Jonas Thern

Jonas Thern (born March 20, 1967 in Falköping) is a former Swedish football (soccer) player.

Born in Falköping and raised in the town of Värnamo (20,000 inhabitants) in southern central Sweden, where he early in his life started practicing with great determination towards what would make him one of the best strategic midfielders in Swedish soccer history. His professional career started 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.

From there he went on to have a brilliant career on the continent, playing for Benfica (1989-92), Napoli (1992-94), and Roma (1994-97), and Rangers (1997-99), but his career was cut short by injuries. For Sweden, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and Euro 92, and then won the bronze medal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. After he retired he become head coach for IFK Värnamo and Halmstads BK 2001-2003 as well as running a hotel in his native Värnamo.

He now works as an expert sports commentator and as a teacher.

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