Agne Simonsson


Tore Klas Agne Simonsson was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a striker. Beginning his career with Örgryte IS in 1953, he went on to represent Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in La Liga in the early 1960s before returning to Örgryte in 1963. Simonsson won 51 caps for the Sweden national team, and was a part of the Sweden team that finished second at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was also the recipient of the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal after a spectacular performance for Sweden in an international game against England at Wembley Stadium.

Club career

Örgryte IS

Simonsson played youth football for BK René before signing for Örgryte IS in 1949. He made his senior debut for Örgryte in 1953, when the team played in Division 3. He helped the team win promotion to Division 2 in 1955, and later won promotion to Allsvenskan in 1958 with Gunnar Gren as a player-coach. While at Örgryte IS, he finished fifth in votes for the 1959 Ballon d'Or and was awarded the 1959 Guldbollen.

Real Madrid

Widely regarded as the best center forward in the world after a string of impressive performances for the Sweden national team, Simonsson was signed by the La Liga team Real Madrid in 1960. However, fierce competition from especially Alfredo Di Stéfano limited Simonsson's playing chances at the club and he ended up playing in only three league games during the 1960–61 La Liga season, scoring one goal as Real Madrid was crowned champions. His only goal was the third goal against Real Zaragoza in a 5–1 home win in 9th round. He was also a part of the Real Madrid teams that won the 1960 Intercontinental Cup and the 1962–63 La Liga, but did receive any playing time. Simonsson is the only Swede ever to have represented Real Madrid men’s team.

Loan to Real Sociedad

For the 1961–62 La Liga season, Simonsson was loaned out to Real Sociedad for which he scored 8 goals in 22 league games. However, at the end of the season Simonsson was forced to see his team be relegated, as the team finished 15th out of 16 teams in the table.

Return to Örgryte IS

In 1963, Simonsson returned to Sweden and Örgryte IS to form a feared striker partnership together with Rune Börjesson. Simonsson is Örgryte IS' best ever goal scorer in league play with a total of 206 goals.

International career

Early career

Simonsson made his only appearance for the Sweden U21 team on 22 September 1957 in a friendly game against Finland, scoring a hat-trick in a 7–0 win. He made his full international debut for Sweden a month later on 13 October 1957 in a 1956–59 Nordic Football Championship game against Norway, scoring two goals as Sweden won 5–2.

1958 FIFA World Cup

Simonsson scored four goals as Sweden reached the final of the 1958 FIFA World Cup on home soil, including a goal in the final as Sweden lost 2–5 to Brazil.

Later career

He was awarded the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal as well as the 1959 Guldbollen after his performance against England on 28 October 1959 when Sweden beat the English 3–2 at Wembley Stadium and Simonsson scored two goals and made one assist. This was only the second time in history that a team beat England at Wembley.
He won his 51st and final cap in a 2–0 win against Finland on 10 August 1967 in the 1964–67 Nordic Football Championship. He scored a total of 27 international goals.

Managerial career

In 1982, he managed BK Häcken to win promotion to their first ever season in Allsvenskan. As a manager for Örgryte IS, Simonsson led the team to the 1985 Swedish Championship title, winning them their first league title since 1913.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
113 October 1957Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–05–21956–59 Nordic Football Championship
213 October 1957Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–05–21956–59 Nordic Football Championship
37 May 1958Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden2–13–2Friendly
47 May 1958Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden3–23–2Friendly
58 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–03–01958 FIFA World Cup
68 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–03–01958 FIFA World Cup
719 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–03–01958 FIFA World Cup
829 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–42–51958 FIFA World Cup
920 August 1958Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland7–17–11956–59 Nordic Football Championship
1014 September 1958Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway2–02–01956–59 Nordic Football Championship
1121 May 1958Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–02–0Friendly
1221 June 1959Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark2–06–01956–59 Nordic Football Championship
132 August 1959Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden3–13–11956–59 Nordic Football Championship
1418 August 1959Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden3–06–21956–59 Nordic Football Championship
1528 October 1959Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom1–13–2Friendly
1628 October 1959Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom2–13–2Friendly
1718 May 1960Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden2–04–1Friendly
1818 May 1960Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden3–04–1Friendly
1922 June 1960Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland3–03–01960–63 Nordic Football Championship
2028 May 1961Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–04–01962 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2129 October 1961Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland1–02–31962 FIFA World Cup qualifier
223 November 1963Råsunda Stadium, Solna Sweden1–02–1Friendly
2329 April 1964De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands1–01–0Friendly
245 May 1965Nya Parken, Norrköping, Sweden1–03–01966 FIFA World Cup qualifier
255 May 1965Nya Parken, Norrköping, Sweden3–03–01966 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2622 August 1965Skogsvallen, Luleå, Sweden2–22–21964–67 Nordic Football Championship
276 November 1966Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–12–11964–67 Nordic Football Championship

Honours

Player

Örgryte IS
Individual
  • Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal: 1959
  • Guldbollen: 1959
  • Kristallkulan: 1959
  • Nordic Football Championship top scorer: 1956–1959
Records
  • Most league goals for Örgryte IS: 206 goals

    Manager

BK Häcken
  • Division 3 Nordvästra Götaland: 1977
Örgryte IS
  • Swedish Champion: 1985