Ove Kindvall


Bengt Ove Kindvall was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a striker. He started his career at IFK Norrköping, where he played until he joined Feyenoord in 1966 and became professional. The same year, he won the Guldbollen, as the best Swedish footballer of the year. He is regarded as one of Sweden's greatest ever players. A full international between 1965 and 1974, he won 43 caps and scored 16 goals for the Sweden national team. He represented his country at the 1970 and 1974 FIFA World Cups.

Club career

With Feyenoord he won two national championships as well as the 1970 European Cup. In the European Cup Final|final] against Celtic he scored the winning goal in extra time. In his five seasons with the club, Kindvall scored 129 league goals in 144 games. He returned to Sweden and Norrköping 1971, where he played for three years, until ending his career in IFK Göteborg.
He was the first non-Dutchman to be named Eredivisie top scorer, doing so in 1968, 1969 and 1971. No other foreigner achieved this until Romário in 1989.
Kindvall earned the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal in 1969. In that year, he was named as the fourth best player in Europe.

International career

Kindvall played 43 games with the national team and scored 16 goals. He participated in the 1970 and 1974 FIFA World Cup, playing a major role in the team's qualification for the former.

Personal life and death

He was the father of former footballers Niclas Kindvall and Tina Kindvall, and brother of Kaj Kindvall, a radio host.
Kindvall died on 5 August 2025, at the age of 82.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
17 November 1965Dr. Fazil Kucuk Stadium, Famagusta, Cyprus3–05–01966 [FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1966 FIFA World Cup qualifier]
227 April 1966Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany1–31–4Friendly
330 June 1966Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–12–3Friendly
430 June 1966Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden2–32–3Friendly
55 October 1966Råsunda, Solna, Sweden2–04–1Friendly
69 October 1968Råsunda, Solna, Sweden1–05–01970 FIFA [World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1970 FIFA World Cup qualifier]
79 October 1968Råsunda, Solna, Sweden3–05–01970 FIFA World Cup qualifier
89 October 1968Råsunda, Solna, Sweden4–05–01970 FIFA World Cup qualifier
91 May 1969Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden1–01–0Friendly
1019 June 1969Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway3–05–21970 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1115 October 1969Råsunda, Solna, Sweden1–02–01970 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1215 October 1969Råsunda, Solna, Sweden2–02–01970 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1327 June 1971Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–01–0Friendly
1426 April 1973Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark2–12–1Friendly
1513 June 1973Nepstadion, Budapest, Hungary1–13–31974 FIFA World Cup qualifier
1611 November 1973Gżira Stadium, Gżira, Malta1–12–11974 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Honours

IFK Norrköping
Feyenoord
Individual