Victor Lindelöf

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Victor Lindelöf
UEFA EURO qualifiers Sweden vs Spain 20191015 Victor Nilsson Lindelöf 2 (cropped).jpg
Lindelöf playing for Sweden in 2019
Personal information
Full name Victor Jörgen Nilsson Lindelöf[1]
Date of birth (1994-07-17) 17 July 1994 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Västerås, Sweden
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
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 124 (3)
National team‡
2010–2011 Sweden U17 5 (0)
2012–2013 Sweden U19 17 (0)
2014–2015 Sweden U21 13 (0)
2016– Sweden 50 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:41, 11 December 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:57, 14 November 2021 (UTC)

Victor Jörgen Nilsson Lindelöf (born 17 July 1994) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Manchester United and captains the Sweden national team. Mainly a centre-back, he can also play as a right-back.[4]

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 inside the winning squad of the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior international debut in March 2016 and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020.

Club career[]

Early career[]

Lindelöf played for numerous Västerås-based clubs in his youth such as IK Franke,[5] Västerås IK and Västerås SK.[6]

Västerås SK[]

In October 2009, at the age of 15, Lindelöf made his first-team debut for Västerås SK, when the team beat BK Forward 3–0 in the last round of the 2009 Division 1 Norra season.[7] 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.[8] In 2011, he travelled to England to have a trial with Stoke City, but they did not make an offer for him.[6]

Benfica[]

Lindelöf playing for Benfica in 2016

On 1 December 2011, Lindelöf agreed to join Portuguese club Benfica in the summer of 2012,[9] and on 8 June 2015, the contract was extended until 2020.[10] In the 2012–13 season, he played for the youth team and won the Portuguese under-19 championship.[11] 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.[11]

In the 2015–16 season, he returned to the first-team in a 1–0 win against Nacional in the Taça da Liga.[12] 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.[13] Four days later, he scored his first goal for Benfica, in a 3–1 Primeira Liga victory at Paços de Ferreira.[14] On 28 May 2017, he played in the Taça de Portugal final, which Benfica won over Vitória de Guimarães (2–1).[15] By the time he was leaving Benfica he had won three Primeira Liga titles, two Taça de Portugal titles and one Taça da Liga title.[citation needed]

Manchester United[]

2017–18 season[]

Lindelöf playing for Manchester United in 2017

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),[16] pending the agreement of personal terms and the player passing a medical.[17] 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.[18][19]

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.[20] He was limited to just 17 premier league matches, starting 13 of them, due to Jose Mourinho's preference of playing a defensive partnership of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.[21]

2018–19 season[]

In the 2018–19 season, Lindelöf became Mourinho's preferred centre-back and was playing more often than he did in the previous season. He played the full 90 minutes in the first match of the season on 11 August 2019 against Leicester City, which ended in a 2–1 home win.[22] He further went on to start in 11 out of 13 league matches before Jose Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 and replaced with Ole Gunnar Solskjær.[21] 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.[23]

2019–20 season[]

In September 2019, Lindelöf signed a new contract until 2024, with the option of a further year.[24] On 1 December 2019, he played 90 minutes and scored his only goal in the season in a league match against Aston Villa that ended 2–2 draw.[25] He ended the season making 35 out of 38 appearances and scoring one goal in the league, the second most in league appearances within the club that season coming behind Harry Maguire and David de Gea who both played all 38 matches, forming a defensive partnership with Maguire in the process.[26][27]

2020–21 season[]

On 20 December 2020, Lindelöf scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season in a 6–2 home win against Leeds United.[28] He played the full 90 minutes on 2 February 2021 in Manchester United's Premier League record-equalling 9–0 home win against Southampton.[29] On 26 May 2021, he played the full 120 minutes as Manchester United lost in the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final to Villarreal after a 10–11 penalty shoot-out in which Lindelöf scored United's 10th penalty kick.[30]

International career[]

Youth team[]

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

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.[31] 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.[32] He was named in the Team of the Tournament.[33]

Senior team[]

Debut[]

Lindelöf (right) playing for Sweden in 2019

Lindelöf received his first call up to the senior Sweden squad in March 2016 for friendlies against Turkey and Czech Republic.[34] He debuted for the country in a 2–1 away loss to Turkey on 24 March 2016.[35]

UEFA Euro 2016[]

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,[36] 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.[37]

