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Viktor Claesson
Viktor Claesson
from Wikipedia

Viktor Johan Anton Claesson (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈvɪ̌kːtɔr ˈklɑ̌ːsɔn]; born 2 January 1992) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen, which he captains. He is known for his passing and set piece abilities.[2][3]

Key Information

A full international between 2012 and 2023, Claesson won 74 caps and scored 15 goals for the Sweden national team. He represented his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020.

Club career

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Early career

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Claesson started his career with local club IFK Värnamo. After progressing through the youth ranks, he made his senior debut in 2009 in a Division 1 Södra match. After a breakthrough campaign during the 2011 Superettan season, Claesson join IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan, the top division of Swedish football.

Krasnodar

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On 25 January 2017, Claesson signed a 3.5-year contract with Russian Premier League team FC Krasnodar.[4] He scored on his debut on 16 February 2017 in a 1–0 Europa League Round of 32 win against Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe, scoring a header on his first touch in any competitive Krasnodar game in the 4th minute. He was selected by UEFA as "Man of the Match".[5] He continued his form with two goals in a Russian Cup game against FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast on 28 February 2017[6] and a goal against Celta de Vigo in the first leg of Europa League Round of 16 on 9 March 2017.[7]

Claesson missed all of the 2019–20 season with a serious knee injury.[8]

2020–21 season

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Out of action for over 14 months, Claesson returned from injury on 18 August 2020, playing the last 15 minutes of Krasnodar's 2–0 home win over Arsenal Tula in the Russian Premier League.[8] On 18 September, he scored his first two goals since his return from injury in a 7–2 thrashing of Khimki.[9] Four days later, Claesson scored from the penalty spot in the club's first-leg play-off round match against PAOK for qualification to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[10] Krasnodar would win the second leg against PAOK by the same scoreline and secure progression to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.[11]

2021–22 season

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On 3 March 2022 Krasnodar announced that his contract was suspended and he would not train with the team, but the contract was not terminated and remained valid.[12] On 5 March 2022, his contract was terminated and he was released from the club.[13]

Copenhagen

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On 30 March 2022, Claesson signed with Copenhagen in Denmark until the end of the season.[14] On 3 April, he scored the winning goal in his debut match for the club after coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute.

On 16 June 2022, Claesson signed an extension with Copenhagen until 2026.[15]

International career

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In May 2018, Claesson was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[16] He was one of Sweden's main men for the duration of the tournament, in which the Blågult reached the quarterfinals.

In a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Spain on 10 June 2019, Claesson suffered a serious knee injury, rupturing the cruciate knee ligaments, after a clash with Jordi Alba.[8]

He was named in Sweden's UEFA Euro 2020 squad, and appeared in all four games as Sweden was eliminated in the round of 16 by Ukraine.[17] He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win against Poland in the group stage.[17] On 19 November 2023, Claesson registered one goal and one assist against Estonia in their 2–0 win in their European Qualifiers game.

In October 2025, he announced his retirement from the national team. He was capped 74 times and scored 15 goals.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 9 November 2025[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
IFK Värnamo 2009 Division 1 Södra 16 5 16 5
2010 Division 1 Södra 25 11 1 0 2 0 28 11
2011 Superettan 29 13 1 0 30 13
Total 70 29 2 0 2 0 74 29
IF Elfsborg 2012 Allsvenskan 27 5 0 0 6[b] 2 33 7
2013 Allsvenskan 23 3 3 0 8[c] 3 34 6
2014 Allsvenskan 26 5 7 2 6[b] 0 39 7
2015 Allsvenskan 29 11 5 3 6[b] 1 40 15
2016 Allsvenskan 29 8 3 2 32 10
Total 134 32 18 7 26 6 0 0 178 45
Krasnodar 2016–17 Russian Premier League 13 1 1 2 4[b] 2 18 5
2017–18 Russian Premier League 30 10 0 0 4[b] 2 34 12
2018–19 Russian Premier League 29 12 4 1 9[b] 2 42 15
2019–20 Russian Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21 Russian Premier League 24 6 1 0 8[d] 2 33 8
2021–22 Russian Premier League 18 3 2 0 20 3
Total 114 32 8 3 25 8 0 0 147 43
Copenhagen 2021–22 Danish Superliga 10 1 10 1
2022–23 Danish Superliga 30 13 7 3 8[e] 1 45 17
2023–24 Danish Superliga 26 5 4 0 11[e] 2 41 7
2024–25 Danish Superliga 28 6 6 1 11[f] 1 45 8
2025–26 Danish Superliga 14 3 1 1 9[e] 0 24 4
Total 108 28 18 5 39 4 165 37
Career total 426 121 46 15 90 18 2 0 564 154
  1. ^ Includes Svenska Cupen, Russian Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Two appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
Claesson playing for Krasnodar in 2017.

