Marcus Allbäck
Personal information
Full name	Marcus Christian Allbäck
Date of birth	July 5, 1973 (1973-07-05) (age 34)
Place of birth	Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Örgryte IS
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992-1997 1997 1997-1998 1999-2000 2000-2002 2002-2004 2004-2005 2005-2008 2008-	Örgryte IS Lyngby FC AS Bari Örgryte IS SC Heerenveen Aston Villa Hansa Rostock FC Copenhagen Örgryte IS	139 (52) 004 0(1) 016 0(0) 064 (34) 048 (25) 035 0(6) 023 0(4) 120 (45) 00 0(0)
National team2
1999-present	Sweden	073 (30)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 May 2008. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 2 June 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Marcus Christian Allbäck (pronounced [ˈmarkɵs ˈalˌbɛk]), born July 5, 1973 in Göteborg, is a Swedish footballer, who currently plays for Örgryte IS. He is a well-travelled striker well known for his sharp finishing ability.

Club career

Allbäck started his professional career with Örgryte IS. He then proceeded to have two modest stints abroad, with Lyngby Boldklub and A.S. Bari, before rejoining his first club.

From 2000-04, he would play two seasons each, with moderate individual success, with SC Heerenveen and Aston Villa, respectively, joining Hansa Rostock in 2004-05.

In the summer of 2005, aged 32, Allbäck signed with F.C. Copenhagen. On November 1, 2006, Allbäck scored F.C. Copenhagen's first goal ever in the UEFA Champions League - a winner against two-times competition winners Manchester United F.C.. In that match, he was also awarded the fans' Man of the Match award. 20 days later he also scored against SL Benfica at Estádio da Luz - a match lost 3-1. Allbäck scored again in the last group stage match against Celtic at Parken in a 3-1 win. After the final homegame of the Danish Superliga 2006-07 season, he was presented with the fans' Player of the Year award, as the side emerged back-to-back champions, and the striker netted 11 league goals.

On August 2007, Allbäck scored a late away equalizer against Beitar Jerusalem in the second leg of the second round Champions League qualifier in extra time, to keep Copenhagen's Champion League dreams alive, although the side would eventually bow out to Benfica in the next round.

On 1 July 2008, Allbäck returned to Sweden and Örgryte.^[1]

International career

Allbäck played for Sweden at Euro 2000, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, totalling 73 caps with 30 goals. He made his debut for the national side on November 27, 1999 in a friendly against South Africa.

On June 20, 2006 during the 2006 World Cup, Allbäck helped Sweden earn a 2-2 draw against England by netting their first goal. This goal Allbäck was the 2,000th goal scored in the history of the World Cup. On September 6, he scored twice to help propel Sweden past visitors Liechtenstein 3-1 in the second of their 2008 European Championship qualifying matches.

On June 2007, Allbäck scored a highly surreal goal against Iceland when an opponent, Ívar Ingimarsson, gave him the ball incorrectly thinking a free kick had been awarded.^[2]

Honours

• F.C. Copenhagen
  • Danish Superliga winner: 2005-06, 2006-07
• Örgryte IS
  • Swedish Cup winner: 2000

References

1. ^ Fotbollskanalen.se
2. ^ Allbäck goal against Iceland on Youtube