{{Short description|Swedish footballer (born 1965)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Anders Limpar | image = Anders Limpar*.jpg | caption = Limpar playing for the Sweden national team | fullname = Anders Erik Limpár | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|9|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Solna, Sweden | height = 1.72 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | years1 = 1981–1986 | clubs1 = Brommapojkarna | caps1 = 77 | goals1 = 20 | years2 = 1986–1988 | clubs2 = Örgryte | caps2 = 47 | goals2 = 9 | years3 = 1988–1989 | clubs3 = Young Boys | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 7 | years4 = 1989–1990 | clubs4 = Cremonese | caps4 = 24 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 1990–1994 | clubs5 = Arsenal | caps5 = 96 | goals5 = 17 | years6 = 1994–1997 | clubs6 = Everton | caps6 = 67 | goals6 = 5 | years7 = 1997 | clubs7 = Birmingham City | caps7 = 4 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 1998–1999 | clubs8 = AIK | caps8 = 22 | goals8 = 2 | years9 = 1999–2000 | clubs9 = Colorado Rapids<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0780672.html |title=Colorado Rapids 1998/99 players stats |work=Infoplease.com |access-date=12 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0877550.html |title=Colorado Rapids 1999/2000 players stats |work=Infoplease.com |access-date=12 September 2007}}</ref> | caps9 = 36 | goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2000 | clubs10 = Djurgården | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2001–2002 | clubs11 = Brommapojkarna | caps11 = 19 | goals11 = 3 | totalcaps = 419 | totalgoals = 69 | nationalyears1 = 1981–1982 | nationalteam1 = Sweden U17 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 3 | nationalyears2 = 1983–1984 | nationalteam2 = Sweden U19 | nationalcaps2 = 22 | nationalgoals2 = 6 | nationalyears3 = 1984–1988 | nationalteam3 = Sweden U21/O | nationalcaps3 = 30 | nationalgoals3 = 4 | nationalyears4 = 1987–1996 | nationalteam4 = Sweden | nationalcaps4 = 58 | nationalgoals4 = 6 | manageryears1 = | managerclubs1 = | medaltemplates = {{MedalTeam|{{fb|SWE}}}} {{MedalCompetition |FIFA World Cup}} {{MedalBronze|1994|}} }} '''Anders Erik Limpár''' ({{IPA|sv|ˈanːdɛʂ ˈlɪmˌpɑːr}}; born 24 September 1965) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.<ref name=11v11 /><ref name=WF /><ref name=Toffees />
Limpar featured for the clubs IF Brommapojkarna, Young Boys, Cremonese, Arsenal, Everton, Birmingham City, AIK, Colorado Rapids and Djurgårdens IF during a career that spanned between 1981 and 2002.<ref name="WF">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe42450/anders-limpar/|title=Anders Limpar: Profile|website=World Football.net}}</ref>
A full international between 1987 and 1996, Limpar was capped 58 times by Sweden, scoring 6 goals altogether.<ref name="11v11">{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/anders-limpar-37097/|title=Anders Limpar: Stats|website=11 v 11.com}}</ref> He represented Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, as well as the 1994 FIFA World Cup where Sweden finished third.
In 1991, he was awarded Guldbollen as Sweden's best footballer of the year.
