Viktor Claesson

Footballer

▸ Source: Wikidata

Viktor Claesson is a talented Swedish footballer known for his passing and set piece abilities.

He began his professional career with IFK Värnamo, making his senior debut in 2009.

Claesson joined IF Elfsborg in 2012, where he won the Allsvenskan title in his first year.

Based on: Wikidata

Biography

Early Life

Viktor Johan Anton Claesson, born in Sweden, is a professional footballer known for his skills as a midfielder and left winger. He began his football journey at a local club, IFK Värnamo, where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his senior debut in 2009. His early career was marked by a breakthrough season in 2011, which led to his transfer to IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top football division.

Club Career

Claesson's career took a significant turn when he signed with FC Krasnodar in January 2017. He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a Europa League match against Fenerbahçe, earning the title of "Man of the Match". Despite facing a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2019-20 season, he made a strong comeback, scoring multiple goals in the 2020-21 season. After a successful stint in Russia, Claesson moved to F.C. Copenhagen in 2022, where he continued to showcase his talent and leadership, eventually returning to IFK Värnamo in 2026.

International Career

On the international stage, Claesson has been a key player for the Sweden national team since 2012. He was part of the squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and played a crucial role in UEFA Euro 2020, scoring a vital goal against Poland. Over his international career, he earned 74 caps and scored 15 goals before announcing his retirement from the national team in October 2025. Claesson's contributions to Swedish football have been recognized with several individual honors, including the title of Swedish Midfielder of the Year in 2018.

Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed

Wikidata

Gallery

Career & Clubs

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 May 2026

International

As of match played 19 November 2023

As of match played 19 November 2023 Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Claesson goal.

▸ Source: Wikipedia

International career

In May 2018, Claesson was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 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. 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. He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win against Poland in the group stage. 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.

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Club career

Early career

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

On 25 January 2017, Claesson signed a 3.5-year contract with Russian Premier League team FC Krasnodar. 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". He continued his form with two goals in a Russian Cup game against FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast on 28 February 2017 and a goal against Celta de Vigo in the first leg of Europa League Round of 16 on 9 March 2017. Claesson missed all of the 2019–20 season with a serious knee injury.

2020–21 season

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. On 18 September, he scored his first two goals since his return from injury in a 7–2 thrashing of Khimki. 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.…

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Club: IF Elfsborg (2012–2016)
Club: IFK Värnamo (2008–2011)
Club: Sweden national under-17 football team (2009–2009)
Club: Sweden national under-19 football team (2009–2010)
Club: Sweden national under-21 football team (2011–2015)
Club: Sweden men's national football team (2012–2023)
Club: FC Krasnodar (2017–2022)
Club: F.C. Copenhagen (2022–2026)
Club: IFK Värnamo (2026–)
National team: Sweden

Legacy

Honours

Elfsborg

Allsvenskan: 2012 Svenska Cupen: 2013–14 Copenhagen

Danish Superliga: 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 Danish Cup: 2022–23 2024–25 Sweden

King's Cup: 2013 Individual

Allsvenskan top assist provider: 2015 Swedish Midfielder of the Year: 2018 Stor Grabb: 2018 Russian Premier League Left Winger of the Season: 2018–19

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Clubs

IFK Värnamo2026current
IFK Värnamo2008–2011
Sweden national under-17 football team2009–2009
Sweden national under-19 football team2009–2010
Sweden national under-21 football team2011–2015
IF Elfsborg2012–2016
Sweden men's national football team2012–2023
FC Krasnodar2017–2022
F.C. Copenhagen2022–2026

Played together with

Discussion

Opinions of fans — not verified facts.

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