Thomas Ravelli

Thomas Ravelli (born 13 August 1959 in Vimmerby) is a retired Swedish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

The twin brother of another footballer, Andreas, he played alongside him in both club and country, being ranked as the national side's all-time leader in caps, at 143 (also one of best in the world).

Club career

At the club level, Ravelli, the son of an Austrian immigrant and also of Italian descent,^[1][2] played for Östers IF and IFK Göteborg, playing extensively in the former and two seasons in the latter with his sibling Andreas, winning a total of nine leagues.

In 1998, already 39, he left for the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer, closing out his career the following year with his first club.

International career

Ravelli's international career spanned almost two decades, starting in 1981; he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, and the 1994 World Cup, when Sweden finished third. He gained a total of 143 caps.

He is especially well known for saving two goals during the penalty shootout that ended the quarterfinal match between Sweden and Romania, in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, including one in the "sudden death" by Miodrag Belodedici (5–4 win); this feat led to him finishing second in the year's race for Goalkeeper of the Year.^[3]

Honours

• Swedish League: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
• Swedish Cup: 1991

Club statistics

^[4][5]

Other ventures

Ravelli was featured as a playable character in the FIFA 07 video game, as a member of the Classic XI team, where he could play alongside such greats as Zico, Eric Cantona and Franz Beckenbauer; he could also be selected for the Sweden national team in the game.

He also appeared in FIFA Street 2, with legends like Paul Gascoigne, Hans Krankl, Abedi Pelé and Carlos Alberto, FIFA 08, FIFA 09 and FIFA Street 3 (in the "Classic XI" for the first two, and the "Classics" in the latter).

References

External links

• NationalFootballTeams data
• Thomas Ravelli - Century of International Appearances, at rsssf

v • d • e Sweden squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Andersson • 2 J. Eriksson • 3 Hysén • 4 Larsson • 5 Ljung • 6 R. Nilsson • 7 Nyhlén • 8 Schwarz • 9 Engqvist • 10 Ingesson • 11 Jansson • 12 L. Eriksson • 13 Limpar • 14 J. Nilsson • 15 Strömberg • 16 Thern • 17 Brolin • 18 Ekström • 19 Gren • 20 Magnusson • 21 Pettersson • 22 Ravelli • Coach: Nordin

v • d • e Sweden squad – UEFA Euro 1992 semi-finalists 1 Ravelli • 2 R. Nilsson • 3 J. Eriksson • 4 P. Andersson • 5 Björklund • 6 Schwarz • 7 Ingesson • 8 Rehn • 9 Thern • 10 Limpar • 11 Brolin • 12 L. Eriksson • 13 M. Nilsson • 14 Erlingmark • 15 Mild • 16 K. Andersson • 17 Dahlin • 18 Ljung • 19 J. Nilsson • 20 Ekström • Coach: Svensson

v • d • e Sweden squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup Third Place 1 Ravelli • 2 R. Nilsson • 3 P. Andersson • 4 Björklund • 5 Ljung • 6 Schwarz • 7 Larsson • 8 Ingesson • 9 Thern • 10 Dahlin • 11 Brolin • 12 Eriksson • 13 M. Nilsson • 14 Kåmark • 15 Lucic • 16 Limpar • 17 Rehn • 18 Mild • 19 K. Andersson • 20 Erlingmark • 21 Blomqvist • 22 Hedman • Coach: Svensson