Oscar Hiljemark

Oscar Karl Niclas Hiljemark (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɪ̂lːjɛˌmark]; born 28 June 1992) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Danish Superliga club AaB. A full international for Sweden since 2012, he has represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Oscar Hiljemark
Hiljemark with Dynamo Moscow in 2020
Personal information
Full name Oscar Karl Niclas Hiljemark[1]
Date of birth (1992-06-28) 28 June 1992
Place of birth Gislaved, Sweden
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 AaB
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2008 Gislaveds IS
2008–2010 IF Elfsborg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 IF Elfsborg 61 (5)
2013–2015 PSV 49 (2)
2015 → Jong PSV 3 (0)
2015–2017 Palermo 53 (4)
2016–2017 → Genoa (loan) 14 (2)
2017–2020 Genoa 32 (1)
2017–2018 → Panathinaikos (loan) 16 (1)
2019–2020 → Dynamo Moscow (loan) 14 (0)
2020– AaB 5 (1)
National team‡
2009 Sweden U17 3 (1)
2009–2010 Sweden U19 10 (2)
2011–2015 Sweden U21 37 (4)
2012– Sweden 28 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2020

Club career

Early career

Hiljemark played for Swedish top team IF Elfsborg. He was chased by many clubs in Sweden in his youth but decided to sign a youth contract with Elfsborg in 2008. He participated in many national team camps as a young player, and was predicted a great career for his mature style of play.

IF Elfsborg
Hiljemark with Elfsborg in 2012

Two years after signing with Elfsborg, at the age of 18, he earned a place in the senior team after playing in the Elfsborg and Sweden national youth teams. During his first year in the Elfsborg senior team he played 4 games in Allsvenskan and 2 games in the Europa League qualifications. He played 30 minutes in the Europa League play-off match against Napoli. The game ended with a 2–0 loss for Elfsborg after two goals from Edinson Cavani.

He made his first team debut in Elfsborg's 2–2 draw away at IF Brommapojkarna on 26 September 2010, and scored his first goal against Syrianska FC in a 2–1 home victory on 27 June 2011.[3]

At the age of 18 in his debut season 2011, he was nominated as newcomer of the year, being the youngest of the nominated. He also won the prestigious Månadens Tipselitspelare prize with the jury's citation: "Oscar Hiljemark has been endowed with a massive winning attitude that he has used to the competitive environment for the optimum development. He is a talented player who works hard and takes a mature responsibility from his midfield position." Players who also won the prize are Freddie Ljungberg, Johan Elmander, Olof Mellberg and Kim Källström.[4]

After a successful 2011 season, Hiljemark was scouted and chased by clubs such as Genoa and Club Brugge, but Elfsborg ignored the bids, as they want him for a few more seasons.

PSV Eindhoven
Hiljemark with PSV in 2013

On 4 January 2013, Hiljemark signed with PSV until 2017, for €2.2 million.[5] He made his Eredivisie debut on 26 January 2013 in a 5–1 away victory against Heracles Almelo, replacing Tim Matavž. He scored his first goal on 17 August 2013 in a convincing 3–0 victory against Go Ahead Eagles. With the likes of Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield, however, Hiljemark struggled to find consistent minutes. Injuries also prevented him from establishing any sort of rhythm. Despite 49 league appearances for PSV, mostly as a late substitute, Hiljemark managed just 2 league goals in 2 years for his club.

Palermo

After winning the 2015 U21 European Championship, several teams were interested in the Swedish midfielder. He moved to Italian team Palermo for €2 million (plus €500,000 in add-ons), signing a four-year contract.[6] In Rosanero, he joined U21 teammate Robin Quaison. He recorded his first Serie A goal on 13 September 2015 against Carpi, a game that ended in a 2–2 draw. Six days later, he scored a brace against Milan, tying the game twice before a 2–3 loss. Hiljemark's brilliant start to the season attracted the attention of bigger clubs. He was linked with Italian giants Milan and Napoli for a possible transfer, as well as Premier League teams Norwich City, Southampton, Watford and West Ham. Towards the end of the 2015–16 Serie A season, Palermo looked to be in danger of being relegated. In the last game of the season, Hiljemark provided a crucial assist for Franco Vázquez in a 3–2 victory against Verona to clinch a spot for Palermo in the 2016–17 Serie A season. Hiljemark played in all 38 matches of Palermo in that season.

