Pontus Jansson

Pontus Jansson
Pontus Jansson playing for Malmö FF in 2012
Personal information
Full name Pontus Sven Gustav Jansson[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-13) 13 February 1991
Place of birth Arlöv, Sweden
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Leeds United
Number 18
Youth career
2004–2006 Arlövs BI
2006–2009 Malmö FF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 Malmö FF 98 (6)
2009 → IFK Malmö (loan) 8 (4)
2014–2017 Torino 16 (1)
2016–2017 → Leeds United (loan) 34 (3)
2017– Leeds United 48 (3)
National team‡
2007–2008 Sweden U17 13 (0)
2008–2009 Sweden U19 9 (3)
2011–2012 Sweden U21 15 (1)
2012– Sweden 19 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 September 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2018

Pontus Sven Gustav Jansson (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈpɔntɵs ˈjɑːnsɔn];[3] born 13 February 1991) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for English club Leeds United and the Sweden national team.

Club career

Malmö FF

Jansson started his career at local club Arlövs BI. In 2006 at age 15 he transferred to Malmö FF. He played in youth teams until he made his first team debut in 2009. Jansson played in a variety of positions in the early stages of his career until deciding on centre back in the start of the 2010 season. He had made his first team debut as forward the year before. When teammate Jasmin Sudić was long term injured in the beginning of the year the manager decided that Jansson would take Sudić's place in the starting eleven. Jansson played in 18 games in the 2010 league winning season for Malmö. He missed the latter part of the season due to injury problems.

Starting out the 2011 season on the bench, Jansson gained new manager Rikard Norling's trust and once again took a spot in the starting eleven. Jansson finished the season with 15 league matches and nine matches in Europe played. Many considered Jansson to be the club's best player of 2011 even though he only played for half of the season. Jansson was also mentioned as a potential candidate for becoming the club's new captain as Daniel Andersson announced that he would step down during the 2012 season. The 2012 season was Jansson's big breakthrough season as he played all 30 league matches for Malmö FF, playing the first part of the season with Daniel Andersson and the latter part with newcomer Filip Helander by his side in the defensive line.

Jansson continued to be one of the club's most important players during the league title winning 2013 season where he played 24 matches and scored one goal. The goal was an important equalizer against title contender IFK Göteborg in the home fixture on 25 August 2013, Malmö FF went on to win the match 3–1. He was nominated as defender of the year for the 2013 Allsvenskan for his overall performance during the season. Jansson also played all of Malmö FF's matches in the qualification stage for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.

During the 2014 season Jansson played nine out of 12 possible matches before his transfer to Torino. He also played all of the matches for the club in the 2013–14 Svenska Cupen campaign where the club progressed to the semi-finals. He started the 2014 season in the starting eleven but was replaced by Erik Johansson when it was clear that Jansson would leave the club during the summer transfer window.

Torino

On 24 April 2014, Torino announced they had signed Jansson on a free transfer.[4] He officially joined the Italian side on 1 July 2014.[5][6] He made 16 appearances in all competitions during his first season, with 9 coming in the league, 1 in Coppa Italia and 6 in the UEFA Europa League.

On 30 April 2016 he scored his first goal in Serie A, opening the score in a 5–1 defeat of Udinese. During the 2015/16 season, he played 7 league games and 2 Coppa Italia matches.

Leeds United

On 18 August 2016, Jansson joined English side Leeds United on a season-long loan, he was handed the number 18 shirt.[7] Torino also revealed that as part of the deal Leeds have a clause to make the deal a permanent move.[8]

He made his debut for Leeds on 23 August 2016, starting in Leeds' EFL Cup fixture against Luton Town.[9] His league debut came on 10 September 2016 in a 1–0 defeat against Huddersfield Town in a West Yorkshire derby.[10] On 17 September, Jansson received the man of the match award in a 2–0 victory against Cardiff City.[11]

On 5 November, Jansson scored his first goal for Leeds against Norwich City with a header in a 3–2 victory for Leeds at Carrow Road.[12] On 6 January 2017, Jansson won the Football League Championship Player of the Month Award for December 2016.[13] After returning to the side after a 2 match suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards, on 25 January 2017 Jansson made his 22nd appearance for Leeds in a 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest, his 22nd appearance for the club triggers the option to make his move a permanent deal.[14] On 2 February 2017, Jansson signed a permanent deal with Leeds worth £3.5 million which would officially take place when his loan expired at the end of the 2016–17 season. Jansson signed a three-year contract at the club.[15][16]

On 11 March, Jansson was named in the EFL Team of the Season.[17] On 21 March, Jansson and teammate Chris Wood were named in the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season.[18]

After a three-match ban for 15 yellow cards during the 2016–17 season, two games carried over to the start of the 2017–18 season, he made his first start as a permanent Leeds player on 12 August 2017 in a 0–0 draw against Preston North End.[19] On 25 October 2017, Jansson signed a new 5 year contract, with the long term deal keeping him at Leeds until the end of the 2021/22 season.[20] He scored his first goal of the season on 1 December 2017 in Leeds' 1–1 draw against Aston Villa.[21]

After his participation for Sweden at the World Cup Quarter-Finals, Jansson was given extra vacation for the 2018–19 pre-season and as a result missed all of Leeds' pre season friendlies.[22]

In August 2018, Leeds rejected a bid of £10 million for Jansson from Russian Premier League side FC Krasnodar.[23]

International career

Sweden U21

Jansson made his debut for the Sweden U21 national team in a friendly game against Portugal on 9 February 2011. On 2 June 2011 he captained the team in a match against Norway where he also scored the first goal in a 4–1 win for Sweden U21.[24]

Sweden

Jansson was selected for the annual training camp for the Sweden national team in January 2012.[25] He made his senior debut for Sweden in the training match against Bahrain on 18 January 2012.[26]

