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Erik Edman
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Erik Kenneth Edman (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈêːrɪk ˈěːdman]; born 11 November 1978) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Starting off his career with Helsingborgs IF in 1997, he went on to represent clubs in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and France before retiring at Helsingborg in 2013. A full international between 2001 and 2009, he won 57 caps for the Sweden national team and represented his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Key Information
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Edman played for a number of clubs during his career. He played for Helsingborgs IF until 1999, which was his first time leaving Sweden and moved abroad. In 2001, after having unremarkable spells at Italian club Torino and Karlsruher SC in Germany, Edman returned to Sweden and joined AIK for one season. After that, Heerenveen in the Netherlands brought Edman from Sweden.
Tottenham Hotspur
[edit]In July 2004, Tottenham Hotspur signed Edman from Heerenveen.[2] Edman quickly established himself at the club, and will probably be best remembered at Spurs for his stunning goal, which he scored from 41 yards out, in the Premier League match against Liverpool in April 2005.[3] However, in the summer of 2005, the arrival of South Korean left back, Lee Young-Pyo, led Edman to make the decision to leave England.
Rennes
[edit]In the last week of August, Spurs accepted an offer from French club Rennes.[4] It did not take long for Edman to impress his new manager, László Bölöni, and once again established himself as first choice at left-back.
Wigan Athletic
[edit]In January 2008, Edman was signed by Wigan Athletic for a transfer fee of £500,000.[5] The arrival of Edman was a good deal for Wigan Athletic, since the club did not find a good replacement after the departure of Leighton Baines, the previous summer. In March 2008, Edman was injured in a match against Blackburn Rovers, damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.[6] This means he missed the rest of Wigan's season, as well as Euro 2008. Edman made his return to the Wigan team, as a substitute in January 2009 at Old Trafford, as Wigan lost 1–0 to Manchester United.[7] However, he has lacked playing time, due to injuries and Maynor Figueroa's impressive performances throughout the season, which have earned him a spot in Roberto Martínez's starting eleven. Edman played his last game in the Latics' 9–1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur in November,[8] where he had a torrid time against Aaron Lennon.[9]
Helsingborgs IF
[edit]On 5 February 2010, Helsingborgs IF confirmed that they had re-signed Edman.[10] Edman signed a five-year contract with the Swedish club. In December 2012 it was announced Edman would take up a coaching position at Helsingborgs IF.[11]
International career
[edit]Edman was a part of the Sweden national team setup from 2001 until 2009. In 2002, he was part of Sweden's 2002 World Cup squad, but did not make any appearances. He then began to feature more regularly for Sweden after the 2002 World Cup, and at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, he featured as a starting left back for the team.
He scored his first and only goal, a free kick, in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in March 2005.[12]
Edman missed UEFA Euro 2008 due to a serious knee injury. He retired from the national team the following year.
Career statistics
[edit]| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | |||
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 57 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Edman goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2005 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
Honours
[edit]Helsingborgs IF
Individual
References
[edit]- ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
- ^ "Spurs sign Edman". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 31 July 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Liverpool 2–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 April 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- ^ "Rennes complete signing of Edman". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 31 August 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Mole, Giles (18 January 2008). "Wigan complete Valencia and Edman signings". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Injured Edman faces long lay-off". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (14 January 2009). "Man Utd 1–0 Wigan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (22 November 2009). "Tottenham 9–1 Wigan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Defender Edman makes Wigan exit". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Wigan defender joins Helsingborg". Ontheminute.com. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Officiellt: Kalle Björklund till Helsingborg – som ger Erik Edman tränarroll". Fotbolltransfers. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ "Bulgaria 0–3 Sweden: Ljungberg brace". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN. 26 March 2005. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Erik Edman - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 June 2021.
