Martin Bengtsson (footballer)

This article is about the footballer. For the metal musician, see Martin Bengtsson (musician).

Martin Bengtsson
Personal information
Full name Martin Oskar Johan Bengtsson
Date of birth (1986-03-14) 14 March 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Örebro, Sweden
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
–2002 IK Sturehov
2002–2003 Örebro SK
2004 Inter Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Örebro SK 1 (0)
2005 ÖSK Ungdom
International career
2002–2003 Sweden U17 20 (3)
2004 Sweden U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Martin Oskar Johan Bengtsson (born 14 March 1986) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Bengtsson started playing football for IK Sturehov as a child and stayed with the club until he was signed by Örebro SK as a 15-year-old in 2002.[1] He made his Allsvenskan debut at 17 years old for Örebro SK during the 2003 season in a game against Enköpings SK when he came on as a substitute for Mirza Jelecak.[2] After the 2003 season, Bengtsson left Örebro SK to sign for the Serie A club Inter Milan.[3] However, he left the Italian club after only nine months after suffering from depression and ultimately trying to take his own life.[1]

In 2005, he signed for Örebro SK Ungdom in Division 2 Norra Svealand but only played for one season before retiring from professional football at the age of 19.[4]

International career

Bengtsson appeared 20 times for the Sweden U17 team, scoring three goals.[5] He also appeared twice for the Sweden U19 team.[5]

Personal life

In 2007, he wrote the autobiography I skuggan av San Siro (English: In the shadow of San Siro) about his experiences as a young footballer at Inter Milan.[6] In 2020, the book was adapted into a movie called Tigers directed by Ronnie Sandahl.[7]

After quitting football, Bengtsson took up careers in journalism and music.[8]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[2]
Club Season League Svenska Cupen Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Örebro SK 2003 Allsvenskan 1 0 —
ÖSK Ungdom 2005 Division 2 Norra Svealand —
Career total 0 0

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[5]
National team Year Apps Goals
Sweden U17 2002 12 3
2003 8 0
Total 20 3
Sweden U19 2004 2 0
Total 2 0
Career total 22 3

References

  1. ^ a b "Martin Bengtsson: "Man ska inte prata om såna här saker"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b "SvenskaFans". www.svenskafans.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Örebros 17-årige talang klar för Inter". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  4. ^ Bengtsson, Martin (2007). I skuggan av San Siro. Norstedts. ISBN 9789113100708.
  5. ^ a b c "Martin Bengtsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Pojkdrömmen kunde ha kostat honom livet". SVT Sport (in Swedish). 23 April 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Ronnie Sandahls "Tigrar" får världspremiär i Busan". MovieZine. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Martin Bengtsson exclusive interview: Inter Milan, depression and seeing his lowest moments play out in a movie".