Dan Sahlin

Dan Sahlin
Personal information
Date of birth18 April 1967
Place of birthFalun, Sweden
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionForward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
–Nynäshamns IF?(?)
199x–1995Västerhaninge IF?(?)
1995–1996Hammarby IF24(12)
1995→ Birmingham City (loan)1(0)
1996–1998Örebro SK55(35)
1998–2000AaB6(2)
National team
1995–1997Sweden3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Dan Sahlin (born 18 April 1967) is a Swedish former professional football forward who won three caps for his country. At club level, he played in the Allsvenskan for Hammarby IF and Örebro SK, in the Football League for Birmingham City, and in the Danish Superliga for AaB.

Club career

Sahlin was born in Falun.[1] He began his football career with Nynäshamns IF,[2] and later played for Division 3 club Västerhaninge IF while also playing bandy at elite level. Sahlin came late into top-class football: he was nearly 28 years of age when, after lengthy negotiations, he joined Allsvenskan club Hammarby IF in February 1995.[3] His debut was eventful: after 11 minutes 3 seconds, he scored the first goal of the 1995 Allsvenskan season,[4] and in the 44th minute he received his second yellow card. He finished the season with 12 league goals and another 3 in the Swedish Cup, but his club were relegated.[3]

In November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for Sweden, after which he went to England to join Division One (second tier) club Birmingham City on loan.[5] He made his debut in the Football League on 26 November 1995 in a 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for fellow debutant Danny Hill.[6] This was the only first-team game that Sahlin played for Birmingham,[1] and he went home to Sweden in December.[7]

Sahlin returned to the Allsvenskan with Örebro SK. In 1997 his 14 goals earned him a share in the league top scorer's crown, together with Christer Mattiasson of Elfsborg and Mats Lilienberg of Halmstad,[8] and the following season his 10 goals made him Örebro's leading scorer.[9] In his last game for ÖSK, Sahlin scored in the 89th minute to confirm a 4–2 win and take his club second in the table.[10] In his three seasons with the club he scored 40 goals from 64 appearances in all competitions.[11]

Sahlin signed a three-year contract with Danish Superliga club AaB.[12] In July 1998, he made his debut, opening the scoring in the 39th minute in a 4–0 defeat of AGF Aarhus.[13] He picked up a few injuries, including a minor ankle injury which required surgery. While in hospital, Sahlin suffered a staphylococcal infection in the operated area, which despite lengthy recuperative treatment forced his retirement. He played only six games for AaB, and scored twice.[14][15]

International career

On 15 November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for Sweden: he came on as an 83rd-minute substitute to replace Jörgen Pettersson in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Turkey which finished as a 2–2 draw.[16] His first start for his country came on 22 February 1996, when he played the first half of the Carlsberg Cup final against Japan in Hong Kong.[17] His third and last international appearance came in a friendly away against Lithuania in August 1997.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Dan Sahlin". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  2. ↑ "Nifare i Allsvenskan". Nynäshamns IF. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bjunér, Andreas (2 December 2004). "Julkalendern: Tidernas 23:e största Bajenprofil" (in Swedish. Eng: Advent calendar: Best ever Bajen (Hammarby) players #23). Hammarby IF. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  4. ↑ "Dags att tippa första målet". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish. Eng: Time to pick the first goal). 19 March 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "On the move". The Independent. 19 November 1995. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  6. ↑ Woodward, James (27 November 1995). "Hunt keeps Birmingham in the hunt". The Independent. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  7. ↑ Bjunér, Andreas (2 December 2004). "Fortsättning: Tidernas 23:e största Bajenprofil" (in Swedish. Eng: Continued: Best ever Bajen (Hammarby) players #23). Hammarby IF. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "Allsvenska skyttekungar & publiksnitt 1925–" (in Swedish. Eng: Allsvenskan top scorers and average attendance 1925–). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  9. ↑ "1998" (in Swedish). Örebro SK. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  10. ↑ "Sahlins snygga slut". Aftonbladet (in Swedish. Eng: Sahlin's nice finish). 29 June 1998. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  11. ↑ "Dan Sahlin – Statistik". Sportklubben.net. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  12. ↑ "Dan Sahlin proffs i Danmark". Aftonbladet (in Swedish. Eng: Dan Sahlin to play in Denmark). 16 June 1998. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  13. ↑ "Sahlin målskytt i danska ligadebuten". Aftonbladet (in Swedish. Eng: Sahlin scores on Danish league debut). 26 July 1998. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  14. ↑ "Dan Sahlin stopper fodboldkarrieren". B.T (in Danish. Eng: Dan Sahlin finishes his football career). 2 February 2000. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  15. ↑ Laden Jensen, John. "Oldtimers profil: Dan Sahlin" (in Danish). AaB A/S. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  16. ↑ "Landskamper 1995". Fotbollslandslaget.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  17. ↑ Yoon, Hyung-Jin (9 October 2005). "Carlsberg Cup 1996". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  18. ↑ Kutschera, Ambrosius (2 February 2005). "International Matches 1997 – Europe (July – December)". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  19. ↑ "Alla Spelare. S". Fotbollslandslaget.com. Retrieved 9 June 2009.

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