Marcus Allbäck

Marcus Christian Allbäck (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈmarkɵs ˈalːˈbɛk]; born 5 July 1973 in Gothenburg), is a retired Swedish footballer and current coach, who has acted as assistant coach for the Sweden national football team in the past. He was a well-travelled striker known for his sharp finishing ability.

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

In 2000 he joined SC Heerenveen of the Eredivisie, before moving to Aston Villa for £2 million in 2002. He was not a regular for the Premier League club, due to Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Ángel. At the end of his contract, he joined Hansa Rostock in summer 2004.

In the summer of 2005, aged 32, Allbäck signed with F.C. Copenhagen. On 1 November 2006, he scored their first goal ever in the UEFA Champions League – a winner against two-times competition winners Manchester United. In that match, he was also awarded the fans' Man of the Match award. 20 days later he also scored against S.L. 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 home game 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.

In August 2007, Allbäck scored a late away equaliser against Beitar Jerusalem in the second leg of the second round Champions League qualifier in extra time, to keep Copenhagen's group stage 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, his third spell at the club.

On 14 December 2009, after Örgryte IS was relegated from Allsvenskan, Allbäck announced his retirement from football.

After Sweden's victory against the Netherlands, it was official that Allbäck would participate in Örgryte's next home game against Motala, He came on in the 69th minute but could not affect the game in any way.

Allbäck played for Sweden at Euro 2000, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup, and Euro 2008, totalling 74 caps with 30 goals. He made his debut for the national side on 27 November 1999 in a friendly against South Africa.

On 20 June 2006, during the 2006 World Cup, Allbäck helped Sweden earn a 2–2 draw against England by netting their first goal. This goal by Allbäck was the 2000th goal scored in the history of the World Cup. On 6 September, he scored twice to help propel Sweden past visitors Liechtenstein 3–1 in the second of their 2008 European Championship qualifying matches.

On 6 June 2007, during Euro 2008 qualifiers, 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.

After Sweden's group stage exit from Euro 2008 (in which he played as a second-half substitute against Russia in Innsbruck), Allbäck announced that he would retire from the national team.

Allbäck worked for SVT as a commentator during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 in South Africa.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	31 January 2000	La Manga, La Manga	Denmark	1–0	1–0	2000–01 Nordic Football Championship
2.	28 March 2001	Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău	Moldova	0–1	0–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	28 March 2001	Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău	Moldova	0–2	0–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.	2 June 2001	Råsunda, Stockholm	Slovakia	1–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.	2 June 2001	Råsunda, Stockholm	Slovakia	2–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.	6 June 2001	Ullevi, Gothenburg	Moldova	5–0	6–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.	15 August 2001	Råsunda, Stockholm	South Africa	2–0	3–0	Friendly
8.	27 March 2002	Malmö Stadion, Malmö	Switzerland	1–0	1–1	Friendly
9.	25 May 2002	National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo	Japan	0–1	1–1	Friendly
10.	16 October 2002	Ullevi, Gothenburg	Portugal	2–0	2–3	Friendly
11.	20 November 2002	Na Stínadlech, Teplice	Czech Republic	3–3	3–3	Friendly
12.	2 April 2003	Népstadion, Budapest	Hungary	0–1	1–2	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
13.	2 April 2003	Népstadion, Budapest	Hungary	1–2	1–2	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
14.	7 June 2003	Stadio Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	0–2	0–6	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
15.	7 June 2003	Stadio Serravalle, San Marino	San Marino	0–6	0–6	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
16.	11 June 2003	Råsunda, Stockholm	Poland	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
17.	28 May 2004	Ratina Stadion, Tampere	Finland	1–2	1–3	Friendly
18.	28 May 2004	Ratina Stadion, Tampere	Finland	1–3	1–3	Friendly
19.	5 June 2004	Råsunda, Stockholm	Poland	3–0	3–1	Friendly
20.	14 June 2004	José Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon	Bulgaria	5–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004
21.	13 October 2004	Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík	Iceland	0–2	1–4	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
22.	17 November 2004	Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh	Scotland	0–1	1–4	Friendly
23.	17 November 2004	Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh	Scotland	0–2	1–4	Friendly
24.	20 June 2006	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne	England	1–1	2–2	2006 FIFA World Cup
25.	6 September 2006	Ullevi, Gothenburg	Liechtenstein	1–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
26.	6 September 2006	Ullevi, Gothenburg	Liechtenstein	2–1	3–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
27.	7 October 2006	Råsunda, Stockholm	Spain	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
28.	6 June 2007	Råsunda, Stockholm	Iceland	1–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
29.	6 June 2007	Råsunda, Stockholm	Iceland	5–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
30.	21 November 2007	Råsunda, Stockholm	Latvia	1–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification

Allbäck and Swedish coach Erik Hamrén.

On 7 November 2009, Allbäck was named as the new assistant coach of the Sweden national football team. He stepped down from this position in 2016, following Sweden's disappointing Euro 2016 campaign.

F.C. Copenhagen

• Danish Superliga winner: 2005–06, 2006–07

Örgryte IS

• Swedish Cup winner: 2000