Andreas Isaksson

Personalia: Born: 3/10 1981 Birthplace: Trelleborg, Sweden Nationality: Sweden (46/0) Height: 199 cm Weight: 85 kg Position: Goalkeeper Playing Record:     League FAC LC Season: Club: Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls 1999 Trelleborg FF 11 0 0 0 0 0 1999-2001 Juventus (ITA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 2001-2004 Djurgårdens IF 75 0 0 0 0 0 2004-2006 Rennes (FRA) 62 0 0 0 0 0 2006-2007 Manchester City 12 0 0 0 0 0 2007-2008 Manchester City 5 0 0 0 1 0 Total:   165 0 0 0 1 0

Signed professional for Juventus at the tender age of 17, a veteran in the Swedish national team at 23. It's not only Andreas' physical apperance that's impressive. Still, at 199 cm he is the tallest player in the Premiership, raging one whole centimeter above pole-striker Peter Crouch. That must count for something.

At 11 Andreas made his decision to hang his playing boots up on the wall and put on the goalkeeping gloves. Just like his hero Erik Lundström playing for his boyhood team Õstra Torps GIF was his highest wish. Little did he know that 6 years later he would sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and be on the same training field as Zinedine Zidane, Allessandro Del Piero and Pilippo Inzaghi. At 17 he had already played one season in the Swedish top division for Trelleborg, taking over from Daniel Andersson when the shot stopper got injured. He showed some class and that was enough for the Italian club to offer him a contract. His time in Turing proved to be a though experience. Not knowing the language, training with the seniors and playing with the juniors meant that he made no friends at all, and felt isolated for most of the time. The younger players were also difficult to come by and for the young Swede the different culture and living on his own for the first time in his life gave him a lot to think about.

In 2001 Djurgårdens IF called for his services and it was a stronger and more experienced goalkeeper that returned to the Swedish league. In the next four seasons he improved his game and was given his first international start against Switzerland in 2002. Andreas was still only 21 at the time. His rapid development considered extremely unusual for a goalkeeper who often are approaching their prime after turning 30. In his first two full seasons, 2002 and 2003, Djurgården won two straight Swedish titles as well as the cup in 2002. Andreas was voted best Swedish goalkeeper for four consecutive years from 2002 to 2005. He may still have looked young on the outside but his time in Italy had matured him immensely.

Andreas became the undisputed Swedish number one and made some very good performances during the 2004 European Cup. He is also remembered for his many saves against Germany in the 2006 World Cup. By now he had entered the European stage again, signing for French outfit Rennes in 2004. In his first season Rennes finished 4th and made progress in the UEFA cup the following year.

Andreas completed a £2m move to Manchester City on August 15, 2006. City had just lost David James to Portsmouth, and Andreas was expected to fill in the gap. However, injuries to his knee and ankle and the improving form of Nicky Weaver meant that he did not make his debut until 9 December 2006, when he replaced the injured Weaver in a Manchester derby match. Towards the end of the season Isaksson established himself as City's first choice keeper and during the summer 2007 Weaver left for Charlton Athletic, making Andreas the only experienced goalkeeper left at the club.

Provided by: Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no