International

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As of match played 19 November 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Sweden 2012 2 1
2013 2 0
2014 0 0
2015 0 0
2016 3 0
2017 12 2
2018 14 1
2019 4 3
2020 5 1
2021 15 3
2022 8 2
2023 9 2
Total 74 15
As of match played 19 November 2023[21]
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Claesson goal.
List of international goals scored by Viktor Claesson
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 23 January 2012 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Qatar 2–0 5–0 Friendly [22]
2 28 March 2017 Estádio do Marítimo, Funchal, Portugal  Portugal 1–2 3–2 Friendly [23]
3 2–2
4 10 September 2018 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Turkey 2–0 2–3 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B [24]
5 23 March 2019 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Romania 2–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying [25]
6 26 March 2019 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Norway 1–2 3–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying [26]
7 7 June 2019 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Malta 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying [27]
8 17 November 2020 Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  France 1–0 2–4 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A [28]
9 25 March 2021 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Georgia 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [29]
10 23 June 2021 Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia  Poland 3–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2020 [30]
11 2 September 2021 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Spain 2–1 2–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [31]
12 24 September 2022 Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Serbia 1–0 1–4 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B [32]
13 19 November 2022 Stadion, Malmö, Malmö, Sweden  Algeria 2–0 2–0 Friendly [33]
14 9 September 2023 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 5–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying [34]
15 19 November 2023 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Estonia 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying [35]

Honours

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Viktor Johan Anton Claesson is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a left winger and serves as captain for FC Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga. Born on 2 January 1992 in Värnamo, Sweden, he stands at 1.83 meters tall and began his senior career with hometown club IFK Värnamo in 2009. Claesson's club career progressed significantly after joining in 2012, where he contributed to the team's title win that year and established himself as a key player with 178 appearances over five seasons. In January 2017, he transferred to in the for a reported fee of €2.5 million, scoring 43 goals and providing 31 assists in 147 matches during a five-year spell marked by consistent European competition participation, including the . Due to the 2022 , his contract was terminated, leading to a move to on 30 March 2022; there, he has since won three titles (2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25) and two Danish Cups (2022–23, 2024–25), becoming a pivotal figure with over 160 appearances. Internationally, Claesson debuted for the national team on 18 January 2012 against and went on to earn 74 caps, scoring 15 goals before announcing his retirement from international duty in October 2025. He represented at the , where he made five appearances, helping the team reach the round of 16. Claesson also featured in with four appearances and one goal, contributing to 's advancement from the group stage.

Club career

Early career

Viktor Claesson was born on 2 January 1992 in , , where he began playing football locally before joining the youth setup of in 2008. He made his professional debut for in 2009 at the age of 17, during the club's campaign in Division 1 Södra, the third tier of Swedish football. Over the next two seasons, Claesson progressed through the ranks, contributing to 's promotion to , 's second tier, after winning Division 1 Södra in 2010. Claesson's breakthrough came in the 2011 Superettan season, where he featured in 29 league appearances and scored 13 goals, playing a key role in the team's efforts to secure survival. finished 13th in the 16-team table with 39 points from 30 matches, avoiding relegation by a comfortable margin over the bottom two sides. In January 2012, Claesson transferred to club for a reported fee of around 1 million SEK (approximately €115,000), marking his move to the top flight of Swedish football. Across all competitions from 2009 to 2011 with , he recorded 71 appearances and 29 goals.

