Though Per Tomas Brolin's name has become (at least among English football fans) sadly synonymous with weight gain, failed promise and vacuum cleaners¹ - he was (during his early 90s heyday) one of the world's most thrilling and infectiously enthusiastic players.

Forget the Leeds debacle. Forget the later appearances as a (Swedish) non-league goalkeeper. Forget (too) his habit of crashing into elks.

Remember, instead, the pirouetting cherub who could score goals like this (England fans may want to look away):²

Martin Tyler may now be the bloated and tedious mouthpiece of the hideous Sky beast - but you can't fault him there.

"Brolin…There's a zest about Sweden now which is very impressive indeed. Brolin. Dahlin. That is glorious! Absolutely glorious!"

It sure was. The end of another wretched English tournament (two 0-0 draws and a 2-1 defeat) but the start of a giddy wave that would eventually (2 years later) carry Sweden to third place in the World Cup.

1. One of his many interesting post-football activities was investing "in a firm selling a new type of mouthpiece for vacuum cleaners". [back]
2. Råsunda Fotbollstadion, June 17th, 1992. [back]