==Club career==
===Early career=== Born in Solna with Hungarian roots, Limpar started playing football in Brommapojkarna, famous for its production of footballing talent. He then played for Örgryte, joining in the wake of its sensational Swedish championship title in 1985. Limpar quickly became one of the hottest properties in Swedish football, and as so he was offered the chance to journey to Switzerland with Bern club Young Boys. He followed this up in a one-season spell in Italy with Cremonese during the 1989–90 season. That season Limpar was named Serie A's third best foreign player behind Diego Maradona and Lothar Matthäus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=fotbollskanalen |url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/lundhs-podcast/limpar-prisades-jamte-maradona-och-matthaus-trots-att-laget-akte-ur-galet-hu/}}</ref>
===Arsenal=== His club career peaked when he signed for Arsenal on 8 July 1990 from Cremonese for £1m.<ref name=SportingHeroes>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/arsenal-fc/anders-limpar-4889/league-appearances_a16176/|title=Anders Limpar|website=Sporting Heroes.net}}</ref> Limpar quickly impressed in the Makita Tournament at Wembley and made his League debut in the 3–0 win at Wimbledon 25 August 1990. He went on to win the league title in the 1990–91 season.<ref name=Special>{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/premier-league/arsenal/451056-the-sublime-swede-whatever-happened-to-anders-limpar.html|title=The Sublime Swede: Whatever happened to Anders Limpar?|website=Vavel.com|date=15 February 2015 }}</ref><ref name=Snapshot>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/content/history/timeline-detailed-content/snapshot-anders-limpar|title=Snapshot: Anders Limpar|website=Everton FC.com|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922194919/http://www.evertonfc.com/content/history/timeline-detailed-content/snapshot-anders-limpar|archive-date=22 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Limpar was also involved in the brawl against Manchester United 20 October 1990 and scored the only goal of the game. He played a particularly notable part in the 1990–91 season, scoring some important goals, and impressing in his first season with exciting wing play and crowd-pleasing displays. These included a hat-trick against Coventry City in a 6–1 win on the final day of the league season, by which time Arsenal were already champions. He managed a total of 13 goals that season, with 11 of them coming in the league.<ref name=Feature>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20161026/anders-limpar|title=Anders Limpar: Feature|website=Arsenal.com}}</ref><ref name=SportingHeroes />
He won the Guldbollen{{snd}}Sweden's Player of the Year award{{snd}}in 1991.<ref name="Guldbollen" />
In the season 1991–92, Limpar was in and out of the side. A jaw injury kept him out for several weeks but he still netted some spectacular goals including a 40 yard chip in Arsenals 4–0 win over Liverpool on 20 April 1992.<ref>Arsenal Official Handbook 1992-93.</ref> A succession of knocks hampered him the following season, and he sat on the sidelines injured for Arsenal's 1993 wins in both the League and the FA Cups. He and manager George Graham eventually fell out and with his contract due to come to an end in May 1994, Limpar, who was seeking a new deal at the club, was not offered one by Graham.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jun/26/anders-limpar-george-graham-iraq|title=Playing for George Graham was like living in Iraq, says Anders Limpar|website=The Guardian.com|date=26 June 2012 |last1=Christenson |first1=Marcus }}</ref> Limpar played his last match with Arsenal against Southampton 19 March 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 August 2021|title=premierleague|url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/813}}</ref> Limpar scored 20 goals from 116 appearances for Arsenal where he was popular with the fans, particularly for his performances in the title winning season.
===Everton=== On transfer deadline day<ref name="Football: Peacock goes but Francis stays: Mixed day at Queen's Park Rangers while Limpar joins Everton and Beagrie hops to City">{{cite news |title=Football: Peacock goes but Francis stays: Mixed day at Queen's Park Rangers while Limpar joins Everton and Beagrie hops to City |first=Trevor |last=Haylett |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-peacock-goes-but-francis-stays-mixed-day-at-queens-park-rangers-while-limpar-joins-everton-and-beagrie-hops-to-city-1431375.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-peacock-goes-but-francis-stays-mixed-day-at-queens-park-rangers-while-limpar-joins-everton-and-beagrie-hops-to-city-1431375.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Independent |date=25 March 1994 |access-date=15 November 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in March 1994, Limpar transferred to Everton for £1.6 million.<ref name="Football: Peacock goes but Francis stays: Mixed day at Queen's Park Rangers while Limpar joins Everton and Beagrie hops to City"/><ref name=vavel /> Limpar has revealed how he told reporters on the day he signed for Arsenal 1990, that he supported Everton.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=limpar-the-day-i-joined-arsenal-i-told-reporters-i-was-an-evertonian |url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1244314/limpar-the-day-i-joined-arsenal-i-told-reporters-i-was-an-evertonian}}</ref>
He made his debut for Everton in a home defeat (1–0 to Tottenham Hotspur) on 26 March 1994. Limpar won a crucial penalty for Everton in the final day victory over Wimbledon in 1994, which preserved Everton's Premiership status.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 August 2021|title=untold-story-behind-everton-|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/untold-story-behind-everton-3-16233082}}</ref>
Whilst playing for the Toffees he won the FA Cup for the first time in 1995.<ref name="Snapshot" /> Limpar went on to play a vital role in the Cup final at Wembley, with a run from inside his own half leading to Everton's winning goal being scored by Paul Rideout. He also hit a memorable 50-yard reverse-pass which led to an Everton break-away that BBC commentator Barry Davies described as the 'pass of the match'.<ref name="Toffees">{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/anders-limpar-evertonian--cup-3390668|title=Anders Limpar is an Evertonian – and Cup medal donation proves it|website=Liverpool Echo.co.uk|date=3 May 2013 }}</ref> He also won the 1995 FA Charity Shield with Everton,<ref name=Eurosport /> but eventually fell out of favour at Goodison Park after 1995–96, making only two appearances for the club during the 1996–97 season.
