Martin Dahlin


Dan Martin Nataniel Dahlin is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. In his prime, he was considered one of the world's best strikers.
Starting off his career with Malmö FF in 1987, he was the 1988 Allsvenskan top scorer and played for clubs in the Bundesliga, Serie A, and the Premier League before retiring in 1999.
A full international between 1991 and 1997, he won 60 caps for the Sweden national team and was in the Sweden national team that placed third in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He also represented Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics and UEFA Euro 1992. In 1993, he was bestowed the Guldbollen as Sweden's best footballer of the year.

Early life

Dahlin was born in Höganäs, Sweden to a Venezuelan father, who was a musician, and a Swedish mother. Named after Martin Luther King Jr., Dahlin spent his upbringing in Lund.

Club career

In 1993, he was selected as best Swedish player of the year, winning Guldbollen.
He played for Malmö FF, Borussia Mönchengladbach, A.S. Roma, Hamburger SV and Blackburn Rovers. The most successful time of his career he spent with Borussia Mönchengladbach with whom he won the German Cup in 1995 along with Stefan Effenberg.
Dahlin transferred from Roma to Blackburn Rovers in mid-1997 and made 21 appearances in the 1997–98 season, scoring four goals.
In the 1998–99 season, he only played five games when an injury in a training game ruled him out for the rest of the season and contributed to his retirement from the game after a short spell at Hamburger SV in 1999.
Blackburn Rovers later sued their insurance company who had refused to pay out over the injury claiming that normal wear and tear could have been a contributing factor. Although the initial verdict was given in favour of the club, in 2005 the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict and sent it back to the lower court. On 12 April 2006, the High Court ruled in favour of the insurance company, decreeing that the player probably had a pre-existing condition. This decision left Blackburn about £4 million out-of-pocket.

International career

Dahlin earned 66 caps for the Sweden men's national team. He was in the Sweden men's national team that finished third in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, scoring four goals in the tournament. He also was in the team that reached the semifinals of UEFA Euro 1992.

Retirement

Dahlin legally lives in Monaco. He lends his name to a clothing line. He speaks three languages – Swedish, English and German.
Dahlin became a sports agent working for former teammate Roger Ljung's sport agency Roger Ljung Promotion AB. He has since formed his own agency called MD Management. He represents Ola Toivonen, Guillermo Molins, Markus Rosenberg, Jonas Olsson, Behrang Safari and Pontus Jansson.

Career statistics

Club

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.1 May 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden4–06–0Friendly
2.1 May 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden5–06–0Friendly
3.15 June 1991Idrottsparken, Norrköping1–04–0Scania 100 Tournament
4.15 June 1991Idrottsparken, Norrköping2–04–0Scania 100 Tournament
5.4 September 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–04–3Friendly
6.4 September 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–24–3Friendly
7.7 May 1992Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden4–05–0Friendly
8.26 August 1992Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway1–12–2Friendly
9.7 October 1992Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–02–01994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
10.11 November 1992Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel2–13–11994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
11.28 April 1993Parc des Princes, Paris, France1–01–21994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
12.11 August 1993Ryavallen, Borås, Sweden1–01–2Friendly
13.22 August 1993Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–11–11994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
14.8 September 1993Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria1–11–11994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
15.13 October 1993Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–13–21994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
16.13 October 1993Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–13–21994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
17.19 June 1994Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, US2–22–21994 FIFA World Cup
18.24 June 1994Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, US2–13–11994 FIFA World Cup
19.24 June 1994Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, US3–13–11994 FIFA World Cup
20.3 July 1994Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, US1–03–11994 FIFA World Cup
21.12 October 1994Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland2–12–4UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
22.16 November 1994Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–02–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
23.24 April 1996Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland1–02–1Friendly
24.9 May 1996Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden1–02–1Friendly
25.16 May 1996Olympic Stadium, Seoul, South Korea1–02–0Friendly
26.1 June 1996Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–05–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
27.1 September 1996Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia1–02–11998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
28.8 June 1997Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia1–03–21998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
29.6 August 1997Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Malmö FF
  • Swedish Champion: 1988
  • Allsvenskan: 1988, 1989
  • Svenska Cupen: 1988–89
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Sweden
  • FIFA World Cup third place: 1994
Individual