PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Thomas Ravelli was a great athlete who was active.
But not Sweden’s biggest, admits the former goalkeeper – while pointing out the one he considers to be.
– Me vote for himsays Ravelli to Sportbibeln.
Thomas Ravelli, 64, is a Swedish football icon. The former goalkeeper’s greatest moment was, of course, the World Cup in 1994. More precisely, when he saved Miodrag Belodedicis penalty in the quarter-finals against Romania, and took Sweden to the semi-finals. The rescue was named during the 2001 Sports Gala as the “Swedish sports moment of the ages”.
Ravelli’s Tribute
The 64-year-old’s Allsvenskan track record is also not so playful. In IFK Göteborg alone, Ravelli made 416 appearances, and won six SM gold with the club. He also has two SM golds with Östers IF from 1980 and 1981. Ravelli also has some Champions League matches on his CV, and made 143 senior national team appearances.
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Despite being a great player himself, Ravelli admits that he once got starstruck by other athletes.
– The first time man, now it’s not like that, but when you’ve met Björn Borg and Ingemar Stone ground, when you hadn’t really made it through yourself and you saw them, then it’s clear, then you got a little starstruck, you can say that. But in today’s situation it’s not like that, I don’t think so, says Ravelli to Sportbibeln.
Castle or Stenmark
When it comes to who Ravelli thinks is the greatest Swedish athlete of all time, it is precisely the aforementioned that he chooses between.
– I’m old-fashioned like that, so it’s either Stenmark or Borg.
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After a brief period of reflection, the former footballer can pinpoint just one, based on the size of the sport.
– I probably vote for Borg actually, because tennis was probably a little bigger than downhill skiing and skiing at the time, says Ravelli.
READ MORE: That’s why Thomas Ravelli has left football for good – the icon reveals why he never became a coach: “Isn’t a normal life”
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