===Birmingham City=== On 20 January 1997, Limpar was signed by Birmingham City for a fee of £100,000.<ref name="Profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/home.sd?search=Anders+Limpar&type=playerAll |title=Anders Limpar career stats |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="Boro given final piece of fixture jigsaw">{{cite news |title=Boro given final piece of fixture jigsaw |first=Ian |last=Davies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boro-given-final-piece-of-fixture-jigsaw-1267535.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boro-given-final-piece-of-fixture-jigsaw-1267535.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |location=London |work=The Independent |date=16 April 1997 |access-date=3 March 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He made his league debut on 1 February 1997, in a 2–1 away defeat against Bolton Wanderers.<ref name="Profile"/> The move proved to be unfruitful, as he made only four appearances, before the club later ended his stay in April 1997.<ref name="Boro given final piece of fixture jigsaw"/>
===Later career=== Moving back to Sweden on a free transfer to AIK in the summer of 1997, he won the Allsvenskan title in 1998.<ref name=Eurosport>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/anders-limpar_prs200810/person.shtml|title=Anders Limpar|website=Eurosport.com}}</ref> After two years in Stockholm, he signed for Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids in February 1999 where he stayed until November 2000. He then returned to Sweden to sign for Djurgårdens IF. However he failed to make an appearance for them and shortly went on to IF Brommapojkarna, where he started his club career. He eventually retired from the game in March 2001 at the age of 35, due to persistent injuries.<ref name="Special"/>
At the age of 56 Anders made a comeback for Hede IK in the Swedish Division 5 and scored a goal from half the football field.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anders Limpar målskytt från halvplan i division 5|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/dnLKBO|access-date=23 September 2021|website=www.aftonbladet.se|date=23 September 2021 |language=sv}}</ref>
==International career== In total, Limpar won 58 caps for Sweden, scoring 6 goals between 1987 and 1996. He was a member of one of the most successful Sweden squads ever, the team that finished third at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Limpar was assumed to be a starting player for Sweden before the tournament, but manager Tommy Svensson preferred the more defensive-minded Jesper Blomqvist in the opening game against Cameroon, and later moved Tomas Brolin into Limpar’s preferred left wing position. Limpar did not play a large role during the tournament, making just one substitute appearance, in the 3rd-place match.<ref name=11v11 /><ref name="WorldCup">{{cite web |title=World Cup 1994: Match for third place |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=3460/match=3103/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223035029/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=3460/match=3103/index.html |archive-date=23 February 2015 |website=FIFA.com}}</ref> He also represented Sweden at the 1988 Summer Olympics, 1990 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 1992.<ref name=":0" />
==Coaching career== Limpar began coaching the youth team at Djurgårdens IF. He was later appointed assistant manager for the Swedish second division team Sollentuna United.<ref name=Toffees /> In October 2008, aged 43, he played a one-off game for Sollentuna United's reserve side in the position of left back.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evertonfc.co.uk/news/archive/snapshot-anders-limpar.html |title=Snapshot: Anders Limpar |work=Everton F.C. official website |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=9 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802161110/http://www.evertonfc.co.uk/news/archive/snapshot-anders-limpar.html |archive-date=2 August 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life== After retiring from football in 2001, Limpar opened a bar, ''The Limp Bar'', in central Stockholm, although it has since closed.<ref name=vavel>{{cite web|last1=Bletsoe|first1=Dai|title=The Sublime Swede: Whatever happened to Anders Limpar?|url=http://www.vavel.com/en/football/premier-league/arsenal/451056-the-sublime-swede-whatever-happened-to-anders-limpar.html|website=vavel.com|publisher=Vavel|access-date=16 August 2015|date=15 February 2015}}</ref> In 2012 Limpar, together with colleague Mikael Crona, founded Swedish company Super Lock which produces plastic boxes. He currently is the CEO of betting site BestBetToday.com.<ref name=vavel />
== Career statistics ==
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Anders Limpar - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/anders-limpar/f9dc5e03-5147-411d-8f34-d80e7b6529ac/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="10" |Sweden |1987 |8 |1 |- |1988 |4 |0 |- |1989 |6 |0 |- |1990 |6 |1 |- |1991 |5 |2 |- |1992 |10 |1 |- |1993 |5 |0 |- |1994 |8 |0 |- |1995 |1 |0 |- |1996 |5 |1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !58 !6 |}
