PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Anders Limpar is one of Swedish football’s truly great players.
Today we pay tribute to the blue-yellow legend on his birthday.
And remember his fantastic career and great friendship with Klas Ingesson.
Although he will not go down in history as Sweden’s best ever footballer, it was always just as entertaining to watch Anders Limpar. He could handle the ball like few other players of his generation and always became a fan favorite at his clubs.
Limpar’s career
Limpar broke through as a major talent with Brommapojkarna during the beginning of the 80s and it would be the start of a long and varied football career. Onward to Örgryte before it was time to move abroad and apart from Sweden, the short-ball striker has played in Switzerland, Italy, England and the USA.
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He was at the peak of his career in the 90s with games at classic clubs Arsenal and Everton where Limpar earned the nickname “Super Swede” after his successful years. The Swede won the league title, double FA Cup titles, the League Cup and two-time Charity Shield winner.
READ MORE: Pekka Lindmark and Anders Limpar’s apology to Ingemar Stenmark after shameful behavior: “Pure fucking bullying”
The rage in WC 94
After the time in England, he returned home to Sweden again and played for the 08 teams AIK, Djurgården and Brommapojkarna again as well as a small detour to MLS and the Colorado Rapids where he became good friends with Peter “Foppa” Forsberg. In addition to his club team career, there were also 58 international matches for Blågult and Anders was part of the feat team in 1994.
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During the magical summer in the USA that ended with a stunning World Cup bronze for Sweden, however, Limpar did not get much playing time, only a short appearance in the last match. But he got something bigger during the WC tournament, namely a friend for life Class Ingesson.
– Klas stopped me from going home from the WC in 1994. We shared a room and I was so damn disappointed. He said: “You must be happy for me”. I have no “hard feelings” towards Tommy Svensson (the national team captain). He did the right thing. We came home with bronze medals, he says in an old interview with Expressen.
– Then I can think that he made a mistake. He should have thrown me in for the last ten minutes of the semi-final against Brazil. What did we have to lose then? If we had equalized and there had been penalties, then Ravelli would have broken even Brazil.
READ MORE: Anders Limpar’s unforgettable meeting with the fool Vinnie Jones – shouted five words that made the Swede shake
Tribute to Klas
Anders and Klas became best friends and supported each other through life’s difficult moments. Limpar was with Ingesson until the end and by his side during the tough time with cancer that led to his tragic passing in 2014.
Today, Anders Limpar has tattooed a picture of his late friend Klas on one arm. He still thinks about him every day.
– Klas was a fantastic person and we had a great time together. The last time we spoke and he told me that his time was up, he was the one who comforted me when I was sad, says the 58-year-old to the evening newspaper.
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