
, where he played all four matches. He returned to European football and played all ten matches in the UEFA Champions League 1992-93
, against amongst others A.C. Milan
and FC Porto. Mild also scored a goal against Lech Poznań
in the qualifying round of the tournament. He became Swedish champion with IFK once again in 1993.
Håkan Mild then moved abroad to Swiss
club Servette FC
where he won the Swiss Super League
title the first season. He then played in the 1994 World Cup
, where he was substituted on in two games, and played the last three games—quarter-final, semi-final and third place match—from start scoring one goal and assisting one. He returned to Servette FC to play another season but his first visit on the continent
was not very successful and he returned to IFK Göteborg for the second half of the 1995 season. He led the club to another Swedish Championship the following season, but left the club once again, this time to play in Spain
and Real Sociedad
.
He played 49 matches in Primera Division
over two seasons, and was a member of the squad that finished third in 1997–98, the club's best result during the 1990s. He returned home to Gothenburg
and IFK a second time, but had to tamper with injury problems the second half of 1998. He played another three seasons before trying his luck in another club abroad, this time Wimbledon F.C.
in England
. This proved to be his least successful stay abroad, playing only nine matches over a little more than one season. The low, but undisclosed, fee for his transfer to Wimbledon gave Mild a bad conscience, so he chose to not accept the almost 500,000 SEK
(around US$
50,000 at that time) of match bonuses he had not yet been paid. This, amongst other things, has given Håkan Mild a special status amongst the IFK fans.
He returned in time to help IFK stay in Allsvenskan
during the worst season of the club since 1976—when the club played in Division 2—as they barely avoided relegation by winning a play-off after the season's end. Mild then played another three seasons, partially interrupted by injury problems. He played his last match 11 December 2005 home against FC Lyn Oslo in the Royal League
tournament, and his name was sung during all 90 minutes of the match, as a final farevell. He then assumed the position of director of sports in the club.
He played a total of 459 matches over 18 years for IFK Göteborg, and is regarded as one of the club's greatest players ever not only due to his work on the field, but also for his club spirit, leader qualities and work ethics. He has only represented one Swedish club on higher levels, and statements such as "IFK is my home" and "IFK has always meant so much to me that it sometimes has become a problem" has only cemented the view on him amongst supporters as one of the greatest.
He played 74 games for the Swedish national team
, scoring eight goals, and besides participation in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
and the 1992 Summer Olympics
, he also played in Euro 2000
.
In 2001 he did a running test called the pacer test and scored a record high of 19.2 which is the best ever recorded
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...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and current director of sports of IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, his main club as player, with which he won four Swedish Championships
Swedish football champions
Swedish football champions is a title held by the winners of the highest Swedish football league played each year, Allsvenskan. IFK Göteborg holds the record of most titles with 18 Swedish championships. After winning the 2011 Allsvenskan, Helsingborgs IF are the reigning Swedish football...
. He was also part of 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...
that finished third in the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
.
Career
Mild started his career with the local club Trollhättans FK, and was early on scouted by the at that time leading Swedish club IFK GöteborgIFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
which he joined in 1988. He made his debut in the first team of IFK Göteborg the same year, in a friendly match against IF 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...
, September 29. He played his first league game the following season, when he came on as a substitute against Halmstads BK
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...
, July 26. He then scored his first goal in a competitive match in 1990, and became Swedish champion
Swedish football champions
Swedish football champions is a title held by the winners of the highest Swedish football league played each year, Allsvenskan. IFK Göteborg holds the record of most titles with 18 Swedish championships. After winning the 2011 Allsvenskan, Helsingborgs IF are the reigning Swedish football...
for the first time that same year, playing in a majority of the club's matches during the season.
He became a regular in the team and won another championship title the next season, as well as winning Svenska Cupen
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...
. He also scored his first goal in 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...
in 1991, and played four matches in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. He was at the time a member of the Swedish Olympic team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, where he played all four matches. He returned to European football and played all ten matches in the UEFA Champions League 1992-93
UEFA Champions League 1992-93
The 1992–93 UEFA Champions League was the 38th European Cup, the premier European club football tournament, and the first season under the current UEFA Champions League format ....
, against amongst others A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and FC Porto. Mild also scored a goal against Lech Poznań
Lech Poznan
Lech Poznań is a Polish football club based in Poznań, Poland. The club is named after Lech, the legendary founder of Polish nation.The club was established in 1922 as Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. From 1933 until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polish State Railways...
in the qualifying round of the tournament. He became Swedish champion with IFK once again in 1993.