2018 FIFA World Cup[]

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.[38]

In May 2018, he was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.[39] Lindelöf missed the first game against South Korea due to illness, but was a regular starter in defense alongside fellow centre-back Andreas Granqvist for the remainder of the tournament.[40] Lindelöf and Sweden were eliminated in the quarter final against England.[41]

UEFA Euro 2020[]

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.[42]

He represented Sweden at UEFA Euro 2020, and appeared in all four games as Sweden reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Ukraine.[43]

On 11 August 2021, Lindelöf was named Andreas Granqvist's successor as captain by Sweden coach Janne Andersson following Granqvist's retirement after Euro 2020.[44]

Personal life[]

Following his move to Manchester United in 2017, Lindelöf announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend Maja Nilsson.[45] They got married at the end of May 2018, in Sweden.[46] In March 2019, their first child was born.[47]

While in his home city in August 2020, Lindelöf witnessed the robbery of a 90-year-old woman by a man on a bike; Lindelöf chased the thief on foot and managed to catch him, holding him until the police arrived. The police later thanked Lindelöf for his "quick and wise intervention".[48]

Career statistics[]

Club[]

As of match played 11 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe[c] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Västerås SK 2009[49] Division 1 Norra 1 0 — — — — 1 0
2010[49] Division 1 Norra 9 0 — — — — 9 0
2011[49] Superettan 27 0 1[50] 0 — — — 28 0
2012[49] Division 1 Norra 13 0 — — — — 13 0
Total 50 0 1 0 — — — 51 0
Benfica B 2012–13[51] Segunda Liga 15 0 — — — — 15 0
2013–14[51] Segunda Liga 33 2 — — — — 33 2
2014–15[51] Segunda Liga 41 2 — — — — 41 2
2015–16[51] LigaPro 7 0 — — — — 7 0
Total 96 4 — — — — 96 4
Benfica 2013–14[51] Primeira Liga 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0
2014–15[51] Primeira Liga 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2015–16[51] Primeira Liga 15 1 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 23 1
2016–17[51] Primeira Liga 32 1 4 0 2 0 8 0 1[d] 0 47 1
Total 48 2 6 0 6 0 12 0 1 0 73 2
Manchester United 2017–18[52] Premier League 17 0 3 0 3 0 5 0 1[e] 0 29 0
2018–19[53] Premier League 30 1 3 0 0 0 7 0 — 40 1
2019–20[54] Premier League 35 1 5 0 3 0 4 0 — 47 1
2020–21[55] Premier League 29 1 3 0 2 0 11 0 — 45 1
2021–22[56] Premier League 13 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 — 18 0
Total 124 3 14 0 9 0 31 0 1 0 179 3
Career total 318 9 21 0 15 0 43 0 2 0 399 9
  1. ^ Includes Svenska Cupen, Taça de Portugal, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  5. ^ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

International[]

As of match played 14 November 2021[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Sweden
2016 11 1
2017 7 0
2018 11 1
2019 4 1
2020 5 0
2021 12 0
Total 50 3
As of match played 14 November 2021. Sweden score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lindelöf goal.[57]
List of international goals scored by Victor Lindelöf
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 October 2016 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Bulgaria 3–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 20 November 2018 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Russia 1–0 2–0 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B
3 5 September 2019 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 3–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours[]

Västerås SK

Benfica[58]

Manchester United

Sweden U21

Individual

References[]

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Sweden" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Victor Lindelöf: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Victor Lindelöf: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  4. ^ Gholam, Simeon (15 June 2017). "Who is Victor Lindelof? Manchester United's new signing assessed". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ a b 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b "VSK Fotboll till Superettan!" [VSK Football to Superettan!]. VSK Fotboll (in Swedish). 17 October 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
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  27. ^ Thompson, Gemma (3 April 2020). "Defensive duo Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof discuss importance of warm weather training camp". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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  47. ^ "Manchester United get Victor Lindelof boost after fixture absence". 2 April 2019.
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  50. ^ "Grönvitts cupjubel - I 92:A minuten" [Grönvitts cup cheer - in the 92nd minute]. VSK Fotboll (in Swedish). 27 March 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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  54. ^ "Games played by Victor Lindelöf in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  55. ^ "Games played by Victor Lindelöf in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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  58. ^ Victor Lindelöf at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2020. Edit this at Wikidata
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