On 26 January 2017, Palermo have officially announced that Oscar Hiljemark has joined Genoa, on loan with an obligation to buy. The Grifone have been trying to reinforce their midfield, and it emerged that they were close to the Swedish midfielder.

Panathinaikos

On 31 August 2017, Genoa midfielder Oscar Hiljemark arrived in Athens to complete his loan move to Panathinaikos, with the latter retaining the option to purchase the player at the end of the 2017–18 season.[7] On 30 September 2017, he scored his first goal with the club in a 2–0 home Super League win game against PAS Giannina.[8]

On 30 January 2018, Hiljemark's loan spell from Genoa was terminated by mutual consent, mainly because of the player's unwillingness to continue under the club's financial decline and interruption of funding.[9]

Dynamo Moscow

On 1 September 2019, Hiljemark joined Russian club FC Dynamo Moscow on loan for the 2019–20 season.[10]

AaB

On 5 October 2020, Hiljemark signed a deal until June 2023 with Danish Superliga club AaB.[11]

International career

Sweden U21
Hiljemark interviewed after winning the 2015 U21 European Championship

Hiljemark made his debut for Sweden U21 on 9 February 2011 in a 1–3 loss against Portugal U21. He captained Sweden U21 throughout their successful 2015 U21 European Championship campaign, in Czech Republic.

Senior team

Hiljemark was selected for the annual training camp for the Sweden national team in January 2012. He made his debut for Sweden in a friendly against Bahrain on 18 January 2012, scoring his first goal for his country. Due to his involvement with the U-21 squad, Hiljemark was not regularly selected for the senior team until after the 2015 U21 European Championship. He received his first big call-up to the senior side in November 2015 against Denmark for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs. He came on in the 81st minute of the second leg for Sebastian Larsson. Hiljemark then was announced to be one of the 23 players called up for Euro 2016 campaign.

In May 2018 he was named in Sweden's 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[12]

Personal life

He is the son of Niclas and Lena Hiljemark and has two younger sisters, Anna (1994) and Elin (2000). Since 2014 Hiljemark lives with his girlfriend Elin Wass and his dog Milo.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 26 May 2019[13]
Club Season League League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Elfsborg 2010 Allsvenskan 40–––40
2011 2933051–374
2012 2821151–344
Total 6154110200758
PSV 2012–13 Eredivisie 11020––130
2013–14 2722070–362
2014–15 1100050–160
Total 4924012000652
Palermo 2015–16 Serie A 38410––394
2016–17 15010––160
Total 534200000554
Genoa 2016–17 Serie A 14200––142
Panathinaikos (loan) 2017–18 Superleague 16131––192
Genoa 2017–18 Serie A 15000––150
2018–19 17110––181
Total 463100000473
Career total 225151412220026118

International
As of 17 December 2018[14]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Sweden
201221
201310
201430
201510
201681
201730
201890
Total272

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 January 2012Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar Bahrain2–02–0Friendly
2.10 October 2016Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden Bulgaria2–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Elfsborg

PSV

International

Sweden U21

Records

Current Swedish Under-21 Most Capped player with 37 appearances

References
  1. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. https://genoacfc.it/team/oscar-hiljemark
  3. ""Tråkiga BP" kryssade hemma mot Elfsborg" (in Swedish). eurosport.se. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  4. "Månadens Tipselitspelare: Oscar Hiljemark" (in Swedish). svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  5. "PSV bindt middenvelder Hiljemark voor 4,5 jaar". www.voetbalprimeur.nl. Voetbalprimeur. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  6. "HILJEMARK E' DEL PALERMO". palermocalcio.it. palermocalcio.itdate=. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  7. "Hiljemark har landat i Aten inför övergången till Panathinaikos". blogg.fotbollskanalen.se. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  8. "Έβγαλε αντίδραση ο Παναθηναϊκός, 2–0 τον ΠΑΣ σε τρία λεπτά". www.sport24.gr. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  9. "Ο Χίλιεμαρκ επιστρέφει στην Τζένοα". www.sport24.gr. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  10. "Оскар Хильемарк арендован "Динамо"" [Oscar Hiljemark loaned by Dynamo] (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 2 September 2019.
  11. AaB sikrer sig svensk midtbaneprofil, aabsport.dk, 5 October 2020
  12. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/amp/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb
  13. "Oscar Hiljemark". Soccerway.
  14. "Oscar Hiljemark". EU-Football.info. 30 June 2018.
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