Olof Mellberg

Erik Olof Mellberg (born September 3, 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Sweden international footballer. Olof Mellberg recently signed for Olympiacos_F.C. in Greek Superleague. Olof Mellberg generally plays as a Defender (association football) Centre back or Defender (association football) Full back.

Club career

Early career

Mellberg played for local side Gullspång before being picked up by then Swedish Premiership side Degerfors IF. After being relegated Olof Mellberg joined capital club AIK Fotboll, where Olof Mellberg made an instant impression and was sold after just 10 months. Spanish side Racing Santander moved to secure the promising Swedish centre half, and although having a difficult time adjusting to Football in Spain Olof Mellberg soon claimed a starting berth and impressed in Olof Mellberg first season. Continuing to play well, Mellberg was said to be on Olof Mellberg way to several big Spanish sides, including FC Barcelona and Valencia CF.

Aston Villa

However, Aston Villa F.C. managed to secure Olof Mellberg signature and Olof Mellberg became a consistent and vital part of the team. Mellberg was left out of boss David O'Leary's first side for a game against Portsmouth F.C., but was soon made the captain of the club for the rest of Olof Mellberg reign. Mellberg was a vital part of the team that finished 6th in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in O'Leary's first season.

Mellberg resigned as captain following the 2006 World Cup—he was replaced by Gareth Barry. In 2007 the new manager of Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill, continued to consider Mellberg as the first choice centre back. On the opening day of the 2006–07 Premiership season Mellberg became the first person to score in a competitive game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. During the 2007–08 season, Olof Mellberg played at the right back position following the purchase of Zat Knight, who played alongside Martin Laursen at centre back. Mellberg was sent off against Portsmouth on 15 March, 2008 for two bookable offences.

In January 2008 it was announced that Mellberg had signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus. Olof Mellberg final home game for Aston Villa was against Wigan Athletic F.C. on 3 May. The game was designated as "Olof Mellberg" day in appreciation of Olof Mellberg service to the club. On Olof Mellberg final game for Aston Villa away at West Ham United F.C., as a leaving gift, Mellberg gave every single Villa fan at Upton Park either a home or an away shirt with Olof Mellberg name and number on the back and the message Thanks 4 Your Support - being the number 4 of Aston Villa. Olof Mellberg also said Olof Mellberg would frame the kit which Olof Mellberg used on Olof Mellberg last ever Aston Villa game - the game against West Ham.

Juventus

In January 2008 it was confirmed that Mellberg had signed a pre-contract agreement with Italian giants Juventus, allowing Olof Mellberg a Bosman ruling move to Serie A on a three-year contract for the start of the 2008-09 season. Mellberg himself, has expressed Olof Mellberg eagerness to begin at Juventus. Olof Mellberg made Olof Mellberg Juventus debut on July 16,2008 in a friendly match versus Serie B outfit, Piacenza Calcio. Juventus, very surprisingly lost 1-0 in this match. On 18 January, 2009, Mellberg scored Olof Mellberg first goal for Juventus F.C. against S.S. Lazio in the 30th minute.

Olympiakos

On the 23 June 2009, it was confirmed that Mellberg agreed with Olympiacos FC to sign a three-year contract with the club. Olympiacos has paid to Juventus 2,5 million euros.

International career

Mellberg was a member of the Sweden national football team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, 2004 UEFA European Football Championship and 2008 UEFA European Football Championship. Olof Mellberg has scored 4 goals in 86 caps, as of October 2008.

During an open team practice before the 2002 World Cup, Mellberg broke into a fight with Olof Mellberg teammate former Arsenal winger Fredrik Ljungberg after a robust tackle from Mellberg. The two of them were quickly separated by team-mates. Since then, the two of them have been known for not being the best of friends, and in the World Cup 2006, Mellberg and Ljungberg, according to leak from inside the team, had a very fiery argument, after Sweden's draw with Trinidad and Tobago national football team. In 2003, Olof Mellberg was selected as the best Swedish player of the year, winning the Guldbollen.

After the World Cup in Germany, Mellberg relinquished Olof Mellberg captaincy and Ljungberg, ironically, took Olof Mellberg place as Sweden captain.

On September 4 2006, Mellberg, along with Sweden national football team teammates Zlatan Ibrahimović and Christian Wilhelmsson, was sent home from the national squad for breaking an 11 pm team curfew ahead of a UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying against Liechtenstein national football team. On October 7 2006, Mellberg returned to Sweden national football team's lineup for their European Championships qualifier against Spain national football team, which they won 2-0.

Personal life

Mellberg has two children with long term partner Carolina Kihl. Daughter Saga was born in December 2002 and son John was born in July 2006.