Håkan Mild then moved abroad to Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
club Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
where he won the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
title the first season. He then played in the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, where he was substituted on in two games, and played the last three games—quarter-final, semi-final and third place match—from start scoring one goal and assisting one. He returned to Servette FC to play another season but his first visit on the continent
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
was not very successful and he returned to IFK Göteborg for the second half of the 1995 season. He led the club to another Swedish Championship the following season, but left the club once again, this time to play in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
.
He played 49 matches in Primera Division
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
over two seasons, and was a member of the squad that finished third in 1997–98, the club's best result during the 1990s. He returned home to Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
and IFK a second time, but had to tamper with injury problems the second half of 1998. He played another three seasons before trying his luck in another club abroad, this time Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. This proved to be his least successful stay abroad, playing only nine matches over a little more than one season. The low, but undisclosed, fee for his transfer to Wimbledon gave Mild a bad conscience, so he chose to not accept the almost 500,000 SEK
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
(around US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50,000 at that time) of match bonuses he had not yet been paid. This, amongst other things, has given Håkan Mild a special status amongst the IFK fans.
He returned in time to help IFK stay in 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...
during the worst season of the club since 1976—when the club played in Division 2—as they barely avoided relegation by winning a play-off after the season's end. Mild then played another three seasons, partially interrupted by injury problems. He played his last match 11 December 2005 home against FC Lyn Oslo in the Royal League
Royal League
The Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies , starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts...
tournament, and his name was sung during all 90 minutes of the match, as a final farevell. He then assumed the position of director of sports in the club.
He played a total of 459 matches over 18 years for IFK Göteborg, and is regarded as one of the club's greatest players ever not only due to his work on the field, but also for his club spirit, leader qualities and work ethics. He has only represented one Swedish club on higher levels, and statements such as "IFK is my home" and "IFK has always meant so much to me that it sometimes has become a problem" has only cemented the view on him amongst supporters as one of the greatest.
He played 74 games 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...
, scoring eight goals, and besides participation in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, he also played in Euro 2000
2000 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
.
In 2001 he did a running test called the pacer test and scored a record high of 19.2 which is the best ever recorded
Career table
| Club | Season | Dom. league | Dom. cup | Int. cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Trollhättans FK | −1986 | Youth football | |||||||||
| Total | –1986 | Youth football | |||||||||
| Trollhättans FK | 1987 | 17 | 1 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥17 | ≥1 |
| Total | 1987 | 17 | 1 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥17 | ≥1 |
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... |
1988 | Youth football | |||||||||
| Total | 1988 | Youth football | |||||||||
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... |
1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 41 | 4 | |
| 1991 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 58 | 6 | |
| 1992 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 52 | 4 | |
| 1993 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 43 | 9 | |
| Total | 1988–93 | 96 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 89 | 13 | 208 | 24 |
| Servette FC Servette FC Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season... |
1993–94 | 11 | 1 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ≥11 | ≥1 |
| 1994–95 | 10 | 0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ≥10 | ≥0 | |
| Total | 1993–95 | 21 | 1 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ≥21 | ≥1 |
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... |
1995 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| 1996 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 27 | 5 | |
| Total | 1995–96 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 43 | 8 |
| Real Sociedad Real Sociedad Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909... |
1996–97 | 25 | 1 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥25 | ≥1 |
| 1997–98 | 24 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥24 | ≥0 | |
| Total | 1996–98 | 49 | 1 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥49 | ≥1 |
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... |
1998 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| 1999 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 23 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 7 | |
| 2001 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | |
| Total | 1998–2001 | 66 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 100 | 16 |
| Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
2001–02 | 9 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥9 | ≥0 |
| 2002–03 | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥0 | ≥0 | |
| Total | 2001–03 | 9 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | ? | ≥9 | ≥0 |
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... |
2002 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 2003 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 43 | 5 | |
| Total | 2002–05 | 67 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 108 | 10 |
| IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups.... totals |
1988–2005 | 252 | 26 | 37 | 10 | 41 | 4 | 129 | 18 | 459 | 58 |
| Career totals | 1987–2005 | 348 | 29 | ≥37 | ≥10 | ≥41 | ≥4 | ≥129 | ≥18 | ≥555 | ≥61 |
Achievements
- Winner of AllsvenskanAllsvenskanAllsvenskan 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...
(Swedish Champion): 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996 - Winner of Svenska CupenSvenska CupenSvenska 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...
: 1991 - Runner-up in Royal LeagueRoyal LeagueThe Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies , starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts...
: 2004–05Royal League 2004-05The Royal League 2004–05 was the first season of the Scandinavian Royal League football tournament. Play started on 11 November 2004, and ended in a final between FC Copenhagen and IFK Göteborg on 26 May 2005, with Copenhagen winning the title in a penalty shootout.-Bonuses:All prize money amounts... - Third-place in Football World Cup: 1994