Kennet Andersson


Bernt Kennet Andersson is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a forward. Starting off his career with IFK Eskilstuna in the mid-1980s, he went on to play professionally in Sweden, Belgium, France, Italy, and Turkey before retiring in 2002. A full international between 1990 and 2000, he won 83 caps and scored 31 goals for Sweden national team and was a key member of the Sweden team that finished third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also represented Sweden at UEFA Euro 1992 and 2000.

Club career

Andersson was born in Eskilstuna. At club level, he played for Tunafors SK, Eskilstuna, Göteborg, Mechelen, Norrköping, Lille, Caen, Bari, Bologna, Lazio, Fenerbahçe and Gårda BK.

International career

For Sweden, Andersson made 83 appearances and scored 31 goals, both near the top in national history. He played in the 1992 and 2000 European Championships. He led the Swedish team in scoring with five goals in the 1994 World Cup, a feat which tied him for third place as the tournament's leading goalscorer. His physical size gave him an advantage in the air, and in this tournament he became known for towering over defenders to score goals with his head; in Sweden's quarter-final win over Romania, he headed in a vital goal by outjumping even the Romanian goalkeeper, Florian Prunea.

Style of play

Andersson was considered one of the top-class strikers of his generation. A tall, athletic, and physically strong forward, who was also a prolific goalscorer, in spite of his lack of pace or notable technical skills, he was renowned for his work-rate, hold-up play with his back to goal, and in particular his excellent abilities in the air, which enabled him both to score goals with his head and get on the end of long balls to provide assists for his teammates from knock-downs; due to his playing style, he was frequently dubbed an "old-fashioned" centre-forward or "target-man" in the media throughout his career. BBC has described Andersson as "one of the world's greatest forwards in the air", adding that "his aerial ability is complemented by decent passing and unselfish support play that has allowed other strikers to flourish alongside him." Regarding his aerial prowess, Carlo Ancelotti described him as being "practically impossible" to mark in the air.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 September 1990Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–02–0Friendly
21 May 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–06–0Friendly
31 May 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–06–0Friendly
41 May 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden6–06–0Friendly
55 June 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–22–2Friendly
615 June 1991Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden3–04–0Scania 100 Tournament
722 April 1992Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–01–0Friendly
87 May 1992Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–05–0Friendly
97 May 1992Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–05–0Friendly
1021 June 1992Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–32–3UEFA Euro 1992
1120 February 1994Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States2–13–1Joe Robbie Cup
1228 June 1994Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, United States1–01–11994 [FIFA World Cup Group B#Brazil vs Sweden|1994 FIFA World Cup]
133 July 1994Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, United States2–03–11994 FIFA World Cup
143 July 1994Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, United States3–13–11994 FIFA World Cup
1510 July 1994Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California, United States2–22–2
1994 FIFA World Cup
1616 July 1994Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States4–04–01994 FIFA World Cup
1712 October 1994Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland1–02–4UEFA [Euro 1996 qualifying Group 3|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier]
188 March 1995Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus2–23–3Friendly
1929 March 1995İnönü Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey1–01–2UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
208 June 1995Elland Road, Leeds, England3–13–3Umbro Cup
2110 June 1995City Ground, Nottingham, England1–12–2Umbro Cup
2210 June 1995City Ground, Nottingham, England2–12–2Umbro Cup
231 June 1996Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–05–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
241 June 1996Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–05–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
251 September 1996Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia2–02–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2630 April 1997Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–02–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2730 April 1997Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–02–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
288 June 1997Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia3–03–21998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2920 August 1997Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus1–12–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
302 June 1998Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–01–0Friendly
319 October 1999Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–02–0UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier

Honours

IFK Göteborg
Bologna
Lazio
Fenerbahçe
Sweden
Individual