Heroes of Euros Past: 1 – Tomas Brolin
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.
- One of his many interesting post-football activities was investing "in a firm selling a new type of mouthpiece for vacuum cleaners". [back]
- Råsunda Fotbollstadion, June 17th, 1992. [back]
May 31, 2008
