Tobias Grahn

Tobias Grahn (born 5 March 1980) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He won the 2002 Norwegian Football Cup with Vålerenga and the 2004 Allsvenskan with Malmö FF. A full international between 2001 and 2003, he won four caps for the Sweden national team, scoring one goal.

Tobias Grahn
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-03-05) 5 March 1980
Place of birth Karlskrona, Sweden
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Rödeby AIF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Öster 1 (0)
1998–1999 Beira-Mar 0 (0)
1999 Öster 6 (0)
1999–2002 Lyngby BK 36 (2)
2001–2003 Vålerenga 36 (9)
2003–2004 Malmö 21 (3)
2004–2006 AGF 47 (10)
2006–2007 → OB (loan) 15 (6)
2007–2008 Gimnàstic 9 (2)
2007 → Hertha BSC (loan) 13 (0)
2008–2009 Randers 19 (0)
2010–2011 Mjällby 50 (2)
2012 Örebro 19 (2)
2013–2014 Brønshøj 8 (0)
2014 GVI 0 (0)
National team‡
1997 Sweden U17 9 (1)
2001 Sweden U21 3 (1)
2001–2003 Sweden 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 March 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2003

Club career

In August 2003, he left Norwegian club Vålerenga and returned to Sweden, signing with Malmö FF.[1] While with Malmö, Grahn made 21 appearances and scored three goals but soon fell out of favor with coach Tom Prahl. As a result, he left the club and returned to Denmark, signing with AGF Aarhus. In his first season with Aarhus, Grahn enjoyed great success appearing in 22 league matches and scoring 8 goals and providing 13 assists as the clubs playmaker. After appearing in 47 league matches and scoring 10 goals in his two seasons at the club, Grahn was sent on loan to Odense BK for the 2006–07 season. Grahn got off to a great start with Odense scoring six goals in 15 league matches and helped the Danish club to an impressive run in the 2006–07 UEFA Cup. As a result, he began to draw interest from clubs in the top leagues in Europe. During the winter transfer period he was sold to Spain's Gimnàstic. On 18 February 2007, Grahn played his first La Liga match for Gimnàstic against Racing de Santander.[2] While with Gimnàstic, he appeared in nine league matches and scored two goals but injuries limited his chances with the club. At the end of the season, Gimnàstic was relegated to the Spanish Second Division, and Grahn was sent on loan to Hertha BSC in Germany.[3]

In the January transfer window of 2009, Grahn was rumored to return to Danish football, with Brøndby IF being the most likely destination. On 28 January 2009, he was transferred to Danish super league club Randers on a three-year contract.[4] Grahn was so disappointed about his own performances and lack of success at Randers FC that he offered to leave the club in November 2009. So on 12 November 2009, he was granted a free transfer by the club and returned on 14 November 2009 to Berlin for a trial with 1. FC Union Berlin. He signed for Swedish top-tier club Mjällby AIF before the start of the 2010 season. During his two years at the club he was a success on the pitch and a big profile at the club[5] but also the cause of conflicts and controversial statements.[6][7]

During January 2012, it was reported that Grahn was close to agreeing to terms with New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.[8] He was also spotted near his old training grounds at Malmö, training by his own and wearing his old Malmö FF clothes. However, in early February 2012, Grahn announced that he would be joining Örebro SK.[9] After a disappointing first season where the club was relegated Grahn announced that he had come to an agreement with Örebro to end his contract. He told the media that playing in the second tier did not "harmonize with his ambitions".[10]

In March 2013 he signed a contract with Brønshøj Boldklub in the Danish 1st Division.[11] In August 2014 he was persuaded to play for Gentofte-Vangede IF in the Danish 2nd Division East by head coach Søren Fjorting whom Grahn knew from their past at Lyngby Boldklub.[12]

International career

Grahn made his debut for the Sweden U21 national team in 2001.[13] He made his first appearance for the full national side during January 2001 in a 0–0 draw with the Faroe Islands.[14][13]

Career statistics

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[13]
National team Year Apps Goals
Sweden 2001 1 0
2003 3 1
Total 4 1
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Grahn goal.
List of international goals scored by Tobias Grahn
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 22 February 2003 National Stadium , Bangkok, Thailand  North Korea 2–0 4–0 Friendly [15]

Honours

Club

Vålerenga

Malmö FF

References
  1. "Tobias Grahn klar för MFF". Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå (in Swedish). DN.se. 9 August 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  2. "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  3. "Hertha BSC leiht Tobias Grahn aus" (in German). sportal.de. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  4. "Tobias Grahn klar för Randers" (in Swedish). fotbollskanalen.se. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  5. "Tobias Grahn: "Jag har blivit bättre på att hantera mina känslor"" (in Swedish). sverigesradio.se. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. "Utbytt i halvlek – då tog Grahn bilen hem" (in Swedish). aftonbladet.se. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. "Grahn: "Jag tycker att vi våldtar AIK"" (in Swedish). sverigesradio.se. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. "New York jagar Grahn" (in Swedish). fotbollskanalen.se. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  9. "Grahn oeverens med Örebro" (in Swedish). fotbolldirekt.se. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  10. "Grahn lämnar Örebro: "Mina ambitioner harmoniserar inte med superettan"" (in Swedish). fotbolldirekt.se. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  11. "Tobias Grahn ligner Brønshøj-scoop" (in Danish). bold.dk. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  12. "Tobias Grahn rykker til GVI" (in Danish). bold.dk. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  13. "Tobias Grahn - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  14. "Herr: 0-0 för framtidslaget" (in Swedish). svenskfotboll.se. 31 January 2001. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2001.
  15. "Sverige - Nordkorea - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 December 2020.
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