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Olof Mellberg
Personal information
Full name	Erik Olof Mellberg
Date of birth	September 3, 1977 (age 29)
Place of birth	Gullspång, Sweden
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Aston Villa
Number	4
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996-97 1997-98 1998-01 2001–	Degerfors AIK Racing Santander Aston Villa	47 (0) 17 (0) 98 (0) 185 (6)
National team2
2000–	Sweden	68 (2)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:55, 2 February 2007 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 28 August 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Erik Olof Mellberg (IPA: ['uːlɔf 'mɛlbærj]) (born September 3, 1977 in Amnehärad, Gullspång) is a Swedish football player who currently plays club football for Aston Villa.

Besides playing for Aston Villa, Mellberg is an established player for the Swedish national team, and used to captain the side but stepped down from the role after the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Shortly thereafter, he also abdicated as team captain of his club team.

Mellberg played for local side Gullspång before being picked up by then swedish Premiership side Degerfors IF. After being relegated he join capital club AIK, where he made an instant impression and was sold after just 10 months. Spanish side Racing Santander moved to secure the promising swedish centre half, and although having a difficult time adjusting to spanish football he soon claimed a starting berth and impressed in his first season. Continuing to play well, Mellberg was said to be on his way to several big spanish sides, including Barcelona and Valencia.

However, Aston Villa managed to secure his signature and ever since joining the Birmingham-based club he has been a vital part of the team. He has also captained the side but asked to be relieved of his duties in the 06/07 season.

Mellberg was a member of the Sweden in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, as well as Euro 2000, Euro 2004 and 2006 FIFA World Cup. He has scored 2 goals in 72 caps, as of July 2006.

In 2003 he was selected as best Swedish player of the year, winning the Guldbollen. On August 19, 2006, Mellberg obtained the honour of becoming the first ever player to score a goal in a competitive match at the Emirates Stadium, in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

On September 4, 2006, Mellberg along with Sweden teammates Zlatan Ibrahimović and Christian Wilhelmsson was sent home from the national squad ahead of their European Championships Qualifier against Liechtenstein, for breaking an 11pm curfew.^[1]

On October 7, 2006, Mellberg returned to Sweden's lineup for their European Championships Qualifier against Spain, which they won 2-0.^[2]

• Olof Mellberg at the Internet Movie Database
• Olof Mellberg career stats at Soccerbase

Preceded by Johan Mjällby

Sweden football captain 2002–2006

Succeeded by Fredrik Ljungberg

	Sweden squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Hedman | 2 Mellberg | 3 P. Andersson | 4 Mjällby | 5 Michael Svensson | 6 Linderoth | 7 Alexandersson | 8 A. Svensson | 9 Ljungberg | 10 Allbäck | 11 Larsson | 12 Kihlstedt | 13 Antonelius | 14 Edman | 15 Jakobsson | 16 Lučić | 17 Magnus Svensson | 18 Jonson | 19 Farnerud | 20 D. Andersson | 21 Ibrahimović | 22 A. Andersson | 23 Isaksson | Coach: Lagerbäck / Söderberg

	Sweden squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Isaksson | 2 Nilsson | 3 Mellberg | 4 Lučić | 5 Edman | 6 Linderoth | 7 Alexandersson | 8 A. Svensson | 9 Ljungberg | 10 Ibrahimović | 11 Larsson | 12 Alvbåge | 13 Hansson | 14 Stenman | 15 K. Svensson | 16 Källström | 17 Elmander | 18 Jonson | 19 Andersson | 20 Allbäck | 21 Wilhelmsson | 22 Rosenberg | 23 Shaaban | Coach: Lagerbäck

Aston Villa F.C. - Current Squad
1 Sørensen | 2 Delaney | 3 Samuel | 4 Mellberg | 5 Laursen | 6 Barry | 8 McCann | 9 Ángel | 10 Carew | 11 Petrov | 12 Davis | 13 Taylor | 15 Agbonlahor | 16 Bouma | 17 Young | 18 Hughes | 19 Ridgewell | 20 Sutton | 21 Cahill | 22 Moore | 23 Berger | 24 Bardsley | 25 Olejnik | 26 Gardner | 27 Osbourne | 28 Maloney | 29 O'Halloran | Manager: O'Neill