Niklas Sandberg (born 3 September 1978) is a retired Swedish centre-back who last played for Swedish Superettan club Brage.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Niklas Magnus Sandberg | ||
| Date of birth | 3 September 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre Back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1985–1989 | Haningepojkarna | ||
| 1990–1994 | Västerhaninge IF | ||
| 1996 | AIK | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995 | Västerhaninge IF | 13 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | AIK | 2 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | IK Sirius | 48 | (3) |
| 2000 | Helsingborgs IF | 5 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | FC Café Opera | 83 | (5) |
| 2004–2007 | AIK | 82 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | CFR Cluj | 10 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Stabæk | 9 | (0) |
| 2009 | FK Haugesund | 22 | (1) |
| 2010 | SAFFC | 12 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | IK Brage | 70 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007 | Sweden | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 November 2011 | |||
He started his career in the Swedish top flight in AIK in 1996 but only played two games during two years. After a spell at Helsingborg he returned to Stockholm in 2001 to play at FC Café Opera. He played there for three years and then returned to AIK in 2004.[1] In May 2007 he was traded to Romanian first league side CFR Cluj, becoming the first Swedish footballer ever to play in Liga 1.
Sandberg is tall and powerfully built, and thus physically strong and tough to beat in the air. He reads the game well and is a decent passer. Thus, he can also play as a defensive midfielder.
In December 2009, Niklas Sandberg approached Singapore's S League champions, SAFFC on his own accord and eventually signed for them. SAFFC has qualified for the 2010 AFC Champions League Group Stages and this would make Sandberg a player who has played in both UEFA and AFC Champions League in his entire career thus far.
Career highlights
editSandberg was capped twice by Sweden (2007). He played for Swedish AIK Stockholm from 1996 to 1998, and 2004 to 2007. Played in 1997 Uefa Cup Winners Cup quarter-final against FC Barcelona. Won Romania League title (2007–08) and Norway League title (2008) with CFR 1907 Cluj and Stabaek.
References
edit- ^ "Stats Centre: Niklas Sandberg Facts". Guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
External links
edit- Niklas Sandberg at Soccerway
- Niklas Sandberg at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish) (archived)
- Niklas Sandberg Interview