Johan Gunnar Gren (pronounced [ˈɡɵ̌nːar ˈɡreːn]; 31 October 1920 – 10 November 1991)^[1] was a Swedish professional football player and coach. He is best remembered for playing for IFK Göteborg and A.C. Milan.

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Gunnar Gren

Gunnar Gren during the FIFA World Cup in Sweden in June 1958
Personal information
Full name	Johan Gunnar Gren
Date of birth	31 October 1920
Place of birth	Gothenburg, Sweden
Date of death	10 November 1991(1991-11-10) (aged 71)
Place of death	Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Forward, attacking midfielder
Youth career
	Silverkällans
	Strix
	Lindholmens
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1937–1940	Gårda	54	(16)
1941–1949	IFK Göteborg	168	(79)
1949–1953	A.C. Milan	133	(38)
1953–1955	Fiorentina	55	(5)
1955–1956	Genoa	29	(2)
1956–1957	Örgryte	4	(0)
1963–1964	GAIS	22	(2)
1976	Oddevold	1	(0)
Total		466	(142)
International career
1939–1956	Sweden B	2	(0)
1940–1958	Sweden	57	(32)
Managerial career
1952	A.C. Milan
1956–1959	Örgryte
1960	IFK Göteborg
1963–1964	GAIS
1965–1966	Värnamo
1967	Redbergslids
1968–1969	GAIS
1970	Skogens
1973	Fässbergs
1976	Oddevold
Medal record Men's Football Representing  Sweden Olympic Games 1948 London FIFA World Cup Runner-up 1958 Sweden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Close

A creative forward, known for his technical skill, vision, tactical intelligence, and passing ability as a playmaker, he was part of the famous "Gre-No-Li" trio of forwards at Milan and the Sweden national team. He was also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, as an offensive–minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italian football jargon, or even as a striker.^[2][3]

A full international between 1940 and 1958, he won 57 caps and scored 32 goals for the Sweden national team. He was a part of the Sweden team that won gold at the 1948 Summer Olympics, as well as the team that finished second at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. In 1946, he was awarded Guldbollen as Sweden's best footballer of the year. Gren is considered to be one of Sweden's greatest and most prolific football players;^[4] a statue has been erected in his honor outside Gamla Ullevi stadium.

Gren was born on 31 October 1920 to parents Johan Olsson and Gerda Maria Olsson. Gren, a son of a carpenter, grew up in Majorna, Gothenburg.^[5] From a young age, Gren excelled in football. On 7 October 1934, Gothenburg Football Association President Carl 'Ceve' Linde held a juggling contest. He won his first sporting prize – a bronze plaque. Göteborgs Sport Bladet wrote about 13-year-old Gren's skills and how he outshone some of the big boys in the national league. The then, 13-year-old Gren played for Strix.^[5] During his youth, he played for Lindholmens and GAIK, before playing for Gårda.

Gren made his debut for Sweden on 29 August 1940 in the team's 3–2 win over Finland. During the next decade he played 40 matches for the national team, ending in 1949 with 3–1 against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier and 2–2 in a friendly against Hungary. During this era Gren was part of the team that won the gold medal in the 1948 Olympics in London, scoring twice against Yugoslavia in the final on Wembley.^[1]

As a professional, Gren was suspended from the Swedish national team. However, as the World Cup of 1958 was to be played on home soil and the Swedish team seemed too weak for the competition, the Swedish Football Association changed this rule, and Gren, having now ended his professional career and playing in the Swedish Division 2, was again eligible. Gren went on to be the second oldest player of this World Cup, 37 years old, and played an important role in the silver medal-winning Swedish team. He played five matches during the World Cup and scored one goal, 2–1 against West Germany in the semi-final. He was also named on the 1958 World Cup All-Star Team.

Gren's last cap came on 26 October 1958 against Denmark in a 4–4 draw. At the time, he was 37 years, 360 days old. In all, Gren made 57 appearances for the national team, scoring 32 goals.

Whilst at A.C. Milan, Gren managed the team in 1952. Also, Gren managed both Örgryte and GAIS as player-manager. After retiring as a player, Gren managed several teams. Gren became the technical director for Juventus for a brief period in 1961. Gren then managed GAIS,^[14] Värnamo, Redbergslids, Skogens, Oddevold and Fässbergs.

Gren retired from football in the 1970s. He died ten days after his 71st birthday, and is buried in Västra Kyrkogården (Western Cemetery), Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.

IFK Göteborg^[15]

• Allsvenskan: 1941–42

A.C. Milan^[2]

• Serie A: 1950–51
• Latin Cup: 1950–51

Sweden^[2][1]

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1958
• Summer Olympics: 1948
• Nordic Football Championship: 1937–47, 1948–51, 1956–59

Individual

• Guldbollen: 1946^[15]
• Allsvenskan top scorer: 1946–47^[15]
• Goteborg Football Association Juggling Award: 1934
• Venerdì's 100 Magnifici^[40]
• A.C. Milan Hall of Fame^[2]