IF Elfsborg

Viktor Claesson joined on 1 January 2012 from , transitioning to the after a breakthrough season in the . His early development at laid the groundwork for his rapid adaptation to top-division football. In his debut season, Claesson quickly became integral to the squad, featuring in 27 matches and scoring 5 goals as clinched the 2012 league title—their sixth national championship—with a dramatic final-day draw against Åtvidabergs FF. This success marked his first major honor and highlighted his versatility as a winger and attacking . Claesson's impact continued in the 2014 Svenska Cupen, where he featured in the final against on 18 May, which Elfsborg won 1–0 at Friends Arena thanks to a by Lasse Nilsson, securing the club's third triumph. From 2012 to 2016, Claesson demonstrated reliability and growth, accumulating 134 appearances and 32 goals while contributing 26 assists, often delivering key moments in crucial fixtures. His consistent output helped Elfsborg maintain competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions, including Europa League qualifiers. Claesson's tenure concluded after the 2016 Allsvenskan season, with his last appearance a 2–2 draw versus on 31 October. On 25 January 2017, announced his signing for a €2 million fee, ending his five-year stint at Elfsborg where he had evolved into a player.

FC Krasnodar

Viktor Claesson joined from on 25 January 2017, signing a 3.5-year contract after passing a medical examination. He made his debut for the club on 16 February 2017 in the round of 32 first leg against Fenerbahçe, coming on as a substitute and scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory with a header from a Wanderson cross. In the 2017–18 Russian Premier League season, Claesson established himself as a key attacking , making 30 appearances and scoring 10 goals, contributing significantly to Krasnodar's fourth-place finish and qualification for the . His form continued into the 2018–19 campaign, where he featured in 29 league matches and earned selection to the 's "33 best players" list, recognizing his consistent performances. Claesson's progress was halted on 10 June 2019 during a match against , when he suffered an rupture in his knee following a collision, sidelining him for the entire 2019–20 season. He made a strong recovery and returned in the 2020–21 season, appearing in 25 league games and netting 6 goals while adapting to a more advanced role. The 2021–22 season proved brief for Claesson, limited to 7 appearances and 1 goal in the , as his contract was terminated on 5 March 2022 amid Russia's of ; he cited ethical concerns over continuing in the league. Over his five-year stint with from 2017 to 2022, Claesson made 147 appearances and scored 43 goals with 31 assists across all competitions. In European competitions, he accumulated 15 appearances and 4 goals in the and Europa League, including notable contributions in group stage campaigns.

FC Copenhagen

Viktor Claesson joined as a on 30 March 2022, signing a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season after leaving due to the . He made an immediate impact, debuting on 3 April 2022 in a match against AaB, where he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory. During the 2022–23 season, Claesson was appointed and played a pivotal role in the team's success, scoring 13 goals in the Superliga, including several decisive strikes that contributed to Copenhagen securing the 2022–23 league title and for a domestic double; he also featured in the 2021–22, 2023–24, and 2024–25 title wins. Following Viktor Fischer's departure, Claesson was named in July 2023, becoming the club's seventh Swedish skipper. On 16 June 2022, shortly after his arrival, he extended his contract with until June 2026, solidifying his commitment to the club. His leadership was evident during 's 2022–24 campaigns, where he provided crucial late goals in qualifiers, such as against in 2022, aiding the team's advancement to the group stage in 2022–23. Claesson has been praised for boosting team morale during these European runs, with club figures highlighting his resilience and positive influence on younger players amid high-pressure matches. In the 2024–25 season, he contributed key performances, including in the final 3–0 win over , helping secure the league title (the club's record 16th) and another domestic double. As of November 2025, he has made 165 appearances and scored 37 goals across all competitions for the club, including notable efforts in the 2025–26 Champions League qualifiers where he led the team to progression against . His experience from Russian football has been credited with enhancing his , aiding Copenhagen's sustained competitiveness in .