External links
[edit]- Erik Edman at Soccerbase
- Erik Edman Rennes profile
- Erik Edman profile Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine at svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish)
Erik Edman
View on GrokipediaClub career
Early career
Erik Edman was born on 11 November 1978 in Huskvarna, Jönköping County, Sweden.[2] He began his youth football career at local club Habo IF before joining the Helsingborgs IF academy in 1995.[2] Edman made his professional debut for Helsingborgs IF in 1997 at the age of 18, establishing himself as a promising left-back.[10][11] Between 1997 and 1999, he featured in 61 Allsvenskan appearances for the club, scoring 1 goal, and contributed to their successful 1999 league title campaign as part of the squad that secured the championship.[12][13] In 1999, Edman transferred to Italian Serie A club Torino FC on an initial deal, but faced significant challenges and limited opportunities, resulting in 0 league appearances during the 1999–2000 season.[10][11][12] He was then loaned to Karlsruher SC in Germany's 2. Bundesliga for the second half of the 1999–2000 season, where he made 8 appearances amid the team's ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation.[10][14] Returning to Sweden in mid-2000, Edman joined AIK Solna for the 2000–2001 Allsvenskan season, recording 21 appearances and solidifying his reputation as a reliable defender despite ongoing adaptation hurdles from his brief abroad stints.[10][12] These early moves highlighted the inconsistencies of transitioning between leagues, with minimal playing time abroad contrasting his domestic promise at Helsingborg.[11] During his Helsingborg tenure, Edman earned initial call-ups to Swedish youth international teams.[2] His subsequent transfer to SC Heerenveen in 2001 represented a pivotal step toward greater stability in his professional trajectory.[10]SC Heerenveen
Edman joined SC Heerenveen from AIK in the summer of 2001 on a transfer for an undisclosed fee, marking his move to the Eredivisie.[15] During his three full seasons with the club from 2001 to 2004, Edman established himself as the first-choice left-back, making 91 appearances in the Eredivisie and scoring one goal.[16] His consistent performances provided defensive stability on the left flank, complemented by his ability to deliver accurate crosses into the attacking third. In the 2002–03 season, Edman featured in 30 Eredivisie matches as Heerenveen finished seventh in the league, securing qualification for the UEFA Intertoto Cup the following summer.[17] This period represented Edman's first sustained success after earlier career instability across multiple clubs. The 2003–04 campaign saw Edman contribute to Heerenveen's strong league form, culminating in a fourth-place finish that earned UEFA Cup qualification for the next season.[18] He also participated in the UEFA Cup that year after the team advanced from the Intertoto Cup, playing in the first-round ties against NK Varteks Varaždin, where Heerenveen progressed on aggregate (4–3) before exiting in the second round.[19] Edman's sole Eredivisie goal for the club came via a long-range strike in a 3–1 home win over FC Utrecht on 24 October 2001.[20] Edman departed Heerenveen in July 2004, transferring to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported €2 million amid interest from the Premier League.[15] He was widely regarded for his defensive solidity and crossing prowess during his tenure, which paved the way for his move to English football.[21]Tottenham Hotspur
Erik Edman transferred to Tottenham Hotspur from SC Heerenveen in July 2004 for a fee of approximately £1.3 million, arriving as additional cover at left-back amid competition from Timothée Atouba, who had been sidelined by injuries earlier in the year.[22][8] His move represented the culmination of his growing European experience in the Eredivisie, where he had established himself as a reliable defender. Edman made his debut for the club on August 14, 2004, in a 1–0 Premier League victory over Liverpool at White Hart Lane, starting as Tottenham secured an early-season win under manager Jacques Santini.[12][23] During the 2004–05 season, Edman featured in 31 appearances across all competitions, scoring once and becoming a regular following Martin Jol's appointment as manager in November 2004 after Santini's departure.[8] His integration into the Premier League was tested by injuries, including a concussion sustained against Everton in October 2004 that sidelined him for about six weeks, as well as competition from Atouba upon his return.