Mikael Lustig


Carl Mikael Lustig is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Mainly a right-back, he could also play as a centre-back.
Beginning his career with Umeå FC in 2004, he went on to play for numerous clubs, including GIF Sundsvall and Rosenborg BK in Sweden, Gent in Belgium, Celtic in Scotland and again in Sweden with AIK. He retired from football in October 2022, aged 35 years.
A full international for Sweden between 2008 and 2021, Lustig won 94 caps for his country and represented Sweden at three UEFA European Championships, including the 2012, 2016, and 2021 editions, as well as the 2018 [FIFA World Cup] hosted in Russia.

Club career

Early career

Lustig began his career with Sandåkerns SK. He then moved to Umeå FC, where he played for two years.

GIF Sundsvall

Lustig moved to Allsvenskan club GIF Sundsvall for the 2005 season, scoring twice in eight games. GIF Sundsvall were relegated the following season to the Superettan. They were in that division for the next two years, with Lustig playing in 57 of their 60 games. For the 2008 season the team was back in the Allsvenskan and Lustig continued to be a regular in the team, playing in all 11 league games before the Euro break. During the summer he moved to the Norwegian club Rosenborg BK.

Rosenborg

After four seasons with Rosenborg, Lustig left the club in November 2011. He had attracted interest from other European clubs, such as Scottish Premier League team Celtic, English Premier League club Fulham and La Liga side Espanyol.

Celtic

On 23 November 2011, Celtic announced that they had signed Lustig on a pre-contract deal. He officially joined the club on 1 January 2012. He made his debut for Celtic on 3 March, in a 1–1 draw with Aberdeen. He scored his first goal for the Hoops in a 2–2 home draw against Hibernian on 1 September 2012. He was also initially credited with Celtic's second goal that day, although it was later given as an own goal. On 17 July 2013, Lustig opened the scoring in Celtic's 3–0 away victory in the second round of qualifying against Cliftonville in the Champions League.
On 6 February 2017, Lustig performed a classic rabona in an unbroken 25-pass move involving all 11 Celtic players, which resulted moments later in a goal for team-mate Moussa Dembélé, sealing his hat-trick and a 5–2 win over home team St. Johnstone. The goal was shortlisted for FIFA's prestigious Puskas Award.
On 28 October 2018, Lustig led the Hoops out to victory in what was his 250th game for the club as they defeated Hearts 3–0 in the League Cup semi-final at Murrayfield.
On 4 May 2019, Lustig nodded home a terrific diving header against Aberdeen, sparking a 3–0 victory for the Celts which secured all three points and the club's eighth consecutive league title. On 20 June, Lustig decided to leave Celtic after seven-and-a-half years which saw him lift 8 titles in a row with the club.

Gent

On 21 June 2019, Lustig signed a three-year contract with Belgian side Gent until 2022.

AIK

On 25 August 2020, Lustig returned to Sweden, signing for AIK on a free deal, a club which he did a trial for in 2004. He made his debut on 30 September, playing 29 minutes in a 1–0 loss at home to BK Häcken. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 September 2020 in the Stockholm derby against Hammarby IF, which AIK won 3–0. In the last game of the 2020 Allsvenskan season Lustig scored and assisted when AIK draw 2–2 against IF Elfsborg.
In October 2022, Lustig officially announced his retirement from professional football, a couple of months following the end of the 2021–22 season.

International career

Lustig played for Sweden's under-18 team. During the 2006 season, Lustig made his national team debut in under-21 team playing in the 2009 European Under-21 Championship. He had been made vice-captain of the team. In total Lustig made 21 appearances for Sweden under-21s. Lustig made his full debut for the Sweden national team on 19 January 2008 in a 2–0 loss against the USA in January 2008. His first goal came on 29 March 2011 in a European Championship qualifier with Moldova, which Sweden won 2–1. He won his 50th cap for Sweden on 29 March 2016, a 1–1 draw with the Czech Republic. In May 2018, he was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. At the 2018 World Cup, Lustig started in 4 games for Sweden as they were eliminated by England in the 2018 [FIFA World Cup knockout stage|quarter final.]
On May 2021, Lustig was included in the 26-man Sweden squad for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, where he played all their matches at right-back, as Sweden would be eliminated in the round-of-16 by Ukraine.
On 13 July 2021, Lustig announced his retirement from international football. He won a total of 94 caps for Sweden, scoring 6 goals across 13 total years represented.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 March 2011Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–02–1UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2.16 October 2012Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany2–44–42014 [FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]
3.5 June 2016Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden2–03–0Friendly
4.7 October 2016Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1–01–02018 FIFA [World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]
5.31 August 2017Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria1–12–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.7 October 2017Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden5–08–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Rosenborg
Celtic
Sweden U21
Individual