Lennart Skoglund
Encyclopedia
Karl Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund, (24 December 1929 – 8 July 1975), was a Swedish
football
player.
on home soil in 1958. He started at a local club called IK Stjärnan in 1943 before moving on to his favoured club Hammarby
the following year. He played for Hammarby between 1944 and 1949. In 1950 he was controversially sold to rivals AIK
due to the sad financial situation of the club. He soon made his first appearance for the national and made a great impact in the World Cup held in Brazil
. He formed a great partnership with Carl-Erik Palmér as Sweden finished third, and he also earned a new nickname: "The swaying corn-cob", a reference to his blond hair and his running style.
During the World Cup, São Paulo FC offered US$ 10.000 for him, but the price was considered low by the AIK principal who was monitoring Sweden team. In less than one month, Nacka was sold to Internazionale by five times that value. In Inter, he had huge success helping them win the Serie A title twice in the 1953 and 1954. In all, he played 246 matches with Internazionale, scoring 57 goals.
His fine ball-control, excellent left foot and fine distribution made him a big favourite with the fans. Sweden failed to qualify to the 1954 World Cup because they would not recall exiles like Nacka, hence his few caps, but when the Swedes played host to the 1958 tournament, they had a change of heart and Skoglund appeared in all Sweden’s games as they finished runners-up to Brazil
. In the semifinal against West Germany, Nacka scored his first and only goal for Sweden in the 3-1 win which set them up for the classic final against Brazil.
He was a true entertainer living to please the crowds, wherever he plied his trade. Nutmegs, back-heels and mazy turns always kept his opponents guessing and mostly in the wrong direction.
After 13 years as a pro in Italy, where he also played for Sampdoria
and Palermo
, he returned to his native Södermalm
and Hammarby in 1964.
Nacka also had two footballing sons, both born in Milano, Georg and Evert
; Evert played 16 matches with Internazionale, and the brother Georg some matches with A.C. Milan
. Both later played for Hammarby.
During his summer breaks in Sweden he used to tour around amusement-parks in Sweden, singing and doing his famed "Two-Crown"-stint where he would actually drop a coin and kick it into his shirt pocket.
He died a desolate and broken man in 1975. But in 1984, a statue was raised in his honour outside his childhood home at Katarina Bangata. Every December 24, hundreds of people gather at the statue to celebrate the memory of Nacka. This is also the day when Swedes celebrate Christmas, so it's quite an emotional thing for the people who have come there every year since 1984. It's mainly supporters of Hammarby who come there, but every now and then supporters from the other clubs were Nacka played show up. The square where the statue is located is now officially named "Nackas Hörna" (Nacka's corner) - a play with words as he shot a corner kick straight into the goal in his comeback for Hammarby after coming back from Italy.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
Biography
Nicknamed through-out his career as Nacka (after his older brother who played for Nacka FF), Lennart Skoglund was a star of two Swedish World Cup sides in the 1950s. First as a young inside-left in 1950 and then as a mature left wingerWinger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
on home soil in 1958. He started at a local club called IK Stjärnan in 1943 before moving on to his favoured club Hammarby
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
the following year. He played for Hammarby between 1944 and 1949. In 1950 he was controversially sold to rivals AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
due to the sad financial situation of the club. He soon made his first appearance for the national and made a great impact in the World Cup held in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He formed a great partnership with Carl-Erik Palmér as Sweden finished third, and he also earned a new nickname: "The swaying corn-cob", a reference to his blond hair and his running style.
During the World Cup, São Paulo FC offered US$ 10.000 for him, but the price was considered low by the AIK principal who was monitoring Sweden team. In less than one month, Nacka was sold to Internazionale by five times that value. In Inter, he had huge success helping them win the Serie A title twice in the 1953 and 1954. In all, he played 246 matches with Internazionale, scoring 57 goals.
His fine ball-control, excellent left foot and fine distribution made him a big favourite with the fans. Sweden failed to qualify to the 1954 World Cup because they would not recall exiles like Nacka, hence his few caps, but when the Swedes played host to the 1958 tournament, they had a change of heart and Skoglund appeared in all Sweden’s games as they finished runners-up to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. In the semifinal against West Germany, Nacka scored his first and only goal for Sweden in the 3-1 win which set them up for the classic final against Brazil.
He was a true entertainer living to please the crowds, wherever he plied his trade. Nutmegs, back-heels and mazy turns always kept his opponents guessing and mostly in the wrong direction.
After 13 years as a pro in Italy, where he also played for Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
and Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
, he returned to his native Södermalm
Södermalm
Södermalm, often shortened to "Söder", is a district in central Stockholm. It covers the large island formerly called "Åsön". With a population of 99,685, it is one of the most densely populated districts of Scandinavia...
and Hammarby in 1964.
Nacka also had two footballing sons, both born in Milano, Georg and Evert
Evert Skoglund
Evert Skoglund is a retired Italian professional football player of Swedish descent.His father Lennart Skoglund was a famous player for F.C. Internazionale Milano and Sweden national football team. His younger brother Giorgio Skoglund also played football professionally...
; Evert played 16 matches with Internazionale, and the brother Georg some matches with A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. Both later played for Hammarby.
During his summer breaks in Sweden he used to tour around amusement-parks in Sweden, singing and doing his famed "Two-Crown"-stint where he would actually drop a coin and kick it into his shirt pocket.
He died a desolate and broken man in 1975. But in 1984, a statue was raised in his honour outside his childhood home at Katarina Bangata. Every December 24, hundreds of people gather at the statue to celebrate the memory of Nacka. This is also the day when Swedes celebrate Christmas, so it's quite an emotional thing for the people who have come there every year since 1984. It's mainly supporters of Hammarby who come there, but every now and then supporters from the other clubs were Nacka played show up. The square where the statue is located is now officially named "Nackas Hörna" (Nacka's corner) - a play with words as he shot a corner kick straight into the goal in his comeback for Hammarby after coming back from Italy.