Stefan Schwarz

Hans-Jürgen Stefan Schwarz (; ; born 18 April 1969) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Schwarz started off his career with Malmö FF in 1987 before moving on to represent Benfica, Arsenal, Fiorentina and Valencia until he retired at Sunderland in 2003. Schwarz won 69 caps for the Sweden national team, scoring six goals. He represented his country at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992 and most notably the 1994 FIFA World Cup where Sweden finished third.

Club career Born to a German father (who played football in lower leagues in Germany) and a Swedish mother in the city of Malmö, Schwarz started his playing career as a midfielder with Kulladals FF's academy. Between 1985 and 1987, he spent two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen's youth team. He made his debut as a professional footballer with his hometown club Malmö FF. He then moved to Benfica for the 1990–91 season to play under manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. Schwarz became a regular starter for Benfica, winning the Primeira Liga twice, and playing in the side that knocked Arsenal out of the European Cup in 1991.

He subsequently moved to London to play for Arsenal in the summer of 1994 for £1.8 million but grew frustrated with George Graham's defensive tactics. The defeat to Real Zaragoza in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final was Schwarz's last game for Arsenal. He left Highbury after just one season at the club.

Schwarz then completed a £2.5 million transfer to Fiorentina. He spent three seasons in Italy, lifting the Coppa Italia and Super Cup. In the summer 1998 he reunited with Claudio Ranieri, moving to Spain to join Valencia. After one season he joined English side Sunderland on 29 July 1999 for a then-club record fee of £3.75 million. Because of Schwarz's publicly-expressed desire to become a space tourist, the club inserted a "Space Clause" into his contract, stating that if he were to travel beyond Earth's atmosphere his contract would become wholly invalid.

He was bestowed with the Guldbollen in November 1999, Sweden's award for footballer of the year. Schwarz eventually fell out with manager Peter Reid and was transfer listed in summer 2002. He made his last appearance for the club coming off the bench for the final 25 minutes of the League Cup tie at Sheffield United 3 December 2002. Schwarz retired from playing in March 2003.

International career After having represented the Sweden U17, U19, and U21 teams, Schwarz made his full international debut for Sweden on 14 February 1990 as a substitute in a friendly game against the United Arab Emirates where he replaced Pontus Kåmark in the 80th minute before also scoring his first international goal in a 1–1 draw.

He declared his international retirement in August 2001 to focus on his club team after a series of injuries while with the national team. His last international appearance came in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Moldova on 28 March 2001.

11 April 1990 Stade du 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria

Friendly

5 May 1994 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden

Friendly

11 October 1995 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden

Friendly Honours Malmö Swedish Championship: 1988 Allsvenskan: 1987, 1988 Svenska Cupen: 1989

Benfica UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up 1994–95

Fiorentina Coppa Italia: 1995–96 Supercoppa Italiana: 1996

Valencia UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998 Copa del Rey: 1998–99 Sweden FIFA World Cup third place: 1994 Individual "Man of the tournament" – Makita Tournament: 1994 Guldbollen: 1999