International career

Youth international career

Claesson earned his first call-up to the Sweden U17 national team in 2008, making two appearances without scoring during his time with the squad. He contributed to the team's efforts in the qualifiers for the , gaining early international exposure at the age of 16. Progressing to the Sweden U19 team, Claesson represented the side from 2010 to 2011, accumulating 3 appearances and scoring 1 goal. His performances included participation in the held in , where Sweden reached the group stage before exiting the tournament. Claesson's most significant youth international experience came with the Sweden U21 team between 2012 and 2014, where he made 20 appearances and netted 1 goal. He debuted for the U21s on 6 September 2012 in a friendly match against , marking a key step in his development. A highlight was his participation in the second leg of the playoff against on 19 November 2013, though Sweden lost 2–3 in that game and 2–4 on aggregate, failing to qualify for the finals. His strong form at during this period helped secure his selections for 's youth teams. Claesson's youth international career concluded in 2014, following his earlier senior debut in 2012.

Senior international career

Viktor Claesson made his senior debut for the Sweden national team on 18 January 2012 in a 1–0 friendly win against . He scored his first international goal on 8 January 2017 during a 1–2 friendly defeat to in , netting Sweden's consolation strike in the 59th minute. Over the following years, Claesson established himself as a reliable winger, contributing to Sweden's qualifying campaigns with his pace and crossing ability on the left flank. Claesson was included in Sweden's 23-man squad for the in , where he featured in all five matches, scoring three goals in the group stage—including against (18 June 2018), , and Mexico—helping Sweden top the group and advance to the round of 16, where they were eliminated 1–0 by . His tournament experience marked a significant step in his international maturation. At , delayed to 2021 due to the , Claesson appeared in all four of Sweden's matches, scoring a crucial injury-time winner against on 23 June 2021 that clinched a 3–2 victory and top spot in Group E. His low-driven shot in the 90+3rd minute from the edge of the box sealed advancement to the knockout stage, where Sweden fell to on penalties. However, his progress was halted by a severe ACL tear on 10 June 2019 during a 3–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying loss to Spain in Madrid, which sidelined him for over a year and forced him to miss key qualifiers. Claesson amassed 74 caps and 15 goals for between 2012 and 2023, with his final appearance coming on 19 November 2023 in a 2–0 win over , where he scored the opener. He notably captained the side in a 1–1 friendly draw against on 11 September 2021, demonstrating leadership during a transitional period for the team. On 16 October 2025, Claesson announced his retirement from international football, citing a desire to prioritize and club commitments at ; he was honored with the Stora Grabbars Märke award for surpassing 50 caps.

Career statistics

Club statistics

The following table presents Viktor Claesson's club career statistics across all competitions, broken down by season. League refers to domestic league matches (/ for , for , for ); Cups refers to domestic cup competitions (, Russian Cup, ); refers to (Champions League, Europa League, and qualifying rounds). Figures include appearances (goals, assists). Data is as of 18 November 2025.
SeasonClubLeagueCupsEuropeTotal
2010–11IFK Värnamo29 (13, 8)1 (0, 0)– (0, 0)30 (13, 8)
2011–12IF Elfsborg27 (5, 4)2 (0, 0)– (0, 0)29 (5, 4)
2012–13IF Elfsborg23 (3, 2)6 (0, 1)6 (2, 2)35 (5, 5)
2013–14IF Elfsborg26 (6, 1)6 (4, 1)8 (3, 2)40 (13, 4)
2014–15IF Elfsborg29 (11, 12)– (0, 0)6 (0, 0)35 (11, 12)
2015–16IF Elfsborg29 (8, 9)3 (2, 0)6 (1, 4)38 (11, 13)
2016–17FC Krasnodar13 (1, 3)1 (2, 1)4 (2, 0)18 (5, 4)
2017–18FC Krasnodar30 (10, 8)– (0, 0)4 (2, 0)34 (12, 8)
2018–19FC Krasnodar29 (12, 8)4 (1, 1)9 (2, 2)42 (15, 11)
2019–20FC Krasnodar30 (9, 6)2 (0, 0)2 (0, 0)34 (9, 6)
2020–21FC Krasnodar24 (6, 5)1 (0, 0)8 (2, 1)33 (8, 6)
2021–22FC Krasnodar18 (3, 2)2 (0, 0)– (0, 0)20 (3, 2)
2021–22FC Copenhagen10 (1, 3)– (0, 0)8 (0, 1)18 (1, 4)
2022–23FC Copenhagen21 (9, 4)7 (3, 1)8 (1, 1)36 (13, 6)
2023–24FC Copenhagen16 (4, 0)4 (0, 0)11 (2, 0)31 (6, 0)
2024–25FC Copenhagen20 (5, 5)6 (1, 1)11 (1, 2)37 (7, 8)
2025–26†FC Copenhagen3 (0, 0)1 (1, 0)9 (0, 1)13 (1, 1)
† Ongoing season. Club totals: Career totals: 526 appearances, 122 goals, 87 assists in all club competitions.

