Sam Larsson

Sam Andreas Larsson (born 10 April 1993) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Süper Lig club Antalyaspor.

Sam Larsson

Larsson playing for IFK Göteborg
Personal information
Full name	Sam Andreas Larsson[1]
Date of birth	(1993-04-10) 10 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Antalyaspor
Number	10
Youth career
0000–2009	IK Zenith
2010–2012	IFK Göteborg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	IFK Göteborg	49	(6)
2014–2017	Heerenveen	86	(23)
2017–2020	Feyenoord	72	(14)
2020–2022	Dalian Professional	21	(6)
2022–	Antalyaspor	76	(12)
International career
2012	Sweden U19	3	(0)
2013–2015	Sweden U21	10	(1)
2016–2018	Sweden	4	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Sweden UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2015
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 December 2024

Club career

IFK Göteborg

Born in Gothenburg, Sam Larsson made his first start in the Swedish top-flight, Allsvenskan for IFK Göteborg in March 2013, in a game against local rivals BK Häcken.^[2] By scoring once and assisting two more in a 3–0 win, Larsson quickly made his way to the headlines, with manager Mikael Stahre describing him as a "Swedish Brazilian", he furthermore earned himself the nickname "Samba-Sam", due to his impressive skills on the ball and unpredictable moves.

After a successful first season, Larsson made further progress during the following year, gaining much praise for his creative play and taking on a larger role in leading his team on the attack.^[3]

Heerenveen

2014–15 season

On 12 August 2014, IFK Göteborg announced the transfer of Larsson to Dutch side Heerenveen.^[4] On 23 August, Larsson played his first league game for his new club, a game in which he scored once to settle a 2–0 win over SBV Excelsior. After an injury-plagued first period, Larsson started to achieve much praise for his performances, including comparisons being drawn by Heerenveen manager Dwight Lodeweges between Larsson and Argentinian star Lionel Messi.^[5] Heerenveen ended the season in 7th place in the Eredevisie, with Larsson scoring eight and assisting to four goals in 25 games.^[6]

2015–16 season

In his second season with Heerenveen the club experienced a struggling period, finding themselves in the lower half of the table. Larsson's goal-scoring was less frequent than the previous spring, although he was recognised as the one player creating the most goal-scoring opportunities in the Eredivisie,^[7] while also being hailed by Heerenveen technical director Hans Vonk as the best dribbler in the league.^[8] Heerenveen finished the season in 12th^[9] while Larsson scored six goals and assisted another eight.^[6] At the end of the year, Larsson was awarded a place in the team of the season by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.^[10]

Feyenoord

On 21 August 2017, Larsson joined Feyenoord on a four-year contract.^[11][12] On 9 September, Larsson made his debut for Feyenoord in an away game against Heracles Almelo, in which he also scored Feyenoord's 4th goal.^[13] On 25 October, Larsson scored his first hat-trick in his career in the second round of the KNVB Cup against AVV Swift.^[14] He won the KNVB Cup with Feyenoord scoring a total of 4 goals.

On 8 August 2018, Feyenoord won the Johan Cruyff Shield against PSV Eindhoven. The game ended in 0–0, resulting in a penalty shootout that ended 5–6. Larsson missed his penalty.

Dalian Professional

On 28 February 2020, Larsson joined Dalian Professional on a three-year contract.^[15][16]

International career

Larsson playing for Sweden U21 in 2013

Larsson got his first call up to the senior Sweden side for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Bulgaria in October 2016, however he later withdrew from the squad through injury.^[17] In the 30th minute of his debut for Sweden away against Hungary on 15 November 2016, Larsson scored from a free kick.

In 2018, Larsson was called up to the senior Sweden side again, ahead of the friendly match against Austria on 6 September 2018 and the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League match against Turkey on 10 September 2018.^[18]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of former professional footballer Daniel Larsson.

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 December 2021^[19][20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
IFK Göteborg	2012	Allsvenskan	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2013	Allsvenskan	29	4	7	1	2	0	—		38	5
	2014	Allsvenskan	18	2	4	1	6	0	—		28	3
	Total		49	6	11	2	8	0	0	0	68	8
Heerenveen	2014–15	Eredivisie	21	8	0	0	—		—		21	8
	2015–16	Eredivisie	34	6	3	0	—		—		37	6
	2016–17	Eredivisie	31	9	3	0	—		—		34	9
	Total		86	23	6	0	0	0	0	0	92	23
Feyenoord	2017–18	Eredivisie	19	4	4	4	6	0	—		29	8
	2018–19	Eredivisie	32	6	4	1	2	0	—		38	7
	2019–20	Eredivisie	21	4	3	0	10	2	—		34	6
	Total		72	14	11	5	18	2	0	0	101	21
Dalian Professional	2020	Chinese Super League	18	4	0	0	—		—		18	4
	2021	Chinese Super League	8	3	0	0	—		2[a]	0	10	3
	Total		26	7	0	0	0	0	2	0	28	7
Antalyaspor	2022–23	Süper Lig	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Career total			233	50	28	7	26	2	2	0	289	59

1. Appearance(s) in CSL Relegation play-offs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[19]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sweden	2016	1	1
	2017	2	0
	2018	1	0
Total		4	1

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	15 November 2016	Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	1–0	2–0	Friendly

Honours

IFK Göteborg

• Svenska Cupen: 2012–13

Feyenoord

• KNVB Cup: 2017–18^[21]
• Johan Cruijff Shield: 2018^[22]

Sweden U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2015