Kurt Hamrin

Kurt Hamrin
Hamrin in 1970
Personal information
Full name Kurt Roland Hamrin
Date of birth (1934-11-19)19 November 1934
Place of birth Stockholm, Sweden
Date of death 4 February 2024(2024-02-04) (aged 89)
Place of death Florence, Italy
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1946–1947 Huvudsta IS
1947–1948 Råsunda IS
1949–1951 AIK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1955 AIK 62 (54)
1956–1957 Juventus 23 (8)
1957–1958 Padova 30 (20)
1958–1967 Fiorentina 289 (150)
1967–1969 AC Milan 36 (9)
1969–1971 Napoli 22 (3)
1971–1972 IFK Stockholm 10 (5)
Total 472 (249)
International career
1953 Sweden U21 1 (1)
1953–1965 Sweden 32 (17)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Sweden
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 1958 Sweden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kurt Roland "Kurre" Hamrin (Swedish: [ˈkɵʈː hamˈriːn]; 19 November 1934 – 4 February 2024) was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a winger. He began his career in his home country with AIK, but later played for several Italian clubs, most notably Fiorentina, with whom he won two Coppa Italia titles, a Cup Winners' Cup, and a Mitropa Cup over nine years, making over 350 appearances for the club and scoring over 200 goals in all competitions. He also represented AC Milan, with whom he won a Serie A title and the European Cup. A prolific goalscorer, he is currently the eighth highest goalscorer of all time in Italy's Serie A, with 190 goals.[1]

In addition to his success at club level, Hamrin also had a successful international career, and was a member of the Sweden team that reached the 1958 FIFA World Cup final on home soil; he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest Swedish footballers of all time[2] as well as one of Fiorentina's greatest players ever.[1]

Club career

Hamrin first played for AIK in Sweden, whom he joined in the 1952–53 season. He then joined Italian side Juventus in 1956 and played 23 games during his single season there, notching eight goals. After that one season, he joined Padova on loan, where he scored 20 goals in 30 games. He would only stay there for one season again, however, as he was sold to Fiorentina in 1958, where he stayed until 1967, playing 289 Serie A games and scoring 150 goals. While at Fiorentina, he won the Coppa Italia in 1961 and 1966, as well as the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup (finishing the competition as the top-scorer with six goals, including one in the second leg of the final, a 2–1 home victory over Rangers), and the 1966 Mitropa Cup. Hamrin is commonly regarded as one of Fiorentina's greatest ever players, and is the team's all-time highest goalscorer, with 208 goals. He joined AC Milan in 1967 and played there for two seasons, winning the league title in 1968; he also scored both goals for Milan as they overcame Hamburg 2–0 in the 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup final. The following season, the team won the European Cup. His final Italian club was Napoli, whom he joined from Milan in 1969. In 1971, he returned to Sweden, playing one season for IFK Stockholm before retiring in 1972.

International career

Hamrin played 32 times for Sweden between 1953 and 1965, scoring 17 goals. Most Swedes remember him best for the goal he scored against West Germany in the semi-finals of the 1958 FIFA World Cup on home soil. The goal allowed Sweden to win the match 3–1, and secure a place in the final against Brazil, where they were defeated 5–2.

After retirement and death

Hamrin being interviewed by C More Sweden in July 2015.

After his retirement as a footballer, Hamrin moved to Florence with his family. He also worked as scout for AC Milan from 1998 to 2008.[3]

Hamrin died on 4 February 2024, at the age of 89.[4] He was the last surviving player from either the Swedish and Brazilian sides who participated in the 1958 World Cup final.[5]

Style of play

Hamrin was a fast, creative, elegant, and technically skilled right winger, who was gifted with outstanding pace, as well as good vision, and opportunism in front of goal. A direct and efficient two-footed player, he was known in particular for his flair, as well as his incredible dribbling and striking ability with either foot, and stood out for his ability to utilise his speed to get past his opponents; he was also capable of beating players in one-on-one situations with elaborate moves and feints, such as the nutmeg. Moreover, he was a highly prolific goalscorer. Despite his playing ability, however, he was also known to be injury-prone.[1][6]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[7]
National team Year Apps Goals
Sweden 1953 3 1
1954 8 5
1955 9 4
1956 0 0
1957 0 0
1958 5 4
1959 0 0
1960 0 0
1961 0 0
1962 1 0
1963 1 0
1964 3 3
1965 2 0
Total 32 17
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hamrin goal.
List of international goals scored by Kurt Hamrin
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 15 November 1953 Nepstadion, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 2–2 2–2 Friendly [8]
2 4 June 1954 Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden  Finland 5–0 6–0 Friendly [9]
3 7 June 1954 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  Norway 3–0 3–0 Friendly [10]
4 15 August 1954 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1–0 10–1 1952–55 Nordic Football Championship [11]
5 9–1
6 10–1
7 15 June 1955 Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden  Romania 2–0 4–1 Friendly [12]
8 4–0
9 16 October 1955 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark 3–3 3–3 1952–55 Nordic Football Championship [13]
10 20 November 1955 Estadio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal  Portugal 1–0 6–2 Friendly [14]
11 12 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  Hungary 1–0 2–1 1958 FIFA World Cup [15]
12 2–0
13 19 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  Soviet Union 1–0 2–0 1958 FIFA World Cup [16]
14 24 June 1958 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden  West Germany 3–1 3–1 1958 FIFA World Cup [17]
15 13 May 1964 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  Soviet Union 1–1 1–1 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying quarter-finals [18]
16 27 May 1964 Lenin Stadium, Moscow, Soviet Union  Soviet Union 2–1 3–1 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying quarter-finals [19]
17 4 November 1964 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany  West Germany 1–1 1–1 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification [20]

Honours

Fiorentina

AC Milan

Sweden

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c Bovolenta, Germano (8 May 2005). "Quando Uccellino era Hamrin". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  2. ^ "10 Best Swedish Soccer Players of All Time". Soccer Mavericks. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Vi ricordate Hamrin? Noi vi diciamo come vive" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport – Stadio. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  4. ^ "È morto Kurt Hamrin, addio alla leggenda della Fiorentina". La Nazione (in Italian). 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Hamrin, 1958 World Cup final's last survivor, dies". BBC Sport. 4 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Hamrin è stato consigliato da un minatore italiano in Svezia". La Stampa Sera (in Italian). 24 May 1956.
  7. ^ "Kurt Hamrin SvFF Spelarstatistik". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Ungern - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Sweden - Finland, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Sverige - Norge, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Finland - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Sweden - Rumänien, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Danmark - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Portugal - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Sverige - Ungern, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Sverige - Sovjet, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Sverige - Västtyskland, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Sverige - Sovjet, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Sovjet - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Västtyskland - Sverige, SvFF". www.svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  21. ^ Jarek Owsianski; Davide Rota (18 December 2013). "Cup Winners Cup Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  22. ^ "FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  23. ^ "The Best of The Best" Archived 26 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 17 November 2015
  24. ^ "UEFA President attends Swedish awards". uefa.com. UEFA. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  25. ^ "IV Hall of Fame Viola: Toldo, Chiarugi e non solo entrano nella galleria degli onori" (in Italian). violanews.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  26. ^ Matteo Magrini (23 August 2016). "Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta" (in Italian). Fiorentina.it. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

External links

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