Tore Klas Agne Simonsson (19 October 1935 – 22 September 2020) was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a forward. Beginning his career with Örgryte IS in 1953, he went on to represent Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in La Liga in the early 1960s before returning to Örgryte in 1963. Simonsson won 51 caps for the Sweden national team, and was a part of the Sweden team that finished second at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was also the recipient of the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal after a spectacular performance for Sweden in an international game against England at Wembley Stadium.

Club career

Örgryte IS Simonsson played youth football for BK René before signing for Örgryte IS in 1949. He made his senior debut for Örgryte in 1953, when the team played in Division 3. He helped the team win promotion to Division 2 in 1955, and later won promotion to Allsvenskan in 1958 with Gunnar Gren as a player-coach. While at Örgryte IS, he finished fifth in votes for the 1959 Ballon d'Or and was awarded the 1959 Guldbollen.

Real Madrid Widely regarded as the best center forward in the world after a string of impressive performances for the Sweden national team, Simonsson was signed by the La Liga team Real Madrid in 1960. However, fierce competition from especially Alfredo Di Stéfano limited Simonsson's playing chances at the club and he ended up playing in only three league games during the 1960–61 La Liga season, scoring one goal as Real Madrid was crowned champions. His only goal was the third goal against Real Zaragoza in a 5–1 home win in 9th round. He was also a part of the Real Madrid teams that won the 1960 Intercontinental Cup and the 1962–63 La Liga, but did receive any playing time. Simonsson is the only Swede ever to have represented Real Madrid men’s team.

Loan to Real Sociedad For the 1961–62 La Liga season, Simonsson was loaned out to Real Sociedad for which he scored 8 goals in 22 league games. However, at the end of the season Simonsson was forced to see his team be relegated, as the team finished 15th out of 16 teams in the table.

Return to Örgryte IS In 1963, Simonsson returned to Sweden and Örgryte IS to form a feared striker partnership together with Rune Börjesson. Simonsson is Örgryte IS' best ever goal scorer in league play with a total of 206 goals.

International career

Early career Simonsson made his only appearance for the Sweden U21 team on 22 September 1957 in a friendly game against Finland, scoring a hat-trick in a 7–0 win. He made his full international debut for Sweden a month later on 13 October 1957 in a 1956–59 Nordic Football Championship game against Norway, scoring two goals as Sweden won 5–2.

1958 FIFA World Cup Simonsson scored four goals as Sweden reached the final of the 1958 FIFA World Cup on home soil, including a goal in the final as Sweden lost 2–5 to Brazil.

Later career He was awarded the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal as well as the 1959 Guldbollen after his performance against England on 28 October 1959 when Sweden beat the English 3–2 at Wembley Stadium and Simonsson scored two goals and made one assist. This was only the second time in history that a team beat England at Wembley.

He won his 51st and final cap in a 2–0 win against Finland on 10 August 1967 in the 1964–67 Nordic Football Championship. He scored a total of 27 international goals.

Managerial career In 1982, Simonsson managed BK Häcken to win promotion to their first ever season in Allsvenskan. As a manager for Örgryte IS, Simonsson led the team to the 1985 Swedish Championship title, winning them their first league title since 1913.

Death Simonsson died on 22 September 2020, at the age of 84.

Career statistics

International +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSweden195722195898195976196033196142196200196341196451196533196691196750Total5127 Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Simonsson goal. +List of international goals scored by Agne SimonssonNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.113 October 1957Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–05–21956–59 Nordic Football Championship23–037 May 1958Olympia, Helsingborg, Sweden2–13–2Friendly43–258 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–03–01958 FIFA World Cup63–0719 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–03–01958 FIFA World Cup829 June 1958Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden2–42–51958 FIFA World Cup920 August 1958Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland7–17–11956–59 Nordic Football Championship1014 September 1958Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo, Norway2–02–01956–59 Nordic Football Championship1121 May 1958Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden1–02–0Friendly1221 June 1959Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark2–06–01956–59 Nordic Football Championship132 August 1959Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden3–13–11956–59 Nordic Football Championship1418 August 1959Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden3–06–21956–59 Nordic Football Championship1528 October 1959Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom1–13–2Friendly162–11718 May 1960Malmö Stadium, Malmö, Sweden2–04–1Friendly183–01922 June 1960Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland3–03–01960–63 Nordic Football Championship2028 May 1961Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden3–04–01962 FIFA World Cup qualifier2129 October 1961Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland1–02–31962 FIFA World Cup qualifier223 November 1963Råsunda Stadium, Solna Sweden1–02–1Friendly2329 April 1964De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands1–01–0Friendly245 May 1965Nya Parken, Norrköping, Sweden1–03–01966 FIFA World Cup qualifier253–02622 August 1965Skogsvallen, Luleå, Sweden2–22–21964–67 Nordic Football Championship276 November 1966Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden1–12–11964–67 Nordic Football Championship

Honours

Player Örgryte IS Division 2 Västra Götaland: 1957–58

Real Madrid La Liga: 1960–61, 1962–63 Intercontinental Cup: 1960

Sweden FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1958 Nordic Football Championship: 1956–1959

Individual Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal: 1959 Guldbollen: 1959 Kristallkulan: 1959 Nordic Football Championship top scorer: 1956–1959 Records Most league goals for Örgryte IS: 206 goals

Manager BK Häcken Division 3 Nordvästra Götaland: 1977 Örgryte IS Swedish Champion: 1985

References

External links

SvFF Hall of Fame profile Fotbollsweden.se statistic