: ''Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Limpar goal''.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+List of international goals scored by Anders Limpar ! scope="col" |No. ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Venue ! scope="col" |Opponent ! scope="col" |Score ! scope="col" |Result ! scope="col" |Competition ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | align="center" |1 |18 April 1987 |Central Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Soviet Union |{{fb|SOV}} | align="center" |1–0 | align="center" |3–1 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sovjet - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sovjet-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568849/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |- | align="center" |2 |27 June 1990 |Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden |{{fb|FIN}} | align="center" |2–0 | align="center" |6–0 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Finland - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-finland-landskamper-herr-senior/1569060/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |- | align="center" |3 |8 August 1991 |Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway |{{fb|NOR}} | align="center" |2–1 | style="text-align:center" |2–1 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norge - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/norge-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1569145/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |- | align="center" |4 |4 September 1991 |Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden |{{fb|YUG}} | align="center" |2–1 | align="center" |4–3 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Jugoslavien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-jugoslavien-landskamper-herr-senior/1569154/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |- | align="center" |5 |11 November 1992 |Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel |{{fb|ISR}} | align="center" |1–0 | align="center" |3–1 |1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/israel-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1569242/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |- | align="center" |6 |16 May 1996 |Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul, South Korea |{{fb|KOR}} | align="center" |2–0 | align="center" |2–0 |Friendly |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sydkorea - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sydkorea-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1569536/|access-date=20 April 2021|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref> |}
==Honours== thumb|upright|Limpar in 2017'''Arsenal''' *First Division: 1990–91<ref name=Feature />
'''Everton''' *FA Cup: 1994–95<ref name=Snapshot /> *FA Charity Shield: 1995<ref name=Eurosport />
'''AIK''' *Allsvenskan: 1998<ref name=Eurosport /> *Svenska Cupen: 1998–99
'''Sweden'''
* FIFA World Cup third place: 1994<ref name="WorldCup" />
'''Individual''' *Guldbollen: 1991<ref name=Guldbollen>{{cite web|url=http://fogis.se/fotbollsgalan/tidigare-vinnare/guldbollen/|title=Guldbollen|language=sv|website=Fogis.se}}</ref> *IF Brommapojkarna Hall of Fame: 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://solidsport.com/bptv/watch/bptv-anders-limpar-om-hall-of-fame|title=BPTV: ANDERS LIMPAR I BP:S HALL OF FAME|language=sv|website=Solid Sport.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifbp.se/hall-of-fame/|title=Hall of Fame|language=sv|website=IFBP.se}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://twitter.com/anders_limpar?lang=en Anders Limpar on Twitter] *{{NFT player|14173}}
{{Swedish Footballer of the Year}} {{navboxes |title=Sweden squads |bg= #FFF01C |fg= #005B99 |bordercolor= #005B99 |list1= {{Sweden football squad 1988 Summer Olympics}} {{Sweden Squad 1990 World Cup}} {{Sweden Squad 1992 Euro}} {{Sweden Squad 1994 World Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Limpar, Anders}} Category:Living people Category:1965 births Category:Sportspeople from Solna Municipality Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Swedish men's footballers Category:IF Brommapojkarna players Category:Örgryte IS players Category:BSC Young Boys players Category:US Cremonese players Category:Arsenal F.C. players Category:Everton F.C. players Category:Birmingham City F.C. players Category:AIK Fotboll players Category:Colorado Rapids players Category:Djurgårdens IF Fotboll players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:Serie A players Category:Serie B players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:Swedish people of Hungarian descent Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players Category:Sweden men's international footballers Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers Category:Olympic footballers for Sweden Category:Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Djurgårdens IF Fotboll non-playing staff Category:Footballers from Stockholm County Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen