Jonas Thern

Jonas Thern

Personal information
Full name	Jonas Magnus Thern
Date of birth	(1967-03-20) 20 March 1967
Place of birth	Falköping, Sweden
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1982–1985	Värnamo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1987	Malmö FF	41	(6)
1987	Zürich	2	(1)
1988–1989	Malmö FF	35	(5)
1989–1992	Benfica	100	(10)
1992–1994	Napoli	48	(1)
1994–1997	Roma	59	(3)
1997–1999	Rangers	23	(5)
Total		308	(31)
International career
1987–1997	Sweden	75	(6)
Managerial career
2000–2001	Värnamo
2002–2003	Halmstads BK
2010	Värnamo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jonas Magnus Thern (born 20 March 1967) is a Swedish football manager and former professional player who played as a midfielder between 1985 and 1999. Thern also earned 75 caps and scored six goals for Sweden between 1987 and 1997. He captained the Sweden squad that finished third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Thern's playing career took him from Malmö FF in Sweden to FC Zürich in Switzerland and further in Europe to Benfica in Portugal, Napoli and Roma in Italy and finally Rangers in Scotland where he finished his career. After his playing career Thern has coached his youth club IFK Värnamo for two periods, between 2000 and 2001 and 2010 as well as Halmstads BK between 2002 and 2003. He has also acted as a youth coach at IFK Värnamo, a sports commentator as well as a teacher.

Club career

Early career

Born and raised in the town of Värnamo in southern central Sweden, Thern started his professional career in 1985 when he joined the classic Swedish club of Malmö FF, where he stayed for four years, earning him two titles in the 1986 and 1988 Allsvenskan. In 1989, he won the Guldbollen as Sweden's Footballer of the Year.

In Europe

From there he moved to the continent to play for Benfica. He was part of a successful group of Scandinavian players that played for Benfica at the time, composed of Danish international Michael Manniche (1983–1987), and the Swedish "armada"; Mats Magnusson (1987–1992), Thern (1989–1992), Glenn Strömberg (1982–84) and Stefan Schwarz (1990–1994) alongside coach Sven-Göran Eriksson (1982–1984 and 1989–1992).

Thern went on to play for Napoli (1992–94), Roma (1994–97) and Rangers (1997–99), but his career was cut short by injuries.

International career

For Sweden, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992, and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Thern also competed for Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Thern was the Sweden captain for seven years, between 1990 and 1997.

International goals

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	12 January 1988	Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas	East Germany	2–1	4–1	Friendly
2.				4–1
3.	15 January 1988	Estadio Municipal de Maspalomas, Maspalomas	Finland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
4.	16 August 1989	Malmö Stadion, Malmö	France	1–0	2–4	Friendly
5.	27 May 1990	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Finland	6–0	6–0	Friendly
6.	4 September 1991	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Yugoslavia	4–2	4–3	Friendly

Coaching career

After he retired as a player he become head coach for IFK Värnamo between 2000 and 2001 and Halmstads BK 2001–2003.

He has also worked as a sports commentator and as a teacher.

Personal life

Jonas has a son, Simon, who is also a footballer currently playing for SC Heerenveen. He has also a daughter.

Career statistics

International

National team	Season	Apps	Goals
Sweden
	1987	2	0
	1988	10	3
	1989	8	1
	1990	4	1
	1991	6	1
	1992	9	0
	1993	4	0
	1994	11	0
	1995	6	0
	1996	8	0
	1997	7	0
Total		75	6

Honours and awards

Malmo FF

• Allsvenskan: Winner (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
• Allsvenskan play-off: Winner (1986, 1988)
• Svenska Cupen: Winner (1986, 1988)

S.L. Benfica

• Portuguese Liga: Winner (1990–91)
• Portuguese SuperCup: Winner (1989)
• European Cup: Runner-up (1989–90)

Rangers F.C

• Scottish Premier League: Winner (1998–99)

Sweden

• FIFA World Cup: Third place (1994)

Individual

• Guldbollen (Golden Ball): Winner, Best Swedish Player (1989)

External links

• Jonas Thern career statistics at Soccerbase

Sporting positions
Preceded by Glenn Hysén	Sweden Captain 1991–1997	Succeeded by Patrik Andersson