Thomas Ravelli could stop anyone, and which ones.
In his very last match, he scored against the biggest team Bayern Munich.
That prompted Franz Beckenbauer to act after the final whistle.
– It could just as well have been in Buster, says Ravelli.
When talking about legendary Swedish footballers, it is impossible not to mention Thomas Ravelli. His international club team career was perhaps not much to hang on the Christmas tree, but at home in Sweden, and in the Swedish national team, he was at times unstoppable, and that led to some legendary moments to say the least.
Saved everything
Ravelli is of course most associated with the wonderful WC summer of 1994, when his iconic penalty save paved the way for Sweden’s sensational bronze. Add to that that he has won a total of eight SM golds – two with Öster and another six with IFK Göteborg – which is more than anyone else in all time. In total, there were over 200 matches in Blåvitt for Ravelli, and a lot of unforgettable moments.
When Ravelli himself gets to rank the main highlights of his career, it is of course the WC 1994 that he thinks of, but beyond that there are many to choose from.
– Of course, all the SM golds you won… the first time you won SM gold was fantastic! It was with Öster in 1980 – and then in 1981. Then I had to wait another ten years – when we won in Blåvitt. All those feelings when you win a big thing are fantastic, he has previously told GP.
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The gesture of the icon
But there is also another specific moment that has a special place in Thomas Ravelli’s heart. In his very last match for IFK Göteborg, Bayern Munich himself was waiting, away at the Olympiastadion in Germany. It wasn’t exactly a bad team that the Germans put on the field, but Ravelli stopped everything. He kept a clean sheet – and also saved a penalty. And the Germans could do nothing but praise their opponent.
Thomas Ravelli has subsequently revealed that the big star Franz Beckenbauer, who then had a leadership role in Bayern, approached him after the match with a very special gift.
– I save a penalty and a free kick and we win 1-0. Afterwards, Beckenbauer comes up and gives me flowers, and the crowd applauds me. They didn’t boo their team for losing, but applauded me. It might as well have been in Buster! To have such an end to his career, he says.
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