During the summer of 2016, Jansson was selected to represent the Sweden squad for UEFA Euro 2016, however he remained an unused substitute for Sweden in all 3 of their games.[27]

On 27 March 2018, Jansson was named as the Sweden captain for the friendly match against Romania ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[28]

On 15 May 2018, Jansson was named in Sweden's final 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[29] On 18 June, Jansson was named in the starting lineup ahead of Manchester United's Victor Lindelöf for Sweden's opening game of Group F in a 1-0 win against South Korea.[30] Sweden reached the World Cup Quarter-Finals of the tournament after beating Switzerland in the last 16, however England knocked out Sweden in a 2-0 win on 7 July 2018, the match also saw Jansson play in an unfamiliar striker's role, with Jansson brought on as a second half substitute to try score a goal with Sweden trailing at the time.[31]

On 6 September 2018, Jansson was once again named Sweden captain in a 2-0 defeat against Austria.[32]

Personal life

Whilst at Leeds, Jansson has had a famous chant made for him, the song is called 'Pontus Jansson's Magic, He Wears A Magic Hat'. The song is a crowd terrace version of the song My Old Man's a Dustman originally performed by Lonnie Donegan.[33] On 25 July 2017, Jansson married his fiancé Åsa Thornell and Jansson revealed on his Instagram that at their wedding reception they had a band sing a Swedish version of 'Pontus Jansson's Magic Hat' song.[34] Leeds' fans also sing another Jansson chant, to the tune of Last Christmas by Wham!: "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart… This year, to save me from tears, I’ll give it to Pontus Jansson".[35]

Jansson's agent is former Swedish international and ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Martin Dahlin.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 August 2018[37]


Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Malmö FF 2009 Allsvenskan 2000———20
2010 18120———201
2011 15220—11[lower-alpha 1]1—283
2012 30100———301
2013 24120—6[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0331
2014 9160—00—151
Total 986120—171101287
IFK Malmö (loan) 2009 Swedish Division 2 84————84
Torino 2014–15 Serie A 9010—6[lower-alpha 2]0—160
2015–16 7120———91
Total 16130—60—251
Leeds United (loan) 2016–17 Championship 3431010——363
Leeds United 2017–18 4230010—00433
2018–19 000010—0010
Total 766103000—816
Career total 19817160302311024218
  1. ↑ Six appearances and a goal in the Champions League and five appearances in the Europa League
  2. 1 2 Appearances in the Europa League
  3. ↑ Appearance in the Svenska Supercupen

International

As of 7 July 2018.[37]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Sweden
201220
201320
201430
201630
201730
201840
Total170

Honours

Club

Malmö FF: 2010, 2013, 2014
Malmö FF: 2013

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 21. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "2018 FIFA World Cup: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 30 June 2018. p. 29.
  3. ↑ https://sv.forvo.com/word/pontus_jansson/#sv
  4. ↑ "Jansson al Toro". torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino Football Club. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Official: Torino sign Jansson". football-italia.net. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pontus Jansson klar för Torino FC per den 1 juli". mff.se (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Pontus Jansson: Torino centre-back joins Leeds United on loan". BBC Sport. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Jansson in prestito al Leeds". mff.se (in Italian). Torino FC. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "MATCHDAY: LUTON- LIVE!". Leeds United A.F.C. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  10. ↑ Booth, Mel (10 September 2016). "Leeds United 0 Huddersfield Town 1: Aaron Mooy screamer seals best ever Town start". Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
  11. ↑ "WOOD + HERNANDEZ SINK CARDIFF". Leeds United A.F.C. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "NORWICH CITY: SUPER VIEIRA STRIKE GIVES LEEDS WIN". Leeds United A.F.C. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Leeds defender Pontus Jansson wins PFA Fans' Championship Player of the Month for December". Sky Sports. Sky Sports. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  14. ↑ Harris, Alex (25 January 2017). "Leeds cleared to complete permanent signing after transfer clause is activated". Daily Star. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "PONTUS AGREES PERMANENT DEAL". Leeds United A.F.C. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "INTERVIEW | PONTUS JANSSON". Leeds United A.F.C. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  17. ↑ "EFL team of the season:". Sky Sports. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "EFL: DUO IN CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE SEASON". Leeds United A.F.C. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Leeds 0–0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "Pontus Signs New long Term Contract". Leeds United. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Leeds 1 Aston Villa 1". Leeds United. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  22. ↑ "Jansson unlikely to start for Whites in Championship opener against Stoke". YEP. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Leeds United reject approach for defender Pontus Jansson". YEP. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "Matchinformation: Norge – Sverige" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  25. ↑ "Landslaget blir himmelsblågult: "Vi är stolta"" (in Swedish). Fotbollskanalen. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  26. ↑ "Herr: 2–0 mot Bahrain i Doha" (in Swedish). svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  27. ↑ "Euro 2016 opta stats: The best stats from the Group stage". Sky Sports. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Jansson to wear captain's armband in Sweden tie". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "World Cup: Sweden name squad but no Zlatan Ibrahimovic". BBC Sport. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  30. ↑ "VAR used again as Sweden beat South Korea". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "England Into World Cup Semi Finals". BBC Sport. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "Austria 2 Swedeb 0". ESPN. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "Pontus Jansson's Magic Hat Song". 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016 – via YouTube.
  34. ↑ "She's the magic one". Instagram. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  35. ↑ Simpson, Dave (11 July 2018). "Why Atomic Kitten and Earth, Wind & Fire became England's World Cup chants". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  36. ↑ "Leeds' option to sign Pontus Jansson kicks in on 22nd appearance for defender". Sky Sports. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  37. 1 2 Pontus Jansson at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
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