Lennart Skoglund

Karl Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund (24 December 1929 – 8 July 1975) was a Swedish footballer who played as left winger.

He began his career in his home country with Hammarby IF, but later played for several Italian clubs, most notably Inter Milan, with whom he won two Serie A titles over nine years.

One of the most renowned Swedish players, Skoglund was particularly known for his dribbling ability.

Lennart Skoglund was born on Christmas Eve 1929 at Allmänna BB in the affluent Östermalm district of Stockholm, but grew up in a working-class home in the Södermalm district.

He lived together with his parents, Josef and Linnéa, and two brothers, Georg and Karl-Evert, in a small apartment.

Lennart Skoglund graduated elementary school from Katarina södra, not far from his childhood home.

At a young age, he showed talent in sports and exercised bandy, ice hockey and handball.

He also played handball in the Swedish top tier for IK Göta.

His footballing career would however start in 1943 at the local club BK Stjärnan.

Since the club got dissolved soon after his arrival, Skoglund enjoyed a short stint at another local club called Sport-Ham, before joining Hammarby IF in 1944.

At age 14, he regularly featured in the eldest youth team, where a Hammarby official described him as a "trickster with the fastest feet we've ever seen on Södermalm".

On 5 June 1946, Lennart Skoglund made his senior debut for Hammarby, who by then competed in the Swedish third tier, in a friendly against the Finnish club Sudet.

Aged 16, he made 11 competitive appearances during the season as the club finished at the foot of Division 2 Östra.

In a friendly against then domestic giants Degerfors IF during the spring of 1947, Skoglund received much praise from constantly outshining his opponent Olle Åhlund – a Swedish international – on the left flank.

At this time in his life, Skoglund also received the famous nickname "Nacka" due to the presence of another player with the same name at Hammarby.

The origin of his moniker is however disputed.

Some sources claim Skoglund got dubbed as "Nacka" since he had been playing football in the Stockholm-outskirt Nacka during the winters.

Others say it derives from the fact that his older brother Georg "Jojje" Skoglund represented the club Nacka FF, whilst some consider it as a homage to his father's profession as a gardener in said area.

Skoglund played his last game for Hammarby on 19 October 1949, against Västerås SK in Division 3 Östra.

Across four seasons with Hammarby, Skoglund would appear 57 times in the lower leagues.

In October 1949, he was controversially sold to rivals AIK due to the sad financial situation at Hammarby.

The fee, it is said, was 1,000 Swedish kronor (around 70 pounds sterling) plus a rug, a coat for his mother and a tailored suit.

Immediately after his arrival he joined up with his new side on a friendly tour in England.

Then Liverpool manager, George Kay was impressed by Skoglund and told the press that "this kid going to be great".

In addition to his success at club level, Skoglund was a member of the Swedish teams that finished third in the 1950 FIFA World Cup and second in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

His competitive debut for AIK would however be postponed, since Skoglund executed the compulsory Swedish military service during the spring of 1950.

Skoglund managed to win a domestic title during his brief stint at AIK.

The club won the 1950 Svenska Cupen as they claimed a 3–2 win over Helsingborgs IF on home turf, Råsunda Stadium, in the final on 24 July 1950.

On 30 July 1950, Skoglund made his first appearance in Allsvenskan for AIK in a match against Malmö FF.

He also scored in a 3-1–win against A.C. Milan in a friendly on home turf not much later.

These performances led to Skoglund being called up to Pressens lag – a team picked by journalists – which were to face the Swedish national football team in a friendly on 18 May 1950.

Skoglund scored a brace in the game and impressed national team manager Putte Kock enough to get called up to the 1950 FIFA World Cup which took place between 24 June 1950 and 16 July 1950 in Brazil.

Skoglund only managed to make five appearances for AIK in the 1950–51 Allsvenskan, when the club for the first time in its history got relegated from the top tier.

Impressed by his performances during the 1950 World Cup, the Brazilian club São Paulo FC offered 10,000 dollars for him, but the price was considered too low by AIK.

During the fall of 1950, Skoglund got sold to the Italian giants Inter Milan in a deal reportedly worth 12 million lire, or 6,860 pounds.

Upon his arrival in Milan in October said year, he was greeted by 2,000 supporters of the club.

Skoglund made his debut in the Serie A in a 5-1–win against Sampdoria.

Weeks later, he scored a brace in the Derby della Madonnina as Inter Milan won 3–2 against A.C. Milan.

In 29 appearances during his first season, he scored 12 goals as Inter finished a point behind their city rivals at the top of the table.

After the successful start in Italy, Skoglund soon established himself as a key player at Inter Milan as the club won the Serie A in both 1952–53 and 1953–54.