Kim Källström

Early career

Källström began his professional career with BK Häcken from Gothenburg. In his first season, the club gained promotion the Allsvenskan by winning the Division 1 Södra. Häcken were relegated to the Superettan in 2001, but Källström's eight Allsvenskan goals earned him a transfer to Djurgårdens IF for SEK5m.

Djurgårdens IF

In his first season at Djurgården, Källström won the double of the Allsvenskan and the national cup tournament Svenska Cupen, and was the team's top scorer with twelve league goals. The team defended its Allsvenskan title in 2003, with Källström's 14 goals making him the team's top goalscorer and the second-highest goalscorer in Sweden. He scored twice during the 2002–03 UEFA Cup, in fixtures against Shamrock Rovers and Copenhagen.

Rennes

In the January 2004 transfer window, Källström moved to the French Ligue 1 club Rennes. He made his debut for the club in the Coupe de France against Angers on 4 January and his first Ligue 1 appearance in a 2–0 defeat at Toulouse on 10 January. A week later, he scored his first goal in French football during a 4–0 win over Sochaux at the Route de Lorient. He ended the 2003–04 season with seven goals from 18 appearances, including two in a 4–1 away win against Champions League finalists Monaco. During the 2004–05 season, Källström scored five times in 31 Ligue 1 matches to help Rennes finish fourth and qualify for the following season's UEFA Cup. On 5 February 2005, he received his…

Källström made his international debut in 2001 against Finland. He made the Swedish squad for the UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, and UEFA Euro 2012 tournaments. He also scored Sweden's first goal in the 3–2 win over the Netherlands to take the Blågult to Euro 2012. In a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Germany on 16 October 2012, Källström was brought on as a substitute for Pontus Wernbloom at half time with Sweden losing 3–0. Despite conceding another goal, with three assists from him, Sweden earned a 4–4 draw. In the return match against Germany, Källström comforted Max, a team mascot who suffers from Williams Syndrome, and a photo of this went viral on social media. Max's father Emil wrote to Källström, expressing his thanks. He said: "Because of your actions, Kim, my son could experience precisely the same emotions as everyone else who has been a mascot: pride, a sense of being special, 'I did it' and an immense joy." Källström retired from the national team after Euro 2016, having amassed 131 caps, scoring 16 goals. He is Sweden's fourth most capped player.

A central midfielder who could also play on the left side of midfield as a wide midfielder, Källström had the potential to work as a deep-lying playmaker or as a more attacking influence. He was also known for his left-footed free kick ability.

Källström was born in Sandviken 24 August 1982 to footballer Mikael and Ann Källström. In 1989, he joined the local Sandvikens IF football team. In 1990, the family moved to Partille outside Gothenburg and Källström started to play for the local club Partille IF. When Källström was 17 years old he had a trial with Dutch club PSV.