Jonas Thern

Jonas Magnus Thern (born 20 March 1967) is a Swedish football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder between 1985 and 1999. Thern also earned 75 caps and scored six goals for Sweden between 1987 and 1997. He captained the Sweden squad that finished third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Thern's playing career took him from Malmö FF in Sweden to FC Zürich in Switzerland and further in Europe to Benfica in Portugal, Napoli and Roma in Italy and finally Rangers in Scotland where he finished his career. After his playing career Thern coached his youth club IFK Värnamo for two periods, between 2000 and 2001 and again in 2010 as well as Halmstads BK between 2002 and 2003. He has also acted as a youth coach at IFK Värnamo, a sports commentator as well as a teacher.

Jonas Thern
Personal information
Full name Jonas Magnus Thern
Date of birth (1967-03-20) 20 March 1967
Place of birth Falköping, Sweden
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Sweeper
Youth career
1982–1985 Värnamo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1987 Malmö FF 41 (6)
1987 Zürich 2 (1)
1988–1989 Malmö FF 35 (5)
1989–1992 Benfica 100 (10)
1992–1994 Napoli 48 (1)
1994–1997 Roma 59 (3)
1997–1999 Rangers 23 (5)
Total 308 (31)
National team
1984–1985 Sweden U19 10 (2)
1986–1988 Sweden U21/O 15 (3)
1987–1997 Sweden 75 (6)
Teams managed
2000–2001 Värnamo
2002–2003 Halmstads BK
2010 Värnamo
2017 Landskrona BoIS (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born and raised in the town of Värnamo in southern central Sweden, Thern started his professional career in 1985 when he joined the classic Swedish club of Malmö FF, where he stayed for four years, earning him two titles in the 1986 and 1988 Allsvenskan. In 1989, he won the Guldbollen as Sweden's Footballer of the Year.

In 1989 he left for Benfica. He was part of a successful group of Scandinavian players that played for Benfica at the time, composed of Danish international Michael Manniche (1983–1987), and the Swedish "armada"; Mats Magnusson (1987–1992), Thern (1989–1992), Glenn Strömberg (1982–84) and Stefan Schwarz (1990–1994) alongside coach Sven-Göran Eriksson (1982–1984 and 1989–1992).

Thern went on to play in Italy for Napoli and Roma but moved to Scotland to join for Rangers on 1 July 1997, however, his career was cut short by injuries.

International career

For Sweden, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992,[1] and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States.[2] Thern also competed for Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics.[3] Thern was the Sweden captain for seven years, between 1990 and 1997.

Coaching career

After he retired as a player he became head coach for IFK Värnamo between 2000 and 2001 and Halmstads BK 2001–2003.

He has also worked as a sports commentator and as a teacher.

Personal life

Jonas has a son, Simon, who is also a footballer. His daughter, Alicia, is an equestrian.

Career statistics

International
National teamSeasonAppsGoals
Sweden
198720
1988103
198981
199041
199161
199290
199340
1994110
199560
199680
199770
Total756

International goals
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 January 1988Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas East Germany2–14–1Friendly
2.4–1
3.15 January 1988Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas Finland1–01–0Friendly
4.16 August 1989Malmö Stadion, Malmö France1–02–4Friendly
5.27 May 1990Råsunda Stadium, Solna Finland6–06–0Friendly
6.4 September 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna Yugoslavia4–24–3Friendly

Honours and awards

Malmö

Benfica

Rangers

Sweden

Individual

  • Guldbollen (Golden Ball): Best Swedish Player 1989

References
  1. Hughes, Rob (10 June 1992). "Confidence and flair: Dutch favored in Euro 92". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  2. Ridley, Ian (17 July 1994). "Sweden are the third men". The Independent. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  3. "Jonas Thern Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
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