Hans Vimmo Eskilsson (born 23 January 1966) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker and defender. Starting off his career with IFK Östersund, he went on to represent clubs such as IFK Norrköping, Hammarby IF, Sporting CP, Braga, AIK, and Hearts during a career that spanned between 1983 and 2003. A full international between 1988 and 1990, he won eight caps for the Sweden national team and scored two goals. He was a part of the Sweden Olympic team that competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hans Vimmo Eskilsson | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Östersund, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1973–1975 | Ope IF | ||
| 1976–1983 | IFK Östersund | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1984 | IFK Östersund | 28 | (20) |
| 1985–1987 | IFK Norrköping | 57 | (7) |
| 1988 | Hammarby IF | 15 | (1) |
| 1988–1989 | Sporting CP | 7 | (1) |
| 1989–1990 | Braga | 22 | (2) |
| 1991 | AIK | 12 | (1) |
| 1991 | Estoril | 4 | (0) |
| 1992–1995 | Hammarby IF | 73 | (47) |
| 1995 | Vasalund | 10 | (8) |
| 1995–1996 | Hearts | 11 | (2) |
| 1996–2001 | Hammarby IF | 97 | (11) |
| 2002–2003 | Östersunds FK | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 341 | (100) | |
| International career | |||
| 1986–1988 | Sweden U21/O | 16 | (3) |
| 1988–1990 | Sweden | 8 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Östersunds FK | ||
| 2004 | Enköping | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Early years and Portugal edit
Eskilsson was born in Östersund, Jämtland County. After starting in the lower leagues with local IFK Östersund, he moved in 1985 to the top division with IFK Norrköping, then competed in the 1988 season with fellow league side Hammarby IF.
Eskilsson moved to Portugal at the age of 22, joining Sporting CP as an electoral asset of future president Jorge Gonçalves:[1] during the better part of the following three seasons in the country – with a brief spell in his country with AIK Fotboll in between[2]– he only scored three goals for as many teams, also representing S.C. Braga[3] and G.D. Estoril Praia.[4]
Hammarby IF and Hearts edit
In 1992 Eskilsson returned to former club Hammarby, netting 40 goals in his first two campaigns combined and promoting to the top level in the second. In early November 1995, after a short stint at Solna-based Vasalunds IF, he moved to Scotland to play for Heart of Midlothian in the Premier Division, being sparingly played during the season and being released as his contract was not renewed.
Aged 30, Eskilsson joined Hammarby for a third spell in 1996, finding the side in the second tier and again helping it achieve promotion. He also began featuring regularly as a central defender, forming an efficient partnership with Pétur Marteinsson; late into his final stint, however, he suffered a severe leg injury after a two-footed challenge by Daniel Hoch in a derby game against AIK, having to retire from professional football.
International career edit
Eskilsson gained eight caps for Sweden during two years, his debut coming in 1988. Also in that year, he played Olympic football in Seoul, appearing in two matches for the eventual quarter-finalists.[5]
Post-retirement edit
Shortly after retiring, Eskilsson had a short spell as a manager, coaching the then lower division clubs Östersunds FK and Enköpings SK. He subsequently became a professional poker player.[6] He has over $150,000 in live earnings.[7]
Eskilsson is married to Swedish international footballer Malin Swedberg, and the couple have two children, including Williot Swedberg who is also a professional football player.[8]
Career statistics edit
International edit
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 1988 | 6 | 2 |
| 1989 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 2 | |
International goals
- Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 April 1988 | Olympiastadion, West Berlin, West Germany |  Soviet Union |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1988 Four Nations Tournament | [10] |
| 2. | 27 April 1988 | Råsunda, Solna, Sweden |  Wales |
4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly | [11] |
References edit
- ^ Eskilsson; Estrelas Leoninas, 21 February 2007 (in Portuguese)
- ^ Hans Eskilsson – Varen 1991 i AIK (Hans Eskilsson – Spring 1991 AIK) Archived 18 April 2013 at archive.today; AIK Fotboll (in Swedish)
- ^ Época 1989/90: Primeira Divisão (1989/90 Season: First Division); Arquivos da Bola, 29 July 2007 (in Portuguese)
- ^ Eskilsson, o rei leão de 88 é um ás no poker maisfutebol.iol.pt
- ^ Hans Eskilsson – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ Hans Eskilsson: "Jag ser pokern som ett yrke" (Hans Eskilsson: "I see poker as a profession") Archived 3 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Pokerspel (in Swedish)
- ^ "Hans Eskilsson's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Ashdown, John (7 October 2009). "Which footballers have played two matches on the same day?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "Hans Eskilsson – Spelarstatistik – Svensk fotboll". svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Sweden upset the Soviets". The New Straits Times. 4 April 1988. Retrieved 4 December 2014 – via Google News.
- ^ "Holmqvist skoraðl tvfvegis" [Holmqvist scored twice] (PDF) (in Icelandic). Timarit. 28 April 1988. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
External links edit
- Hans Eskilsson at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- London Hearts profile
- Hans Eskilsson at National-Football-Teams.com
- Hans Eskilsson at EU-Football.info
- Hans Eskilsson at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)