[8] Despite these challenges, Edman contributed to Tottenham's improved form, helping the team finish ninth in the Premier League table with 52 points.[24] His standout moment came on April 16, 2005, when he scored a stunning 40-yard strike in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, rifling a shot past goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek after receiving the ball from a cleared corner; the goal, his only Premier League strike, remains one of the most memorable in club history.[8][25] Edman's role diminished in the 2005–06 pre-season and early campaign due to ongoing competition for the left-back position, with Jol preferring options like Lee Young-Pyo and a recovering Atouba.[8] He made just a handful of appearances before a mutual agreement facilitated his departure to Stade Rennais on August 31, 2005, on a three-year deal.[26] Reflecting on his brief stint two decades later, Edman expressed fondness for the Liverpool goal, describing it as a career highlight that "came out of nowhere," while acknowledging frustrations from injuries and limited opportunities that curtailed his time in north London.[8] Around this period, he also scored on international duty for Sweden, adding to his 41 caps.[27]Stade Rennais
In August 2005, following a challenging spell at Tottenham Hotspur marked by limited playing time and injuries, Erik Edman transferred to Stade Rennais on a three-year contract for a fee of €3 million.[26] The move positioned him as a key left-back option to bolster the team's defense after a poor start to the season, during which Rennes conceded 17 goals in their first four Ligue 1 matches.[28] Edman made his debut for Rennes on 10 September 2005 in a 2-1 Ligue 1 home win over AJ Auxerre, where he started and played the full 90 minutes.[29] Over his tenure from 2005 to January 2008, he made 82 appearances across all competitions, including 68 in Ligue 1, without scoring any goals but providing three assists.[29] As a consistent starter, he featured in 33 matches during the 2005–06 season, helping Rennes secure a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 with 59 points, and in 34 matches the following year, contributing to a strong fourth-place standing and qualification for the UEFA Cup.[29][30] Edman's defensive reliability was evident in his partnerships within the backline, notably alongside central defender Stéphane Mbia, with whom he frequently lined up during the 2006–07 campaign to maintain mid-table stability in a technically demanding league.[31] His experience from previous European leagues allowed him to adapt quickly to Ligue 1's emphasis on possession and tactical discipline, providing solidity on the left flank amid Rennes' push for European spots.[32] Edman's time at Rennes was interrupted by injury setbacks, including a broken ankle in April 2006 that sidelined him for two months and threatened his participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[33] These issues echoed prior fitness concerns from his Tottenham days, limiting his consistency toward the end of his spell.[33] In January 2008, with his contract set to expire that summer and amid ongoing recovery doubts, Edman departed for a return to English football with Wigan Athletic for £500,000, having left a positive legacy of defensive contributions in France.[34][35]Wigan Athletic
Edman joined Wigan Athletic on 18 January 2008, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £500,000, despite lingering effects from a previous knee injury sustained earlier in his career.[34][36] He made his debut for the club on 23 February 2008 in a 2–0 Premier League home win over Derby County, starting at left-back and contributing to a clean sheet in what would be one of his early positive outings under manager Steve Bruce.[7] However, Edman's time at Wigan was severely hampered by injuries, beginning with a serious knee ligament rupture on 22 March 2008 during a match against Blackburn Rovers, which sidelined him for nearly ten months and forced him to miss the remainder of the 2007–08 season after just five league appearances.[36][7] He returned as a substitute in an FA Cup third-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur on 2 January 2009, but struggled to regain full fitness, managing only three Premier League appearances that season (2008–09), all as substitutes.[7] In the 2009–10 season, ongoing fitness issues limited Edman to two league starts and one substitute appearance, totaling just three Premier League games amid Wigan's fight against relegation, which they ultimately survived.[37] He fell out of favor in the squad, making no goals or assists in his limited minutes, and his contract was mutually terminated on 8 February 2010 after 14 months of inconsistent involvement, with Edman citing family reasons and a desire for regular first-team football as key factors in his departure.[38][39] Over his Wigan tenure, Edman accumulated 10 Premier League appearances without scoring, contributing to a career total of 41 top-flight games across spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan, during which he netted once overall.Helsingborgs IF
