Simon Olsson

Early career

Born in Linköping, Olsson started with local team IK Östria Lambohov at the age of seven or eight, where his father and older brother also played. He then moved to Karle IF, where he met fellow footballer Mohanad Jeahze. After Karle IF, he joined AFK Linköping in the fifth division, which was a newly formed merger club consisting of his former team IK Östria Lambohov and BK Kenty. He attracted interest from many Swedish teams, and trained with the likes of Jönköpings Södra IF and AIK, but chose to move to the youth team of Allsvenskan side IF Elfsborg in 2014 following a successful trial.

Elfsborg

Youth

While playing for Elfsborg's youth team, Olsson attended the Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet and was accommodated at the Gula Kulan student dormitory. He won the 2014 U17 SM with Elfsborg, winning 3–0 in the final against IF Brommapojkarna on 25 October 2014. The team also made progress in the 2015–16 UEFA Youth League, but ultimately lost in the Round of 16 against Real Madrid. He secured an apprenticeship in 2016.

2016–2017: Breakthrough

Following his successful stint in the youth team, Olsson made his senior debut in a cup match against IK Gauthiod that finished in a 7–0 victory for Elfsborg, coming on for Simon Lundevall. His Allsvenskan debut came on 18 September 2016, starting in a 5–0 victory against Falkenbergs FF. After two more starts in the Allsvenskan he was promoted permanently to the senior team on 30 September and…

Olsson made his national team debut for the Sweden U17 on 22 April 2014, in a 3–1 win over Belgium. After making another appearance, in a 2–1 win against Belgium again, he was called to a Sweden U19 camp in Bosön in June. He scored his first international goal with the U19 on 18 September, in a 1–1 draw against Slovakia. He was called up to the Sweden U21 in 2017 but had to withdraw and miss the U21 European Championship qualifiers due to injury. A few weeks after the passing of his father, in March 2024, Olsson received the news that he was selected for the senior Sweden national team to play in upcoming friendlies. He made his debut for the national team on 21 March 2024 in a friendly against Portugal, which finished 5–2 to Portugal. His first start came in another friendly on 25 March, in a 1–0 win against Albania.

Technical manager of Heerenveen Ferry de Haan said of Olsson, "He is a technically skilled, dynamic, and creative midfielder with good stamina, enabling him to regularly appear in the opponent's penalty area." Olsson has said he prefers to play as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a defensive or central midfielder.

Club

As of matches played 8 May 2025

International