Glenn Hysén

Infobox Football biography
playername= Glenn Hysén


fullname = Glenn Ingvar Hysén
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1959|10|30
cityofbirth = Göteborg
countryofbirth = Sweden
height =
currentclub =
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs = IF Warta
years = 1978-1983
1983-1985
1985-1987
1987-1989
1989-1992
1992-1994
clubs = IFK Göteborg
PSV Eindhoven
IFK Göteborg
Fiorentina
Liverpool
GAIS
caps(goals) = 117 00(8)
045 0(12)
038 00(5)
061 00(1)
072 00(2)
054 00(2)
nationalyears = 1981-1990
nationalteam = Sweden
nationalcaps(goals) = 068 00(7)

Glenn Ingvar Hysén (born October 30 1959 in Gothenburg, Sweden) is a former defender who played for leading Dutch, Italian and English clubs and won 68 caps for Sweden. He is the father of Tobias Hysén, Alexander Hysén and Anton Hysén, who are all professional footballers.

Hysén started his career with IFK Göteborg and quickly established himself as a tough and composed defender. He was Sweden's Footballer Of The Year in 1983 and his form earned him his first international caps and a move to PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

Hysén then moved to Fiorentina and earned continental plaudits with his displays against England in two World Cup qualification matches during the campaign for the forthcoming 1990 tournament. As a result, English clubs became interested in him. He became Sweden's Footballer Of The Year again in 1988, with Swedish rules not barring their countrymen from receiving the award even if playing in a different nation.

Manchester United expressed an interest in signing Hysén in 1989, and invited the player over to England for a tour of Old Trafford and buffet lunch. He returned to Italy with the deal all but sealed; Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards even rang Alex Ferguson to report that Hysén had shaken hands on the deal. Negotiations stalled on the £300,000 transfer, and Edwards and Ferguson flew out to Italy to conclude matters in person. However, upon arrival in Florence, they were told by Hysén's agent that the player had signed for Liverpool a few days previously, prompting the United management to make a move for Gary Pallister instead. [cite journal |last=Morgan |first=Scott |year=2008 |month=September |title=Deal or No Deal? |journal=Inside United |issue=194 |pages=pp.42–46 |publisher=Haymarket Network |location=Teddington ]

Hysén settled in immediately at Liverpool, scoring his first Liverpool goal in their club record 9-0 mauling of Crystal Palace in late 1989. Alongside veteran club captain Alan Hansen and, in Hansen's injury-enforced absence, the young defender Gary Ablett, Hysén was a major part of Liverpool's success in the League championship of 1990. He later captained Sweden in a disappointing World Cup campaign in Italy, when they lost all three of their first round matches and went home surprisingly early.

It went slightly downhill for Hysén thereafter, with Hansen out with a long-term injury (which led to his retirement), as the big Swede started to struggle with the pace of the English game. Manager Kenny Dalglish's resignation heralded the beginning of Hysén's end, with new manager Graeme Souness less keen to keep him. He returned to Sweden in 1992, playing his last years for GAIS. He is still remembered for his near-perfect intercepting tackle on Gary Lineker at Wembley Stadium.

Honours

*Swedish Champion: 1982, 1983, 1987
*Swedish Cup: 1982, 1983; Runner-up 1986
*UEFA Cup: 1982, 1987
*Charity Shield: 1989, 1990 (shared)
*English Champion: 1990

References

External links

* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/hysen/ Liverpool FC profile]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=328 Profile at LFCHistory.net]
* [http://www.baraben.com Bara ben på Glenn Hysén- Tifosi blogg]