After departing Wigan Athletic by mutual consent in February 2010, Edman returned to his boyhood club Helsingborgs IF, signing a five-year contract that represented an emotional homecoming at the age of 31.[38][40] During his second spell from 2010 to 2013, Edman made 51 appearances for Helsingborgs, often serving in a leadership role that bolstered the team's defensive solidity in his later years.[12] He played a key part in the club's 2010 Svenska Cupen triumph, starting in the final against Hammarby IF on November 13, 2010, where Helsingborg secured a 1-0 victory with a late goal from Rasmus Jönsson. The following year, Edman contributed to Helsingborg's 2011 Allsvenskan title, the club's first league championship since 1999, finishing with 63 points from 30 matches. Additional successes included the 2011 Svenska Cupen and victories in the 2011 and 2012 Svenska Supercupen, underscoring a successful domestic resurgence during his tenure.[41] In October 2012, Edman announced his retirement from playing, effective at the end of the 2013 season when he would turn 35, transitioning instead to a coaching role within the club. His final professional match came in the Allsvenskan against IFK Göteborg on November 10, 2013. Over his entire club career across Helsingborgs IF, SC Heerenveen, Tottenham Hotspur, Stade Rennais, and Wigan Athletic, Edman amassed 329 appearances and 3 goals, later reflecting on his return as a fitting close to the circle at the club where he began.[42]International career
Youth career
Edman represented Sweden at youth international levels, including the under-16, under-18, and under-21 teams. He made his under-21 debut in 1999 while playing club football for Helsingborgs IF, with participation in the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers. Although Sweden's youth teams did not qualify for major tournaments during Edman's involvement, his consistent performances across these levels built a strong foundation and paved the way for his transition to the senior national team in 2001 following his move to AIK.Senior career
Edman made his senior debut for the Sweden national team on 31 January 2001, starting in a 0–0 friendly draw against the Faroe Islands at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.[43] Over the course of his international career from 2001 to 2009, he accumulated 57 caps and scored one goal.[4] Selected for Sweden's squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Edman served as the backup left-back to Mikael Nilsson but did not feature in any of the team's three group stage matches.[44] He established himself as a starter during UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, making three appearances in the group stage against Denmark (0–0 draw), Italy (0–0 draw), and Bulgaria (5–0 win), contributing to Sweden's unbeaten run that secured advancement to the quarter-finals, where they fell to the Netherlands on penalties.[45] Edman received two yellow cards during the group stage, resulting in his suspension for the knockout match. Edman remained a key figure in Sweden's 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, starting all ten matches as the team topped their group. At the tournament in Germany, he started all four games, including the group stage 1–0 victory over Paraguay—secured by an early Henrik Larsson penalty—and draws against England (2–2) and Trinidad and Tobago (0–0), before Sweden's round-of-sixteen exit via a 2–0 defeat to hosts Germany.[5] His only international goal came on 26 March 2005 in a 3–0 World Cup qualifier win against Bulgaria, where he curled in a direct free kick from 25 yards in the 73rd minute to make it 2–0. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, sustained during a club match for Wigan Athletic in March 2008, sidelined Edman for the remainder of the season and caused him to miss UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.[46] He returned to international action with an appearance in a February 2009 friendly against Austria. Edman retired from international duty in August 2009 at age 30, attributing the decision to persistent injuries and a need to prioritize his club commitments; his 57 appearances ranked him among Sweden's most capped active defenders at the time.Personal life
Family
Erik Edman has been married to Hanna since 2006.[47] The couple met during his early professional career in Sweden and wed in a private ceremony.[47] Edman and Hanna have three children: son Elias (born 2006), daughter Nora (born 2008), and daughter Matilda (born 2010).[48] The family relocated multiple times to support his club career, including moves to the Netherlands, England, and France, before returning to Sweden in 2010.[49] During his severe knee injury in 2008, which sidelined him for 10 months, Edman credited time spent at home with Hanna and young Elias and Nora as a positive source of stability and support amid rehabilitation.[50][51] The family served as a key motivation for Edman's departure from Wigan Athletic in 2010, as Hanna was expecting their third child, allowing them to avoid further international relocation and settle back in Sweden.[49] Post-retirement, the Edmans reside in an apartment in Helsingborg, maintaining a low-profile life away from media attention.[48] As of 2025, there have been no reports of divorce or separation.[48]Post-retirement
Edman retired from professional football in January 2013 at the age of 34, concluding his playing career with Helsingborgs IF after a contract extension from 2010.[2] Immediately following his retirement, he transitioned into a coaching role within Helsingborgs IF's organization, starting as part of the academy staff in early 2013.[52] In 2015, he served as head coach for the club's U19 team for one year, focusing on youth development in his hometown region of Skåne County, Sweden.[53] Between 2014 and 2016, Edman made occasional appearances as a guest pundit on Swedish television, providing analysis for Allsvenskan matches, and continued this role more regularly with C More until stepping away in June 2022 to prioritize family and coaching commitments in Helsingborg.[54][52] He also assisted in Helsingborgs IF's first team under manager Mattias Lindström prior to his TV departure, contributing to tactical preparations during the early 2020s.[52] Edman holds a UEFA Pro Licence, which he obtained post-retirement to support his coaching ambitions, though he has not pursued high-level head coaching positions.[8] From March 2018 to around 2019, he worked as an assistant manager at Eskilsminne IF, a lower-division club in the Helsingborg area, extending his contract in 2019 to aid in leadership development.[55][56] In May 2022, he took on the role of sporting director at Landskrona BoIS in the Swedish second tier, overseeing recruitment and strategy until transitioning to other opportunities.[57][58] By 2023, Edman had become head coach of Hittarps IK, an amateur team in Sweden's lower leagues, combining this with scouting duties for Helsingborgs IF to identify young Scandinavian talent.[8][59] In April 2025, he joined Aberdeen FC as a regional scout for Scandinavia, leaving his role at Hittarps IK, aiming to bridge talent pathways from Sweden to the Scottish Premiership.[58][9] As of November 2025, at age 47, Edman resides in Helsingborg with his family, keeping a relatively low public profile centered on scouting rather than major media or commercial ventures.[8][48]Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helsingborgs IF | 1998 | Allsvenskan | 24 | 0 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 1999 | Allsvenskan | 26 | 1 |
| Karlsruher SC (loan) | 1999–2000 | 2. Bundesliga | 8 | 0 |
| Torino (loan) | 1999–2000 | Serie A | 2 | 0 |
| AIK | 2001 | Allsvenskan | 14 | 0 |
| SC Heerenveen | 2001–02 | Eredivisie | 30 | 0 |
| SC Heerenveen | 2002–03 | Eredivisie | 23 | 0 |
| SC Heerenveen | 2003–04 | Eredivisie | 15 | 1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2004–05 | Premier League | 20 | 0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2005–06 | Premier League | 21 | 1 |
| Stade Rennais | 2006–07 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Stade Rennais | 2007–08 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 0 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2008–09 | Premier League | 6 | 0 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2009–10 | Premier League | 5 | 0 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 2010 | Allsvenskan | 29 | 0 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 2011 | Allsvenskan | 14 | 0 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 2012 | Allsvenskan | 8 | 0 |
| Helsingborgs IF | 2013 | Allsvenskan | 0 | 0 |
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2005 | 7 | 1 |
| Sweden | 2006 | 12 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2007 | 5 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| Sweden | 2009 | 2 | 0 |