International statistics

Viktor Claesson earned 74 caps for the senior national team between his debut on 18 January 2012 and his final appearance on 19 November 2023, during which he scored 15 goals. He announced his retirement from international duty in October 2025. His senior international appearances are broken down by competition as follows:
CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssists
Friendlies2342
World Cup qualifiers1720
1431
European Championship qualifiers1152
503
410
Claesson scored one goal at , in 's 3–2 victory over . In his youth international career, Claesson made approximately 5 appearances for the Sweden U17 team with 0 goals, 12 appearances for the U19 team with 3 goals, and 18 appearances for the U21 team with 4 goals. As of his international retirement in October 2025, Claesson's overall international totals across youth and senior levels stood at 109 appearances and 22 goals.

Honours

Club honours

During his time with IF Elfsborg, Viktor Claesson contributed to two major domestic titles as a key in the squad. The team won the in 2012, with Claesson playing a pivotal role in their title-winning campaign, including scoring in crucial matches that helped secure the championship. In the 2013–14 , Elfsborg defeated 1–0 in the final to claim the trophy, with Claesson featuring prominently in the competition's stages. Claesson did not win any major honours during his stints with or , as neither club secured league or cup titles in the top divisions while he was there. At , where he joined in 2022 and later became , Claesson was instrumental in securing multiple titles. The club won the in the 2021–22 season, with Claesson making key contributions after arriving mid-campaign. They defended the title in 2022–23, with Claesson serving as during the successful run. claimed their third Superliga title in 2024–25, again under Claesson's captaincy, breaking a Danish record with their 16th league title after a 3–0 win over on the final day. In cup competitions, lifted the in 2022–23 with a 1–0 victory over AaB in the final, where Claesson played a role. They repeated the feat in 2025, defeating 3–0 to achieve a league and cup double, with Claesson captaining the side in the triumph. Overall, Claesson has collected seven major club honours across his career, often appearing in finals and providing on-field leadership, particularly in his later years at Copenhagen.

Individual honours

Viktor Claesson has earned recognition for his performances across various leagues and for the Sweden national team, though he has not received major global accolades such as Ballon d'Or nominations or FIFA rankings. During his time with IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan, Claesson shared the league's top assist provider title in 2015 with 10 assists, tying with Arnor Traustason of IFK Norrköping. In the , he was named among the 33 best players of the 2018–19 season by the , selected as one of the top left midfielders for his contributions to , where he scored 10 goals and provided 8 assists in 27 appearances. He was also named Swedish Midfielder of the Year in 2018. Internationally, Claesson received the Stora Grabbars Märke in 2018 from the , an honor awarded to male players for achieving at least 50 senior caps; at the time, he had earned 65 appearances. Claesson's playing style has been analyzed for its versatility by performance metrics platforms, with WhoScored highlighting his proficiency across central, left, and right midfield roles, as well as forward positions, including strengths in key passes, through balls, and a tendency to cut inside from the wings. Upon announcing his retirement from the national team in October 2025, after accumulating 74 caps and 15 goals, Claesson was honored in Swedish football media for his decade-long international career and consistent contributions, including key roles in and qualifications.

References

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