News

Where Are They Now…Martin Dahlin

|
Image for Where Are They Now…Martin Dahlin

Full Name: Martin Dahlin
Date of Birth: 16th April 1968, Lund
Nationality: Swedish
Position: Forward
Internationals: 60 caps for Sweden, 29 goals
Signed: July 1997 (from Roma)
Left: July 1999 (Injury enforced retirement)
Clubs (Prior to Rovers): Malmo FF (Sweden), Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany), Roma (Italy) & SV Hamburg (Germany) (loan from Rovers)

Martin Dahlin came to Blackburn Rovers in 1997 when Roy Hodgson brought him over from the Italian Serie A, but where did it all begin, and where is he now…

Former Swedish International Martin Dahlin would begin his career in his native Sweden with Malmo FF in the late 1980’s, making his name on the International stage when staring in the 1992 European Championships.

These Championships would be held in Sweden and with the help of Dahlin and another legendary Swede Thomas Brolin, among others, they would advance to the semi-finals at the expense of England in the group stages before being soundly beaten by Germany.

1993 would see Dahlin named as Swedish footballer of the year, claiming the Guldbollen, a year later being part of another Swedish International side that finished third in the 1994 World Cup Finals in the United States of America.

A highly successful spell in German football with Borussia Monchengladbach would often be rumoured to end, with moves to Bayern Munich and Fiorentina turned down in favour of Juventus, however clauses in his Monchengladbach contract would see a deal fall through.

Eventually the 1996-1997 season would see a move to Italy, but not to Juventus, it would be to Roma, but in a disappointing spell with club he would barely feature so he returned to Monchengladbach on loan, before his Italian nightmare would end when his former Malmo coach Roy Hodgson, who had taken over at Ewood Park brought him to Rovers in the summer of 1997.

In the 1997-1998, and part of the 1998-1999 seasons he would be with the club Dahlin would score only 6 goals in 31 matches. A back injury, picked up in training early in 1998, which would eventually cost him his career, wouldn’t help his cause.

Upon his return, although Dahlin never fully recovered from the injury, he would have a short loan spell back in the German game with SV Hamburg but would eventually concede defeat and retire at 30-years-old in July 1999, two years after arriving at Ewood.

Dahlin’s departure would continue to have an effect on Rovers year after he had left, not of the players doing I must add. Rovers’ insurance company refused to pay out over his injury, due to them thinking that “normal wear and tear could have been contributing factors” of his ultimately career ending injury.

Rovers sued the insurance company, with the verdict being in their favour originally, however in 2005 the Court of Appeal overturned the decision and in 2006 the High Court ruled in favour of the Insurance Company, meaning Rovers lost out on £4 million compensation they could, and possibly should have gained.

After his playing career Dahlin would decide he wanted to remain in the game, but not fancying coaching or management decided to work as a football agent, giving something back. His agency MDM would initially be based in Europe; however latterly he would move his base and set up in England, although his time is said to be divided between the two now. Dahlin mainly represents young and upcoming Swedish talent, although he does have some Germany footballers on his books

He now also lends his name to a clothing line in Scandinavia and Europe, and has worked on Swedish television broadcaster TV4, commentating on Sweden games at the 2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and Korea.

The above information is as accurate to my knowledge as possible, up to and including 26th September 2006.

CLICK HERE – For Why You Should Sign Up To Vital Blackburn

Share this article

Formerly Hughes Da Man (HDM)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *