Christian Wilhelmsson

Christian Ulf Wilhelmsson (; born 8 December 1979), nicknamed Chippen, is a Swedish former footballer who played as a left winger.

After playing several seasons with Mjällby (three years), Stabæk (four) and Anderlecht (three), he played in quick succession for teams in France, Italy, England and Spain, before spending the better part of four years in the late 2000s in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal. Wilhelmsson then moved on to pastures new with Dubai Allstars. In January 2020 Wilhelmsson was named in the Dubai Allstars team of the Decade.

Wilhelmsson played 79 times with Sweden, representing the nation at the 2006 World Cup and in three European Championships.

Club career

Early years / Anderlecht
Born in Malmö, Wilhelmsson started his career with Mjällby AIF in 1997, playing in three second division seasons with the club. He then spent as many years in neighbouring Norway with Stabæk Fotball.

In the 2003 summer Wilhelmsson joined R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium, being an undisputed starter during his spell and scoring nine top division goals combined in the capital side's 2004 and 2006 league conquests.

Nantes and loans
In 2006, Wilhelmsson moved to French team FC Nantes. However, on 10 January of the following year, he joined A.S. Roma on loan until the end of the season, when the Italians had the option to buy for €3 million. He made his Serie A debut on 14 January against FC Messina,

He returned to Nantes, immediately starting seeking a new club following the Canaries' relegation from Ligue 1. Following speculation about a move to various Premier League clubs or Scottish club Celtic, he signed for Bolton Wanderers on a 12-month loan, with an option to make the deal permanent after 20 games.

He made 13 appearances all competitions comprised, mostly as a substitute, his debut coming in a 1–3 away defeat against Portsmouth – Wilhelmsson was instrumental in closing the club's signing of countryman Johan Elmander for a record transfer fee, for 2008–09.

He was again loaned by Nantes, this time moving to Spain and Deportivo de La Coruña on 30 January 2008. He played his first La Liga match against Getafe CF, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 home draw, and made his first start two rounds later, in a home fixture match against RCD Espanyol (2–0 home win).

Wilhelmsson scored his first goal for Depor on 1 March 2008, in a 2–1 home win against Sevilla FC, and finished the campaign firmly established in the side's starting XI – he would start in 13 of his league appearances – as the Galicians eventually finished ninth and qualified to the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Saudi Arabia
In 2008, Wilhelmsson signed a three-year contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal FC for about €9 million. He helped the club win the league title in his second year, scoring nine goals and making ten assists in 20 appearances; for his contributions he received the Player of the Season award, going on to win four additional major titles during his tenure, including two consecutive Saudi Crown Prince Cup where he scored in both finals.

Wilhelmsson spent the first half of 2011–12 on loan with Qatar's Al Ahli SC.

LA Galaxy
Wilhelmsson was announced as a LA Galaxy player on 5 September 2012. He scored in his Major League Soccer debut nine days later, in a 2–0 win against the Colorado Rapids.

Baniyas / Mjällby
On 14 January 2013, Wilhelmsson signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with Baniyas SC. After a spell with former club Mjällby, the 35-year-old officially announced his retirement. However, in August 2015, he came out of retirement to help the latter team retain their status in the Superettan, which was eventually not achieved.

International career
Gaining his first cap in 2001, Wilhelmsson represented Sweden at UEFA Euro 2004, Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, featuring in every one of the national team's four games in the latter tournament and starting in two.

On 4 September 2006 he was one of three international players sent home for breaking a curfew during a night out, the other two being Olof Mellberg and Zlatan Ibrahimović. In March 2011, he was involved in a training ground scuffle with the latter.

Wilhelmsson scored his first brace for Sweden in a Euro 2012 qualifier against San Marino on 6 September 2011 (5–0 away win), for his seventh and eighth international goals. He was also selected for the finals in Poland and Ukraine by manager Erik Hamren, collecting three bench appearances in an eventual group stage exit.

International goals

Personal life
Wilhelmsson married Russian-born model Oksana Andersson in May 2010, in Las Vegas. Aside from Swedish, he also speaks fluent English.

Club statistics

Honours

Club
Anderlecht
Belgian Pro League: 2003–04, 2005–06

Roma
Coppa Italia: 2006–07

Al-Hilal
Saudi Professional League: 2009–10, 2010–11
Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12

Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Cup: 2012

Baniyas
GCC Champions League: 2012–13

International
Sweden
King's Cup: 2003

Individual
Saudi Professional League: Silver Boot 2009–10, 2010–11

References

External links

Category:1979 births
Category:Living people
Category:Sportspeople from Malmö
Category:Swedish footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Footballers from Skåne County
Category:Association football wingers
Category:Allsvenskan players
Category:Superettan players
Category:Mjällby AIF players
Category:Eliteserien players
Category:Stabæk Fotball players
Category:Belgian First Division A players
Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players
Category:Ligue 1 players
Category:FC Nantes players
Category:Serie A players
Category:A.S. Roma players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:La Liga players
Category:Deportivo de La Coruña players
Category:Saudi Professional League players
Category:Al Hilal SFC players
Category:Qatar Stars League players
Category:Al Ahli SC (Doha) players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:LA Galaxy players
Category:UAE Pro League players
Category:Baniyas Club players
Category:Sweden international footballers
Category:Sweden under-21 international footballers
Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players
Category:UEFA Euro 2012 players
Category:Swedish expatriate footballers
Category:Expatriate footballers in Norway
Category:Expatriate footballers in Belgium
Category:Expatriate footballers in France
Category:Expatriate footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate footballers in England
Category:Expatriate footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:Expatriate footballers in Qatar
Category:Expatriate soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates