Jan Hellström

Football player infobox


playername= Jan Hellström
fullname = Jan Hellström
nickname = "Hella"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|02|21
cityofbirth = NA
countryofbirth = Sweden
height = height|m=1.78
currentclub = Retired
position = Centre Forward
youthyears = -1973
1973-1978
youthclubs = Örtomta GoIS
IF SAAB
years= 1978-1980
1981-1984
1985-1987
1988-1994
1995-1996
1998-1999

clubs = IF SAAB
IFK Norrköping
Örgryte IS
IFK Norrköping
Hagahöjdens BK
Åby IF

caps(goals) = 040 (33)
080 (36)
047 (20)
0185 (80)
015 (8)
014 (NA)
nationalyears = 1986-1989
nationalteam = Sweden
nationalcaps(goals) = 06 (0)

Jan Hellström (born February 21, 1960), played Swedish top league football for IFK Norrköping (247 games, 102 goals in Allsvenskan) and Örgryte IS. He started his career in Örtomta GoIS during his youth before moving as a youth player to IF SAAB from Linköping. 1977 in his first season as senior with division II (today's Superettan) club SAAB, he scored three goals in five games. SAAB was relegated and in the following year he had his real breakthrough as a senior playing scoring 25 goals. His achievements in was soon recognised by clubs in the top league (Allsvenskan) and in 1981 he signed for IFK Norrköping. Local rival club Åtvidabergs FF had tried to sign him since 1980 but according to Jan Hellström a move to Åtvidabergs FF did not feel 100% ok and as a result IFK Norrköping got his signature.

After the season 1984 and numerous goals for IFK Norrköping he suddenly left the club for Örgryte IS from Gothenburg. Jan Hellström commented the move in an interview to the IFK Norrköping supporter site gopeking.net like this:

"– My decision to move was based on several factors. I did not feel the club was trying to invest in anything, the club only played the games, did not sign players and did not show any aspiration that they wanted anything. In addition the football the coach at the time Lars-Göran Qwist supported, was not a football I could support."

Jan Hellström was a notorious goalscorer in Sweden and during his short term with Örgryte IS he was the best goalscorer in Allsvenskan. This achievement resulted in the title for Örgryte IS. Jan Hellström and his family enjoyed their stay in Gothenburg and Örgryte IS but in 1987 he returned to IFK Norrköping.

Tommy Wisell manager/director in IFK Norrköping had played an active role in convincing Jan Hellström to return to the club. After being offered a good job in Norrköping he signed for IFK Norrköping again. 1988 he had a breakthrough in his international career when he played for Sweden in the Seoul Olympic Games. Jan Hellström became the second best goalscorer with 3 goals after Romário from Brazil (4 goals), even though Sweden had an early exit the tournament after the quarter finals when Sweden lost against Italy. His total record for the Olympics (including the qualifiers) was 8 goals in 15 games.

1989 Hellström won Allsvenskan for the second time in his career and he was the leagues top scorer with 16 goals. With IFK Norrköping he won the final against Malmö FF and by this time Jan Hellström had reached the peak of his career. A severe leg injury (broken leg) stopped his international career for Sweden but he recovered and continued to play top football for IFK Norrköping until 1994. Jan Hellström left for Hagahöjdens BK in the Swedish division IV where he remained until 1996. After two short half season comebacks (1998 and 1999) for the local Norrköping club Åby IF, he ended his active career in 1999.

During his career he was linked to Real Zaragoza (Spain) and Iraklis FC (Greece) but he remained faithful to IFK Norrköping and their supporters. Today Jan Hellström is in the board of directors for IFK Norrköping and he is regarded as one of the best players in the clubs history.