Martin Olsson

Blackburn Rovers

Olsson began his playing career in Sweden by playing for Högaborgs BK, where former national star Henrik Larsson began his career. Olsson was working his way through the youth setup at the club in 2005–06. His talent attracted the attention of football clubs in Europe and in January 2006 Premier League club Blackburn Rovers signed him for their youth academy. He made his Blackburn debut in the UEFA Cup qualifier in the 2007–08 season as a late substitution for Stephen Warnock. He made his Premier League debut against Derby County in a 2–1 victory on 30 December 2007, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Morten Gamst Pedersen at Pride Park, in front of a crowd of 30,048 spectators and the referee was Peter Walton. He was voted Blackburn's Young Player of the Year for the season 2007–08. In May 2008, Olsson signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Blackburn until June 2012. On 24 September 2008, Olsson scored his first Blackburn goal, scoring the winning goal in a League Cup tie against Everton. The goal turned out to be the only goal of the match. On 20 January 2010, he scored a spectacular overhead kick in a 6–4 League Cup semi-final defeat against Aston Villa in the 63rd minute at Villa Park. On 23 November 2009, Olsson was sent off for two yellow card offences on Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon. He scored his first Premier League goal on 10 February against Hull City at Ewood Park in a 1–0 victory. Olsson made his 25th league…

Club

As of match played 29 January 2025

International

As of match played 20 June 2023 Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Olsson goal.

Olsson has played several matches for Sweden's under 18 and under 21 national squads. He was selected to be part of the senior 23-man squad that would face Bosnia and Herzegovina on 29 May and Belarus on 2 June 2010. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Olsson put Sweden back in front from close range in the 68th minute, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, and added his second in the 82nd from Marcus Berg's center. On 6 September 2011, he made his first start for the national team, playing at left back, and scored Sweden's third goal in the 81st minute of the 5–0 victory over San Marino after a clever reverse pass by Zlatan Ibrahimović in a Group E Euro 2012 qualifying fixture. In May 2012, Olsson was named in the 23-man squad to compete for Sweden at UEFA Euro 2012 and was given the number 5 shirt. In May 2018 he was named in Sweden's 23 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Olsson was born in Gävle, Sweden, to a Swedish father and Kenyan mother. He has a twin brother, Marcus, who also is a professional footballer. His brother-in-law is former Dallas Mavericks basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, who is married to Martin's sister Jessica Olsson. His agent used to be the former Sweden international player Stefan Schwarz. Controversial agent Rune Hauge has also worked for Olsson, after being introduced to him by former Blackburn Rovers teammate Morten Gamst Pedersen.