Gustav Svensson

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2019 (Seattle): In his third season in Seattle, Svensson started 21 of his 22 appearances, recording 1,813 minutes. He played every minute of the club’s four playoff matches, recording one goal and three assists. Svensson scored his second career playoff goal in Seattle’s 2-0 victory vs. Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Semifinal (October 23). He recorded two assists in the club’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC in MLS Cup (November 10).

2018 (Seattle): Svensson built upon his first season in Seattle with yet another dominant season for the Rave Green, starting 23 matches during the regular season. The Swedish defensive midfielder scored his first goal of the year in a 3-1 win over Minnesota United (April 22) with a long-range rocket from 30-yards out.  He scored yet another goal from distance in Seattle’s 3-1 win over New York City FC (July 29) before adding a third tally in a 3-2 road win against the Houston Dynamo (October 21). After he returned from the World Cup, the Rave Green rattled off a 14-2-1 record with Svensson in the lineup. The Swedish journeyman was a critical component in Seattle finishing 2018 with the second-best defensive record in the league. Starting both postseason matches against the Portland Timbers, Svensson played every minute of the Western Conference Semifinals as the Sounders narrowly missed out on a third consecutive trip to the Conference Finals.

2017 (Seattle): In his first season with Sounders FC, the versatile Swedish journeyman made 30 starts in 32 regular season appearances at a variety of positions, including right back, center back and defensive midfield. Svensson earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors as a central defender in Week 5 after a scoreless home draw with Atlanta United FC (March 31). Across all competitions, Svensson scored two goals – including the game-winner in Seattle’s 2-0 leg one victory over the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Championship (November 2) – and added four assists. Svensson’s most prolific run of form came during a four-match span from July 19 – August 5, in which he scored one goal and tallied two assists. After coming off the bench in both matches of the opening series of the postseason, he played every remaining minute of Sounders FC’s MLS Cup run. Including the playoffs, Svensson logged 2,971 minutes in his debut season with the club.

2016 (Guangzhou R&F): In his lone year in the Chinese Super League, Svensson made 28 starts in 28 appearances. The club finished sixth in the 16-team table with a record of 11-12-7.

2015 (IFK Goteborg): Competing in his final campaign with his original club, Svensson started each of his 28 appearances, as the squad finished second in the Allsvenskan. He scored a goal in a 2-2 draw against Norrkoping (July 15).

2014 (IFK Goteborg / Tarivya): In his return to Sweden, Svensson made 24 league appearances, including 17 starts, for IFK Goteborg. The club finished as runner-up in the league, its best finish since 2009. Prior to the Swedish campaign, Svensson wrapped-up his second season with Tarivya and joined IFK Goteborg in March.

2012-13 (Tarivya): Svensson joined Ukrainian side Tarivya in October 2012, where he started each of his 11 club appearances in his first campaign with the club. The midfielder followed this performance with an additional 10 matches, all starts, in his second and final season with Tarivya.

2011-12 (Bursaspor): Prior to signing with Tarivya, Svensson completed his second season with Bursaspor of Turkey’s Super Lig. He made 12 appearances, including six starts, for the Bursa-based club.

2010-11 (Bursaspor / IFK Goteborg): In his first season away from his native Sweden, Svensson started each of his 16 appearances with Bursaspor. He joined the club in September 2010, just a few months after it won its first Super Lig title. He also started 15 of his 18 appearances in his final campaign with IFK Goteborg, and recorded a goal in a 3-0 win over Halmstad (July 10).

2009 (IFK Goteborg): Svensson set career-highs with 29 appearances, 29 starts and 2,563 minutes with IFK Goteborg. The club finished second in the league table.

2008 (IFK Goteborg): In his third professional season, the midfielder helped the club win the Svenska Cupen, the annual Swedish knockout cup competition. He scored a career-best three goals, all of which came in a seven-day stretch in August.

2007 (IFK Goteborg): Svensson made 22 appearances and scored one goal in a 2-2 draw against Elfsborg in July. IFK Goteborg won its first Allsvenskan since 1996, finishing 13^th overall.

2006 (IFK Goteborg): In his first pro season, Svensson recorded five appearances and scored his first professional goal.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Svensson has made 18 appearances with Sweden’s National Team, beginning with two caps in 2009. The midfielder has also appeared in a pair of matches for Sweden in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, Svensson made four substitute appearances in World Cup Qualifier matches, including both legs of a victorious playoff series with Italy, and helped the Blågult return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006. He had a banner year for his national team, with the midfielder making three appearances at 2018 World Cup in Russia, including a start in a 1-0 win over Switzerland. He also featured in four friendlies and three UEFA Nations League matches, bringing him to 453 minutes played for Sweden in 2018. Previously, he earned 24 caps for the Sweden under-21 team.         

PERSONAL

Svensson married his wife, Sara, in November 2016 in his native Gothenburg.

ACQUIRED

Signed to contract with Sounders FC on January 30, 2017.