View source for Bo Larsson

{{Short description|Swedish footballer (1944–2023)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bosse Larsson
| image = Bosse Larsson 1965 (cropped).jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Larsson in 1965
| full_name = Bo-Göran Larsson
| height = 1.75 m
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|5|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Malmö]], Sweden
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|12|18|1944|5|5|df=y}}
| death_place = Malmö, Sweden
| position = [[Midfielder]], [[striker (association football)|striker]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1962–1966
| clubs1 = [[Malmö FF]]
| caps1 = 86
| goals1 = 67
| years2 = 1966–1969
| clubs2 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| caps2 = 88
| goals2 = 21
| years3 = 1969–1979
| clubs3 = [[Malmö FF]]
| caps3 = 222
| goals3 = 52
| years4 = 1980
| clubs4 = [[Trelleborgs FF]]
| caps4 = 
| goals4 = <!--LEAGUE GAMES ONLY-->
| nationalyears1 = 1961–1962
| nationalteam1 = [[Sweden men's national under-19 football team|Sweden U19]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1963–1964
| nationalteam2 = [[Sweden national under-21 football team|Sweden U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1963–1965
| nationalteam3 = [[Sweden national football B team|Sweden B]]
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 6
| nationalyears4 = 1964–1978
| nationalteam4 = [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]]
| nationalcaps4 = 70
| nationalgoals4 = 17
| manageryears1 = 1981–1982
| managerclubs1 = Kirseberg IF
| manageryears2 = 1983–1984
| managerclubs2 = Sofielund IF
}}

'''Bo-Göran''' "'''Bosse'''" '''Larsson''' (5 May 1944 – 18 December 2023) was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a [[midfielder]] and [[striker (association football)|striker]]. Best remembered for his time with [[Malmö FF]], he also represented [[VfB Stuttgart]] and [[Trelleborgs FF]] during his career. A full international between 1964 and 1978, he won 70 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for the [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden national team]] and scored 17 goals. He also represented Sweden at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] and [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]] [[FIFA World Cup]]s.

==Club career==
Most of his club career he played for [[Malmö FF]] where he won the league championship several times. Between 1966 and 1969 he was an appreciated professional for [[VfB Stuttgart]] scoring 21 times in 88 games. As the best player in the team and loved by the supporters he was also awarded "Athlete of the Year" in 1969 by the city of [[Stuttgart]]. According to many he had a by far too short career as a professional player, but his wife Anita never settled to life in Germany, which made him move back home to Malmö that same summer.

Larsson was awarded the [[Guldbollen]] (''the golden ball'') in 1965 and 1973,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/a/e1GVOy/zlatan-ar-en-unik-spelare|title=Zlatan är en unik spelare|publisher=Sportbladet|language=en|date=11 November 2008|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> and was the first to be awarded twice. In Malmö FF and among its supporters Bosse holds an iconic status and is regarded as the club's greatest player ever.

==International career==
Bosse Larsson was one of the [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden national team]] profiles during the 1970s. In total he got 70 caps, scoring 17 times, and played at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]], [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] and [[1978 FIFA World Cup]].
The Sweden men's national team manager [[Georg Ericson|Georg "Åby" Ericson]] used to say that; "When picking a Swedish national squad you start by picking Bosse Larsson, then you start thinking about which other players to pick". Beside [[Nils Liedholm]], Bosse Larsson is regarded as Sweden's most complete player ever, being able to actually play at almost any position on the pitch.

==Personal life==
Larsson later lived in [[Malmö]]. In September 2007 a book titled "Bosse Larsson" was released. The book, written by Jonny Ambrius together with Bosse, and contains stories from his life, but with a focus on his footballer years. Shortly after the book release he also gave his permission for a possible statue to be made in his honour and placed outside Malmö FF's new [[Stadion (Malmö)|stadium]].

Larsson died on 18 December 2023, at the age of 79.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bo Larsson, Sweden and Malmo soccer great, dies at 79 |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/national/story/2023-12-19/bo-larsson-sweden-and-malmo-soccer-great-dies-at-79 |access-date=19 December 2023 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=19 December 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart-trauert-um-bo-larsson-985749/artikel VfB Stuttgart trauert um Bo Larsson] {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>https://www.ratsit.se/19440505-Bo_Goran_Larsson_Malmo/XeThJNONZ7-ZIOoVsotumuYgASKNzFA1SB1RsKscmCQ {{in lang|sv}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bo Larsson - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/bo-larsson/c7379cec-2bc8-426b-b59a-f60aee6947e8/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se.|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603114330/https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/bo-larsson/c7379cec-2bc8-426b-b59a-f60aee6947e8/ |archive-date=3 June 2021 }}</ref>
!National team
!Year
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="15" |[[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]]
|1964
|2
|2
|-
|1965
|5
|3
|-
|1966
|3
|1
|-
|1967
|0
|0
|-
|1968
|3
|2
|-
|1969
|6
|0
|-
|1970
|11
|0
|-
|1971
|9
|2
|-
|1972
|8
|4
|-
|1973
|9
|2
|-
|1974
|10
|1
|-
|1975
|0
|0
|-
|1976
|0
|0
|-
|1977
|0
|0
|-
|1978
|4
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!70
!17
|}

: ''Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Larsson goal''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of international goals scored by Bosse Larsson
! scope="col" |No.
! scope="col" |Date
! scope="col" |Venue
! scope="col" |Opponent
! scope="col" |Score
! scope="col" |Result
! scope="col" |Competition
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| align="center" |1
|20 September 1964
|[[Ullevaal Stadion]], [[Oslo]], Norway
|{{fb|NOR}}
| align="center" |1–0
| align="center" |1–1
|[[1964–67 Nordic Football Championship]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norge - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.sehttps//www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/norge-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568352/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.sehttps|language=sv}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |2
|7 October 1964
|[[Råsunda Stadium]], [[Solna Municipality|Solna]], Sweden
|{{fb|POL}}
| align="center" |3–3
| align="center" |3–3
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Polen - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-polen-landskamper-herr-senior/1568353/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Aftonbladet: Århundradets Sport|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/arhundradets/dagar/991007.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.aftonbladet.se}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |3
|16 June 1965
|[[Malmö Stadion]], [[Malmö]], Sweden
|{{fb|ITA}}
| align="center" |1–2
| style="text-align:center" |2–2
|Friendly
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Italien - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-italien-landskamper-herr-senior/1568359/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sveriges Landslag i Fotboll 1965|url=http://www.fotbollsweden.se/1965.htm|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.fotbollsweden.se}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |4
| rowspan="2" |7 November 1965
| rowspan="2" |[[Dr. Fazıl Küçük Stadium|Dr. Fazil Kucuk Stadium]], [[Famagusta]], Cyprus
| rowspan="2" |{{fb|CYP}}
| align="center" |4–0
| rowspan="2" align="center" |5–0
| rowspan="2" |[[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1966 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cypern - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/cypern-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568368/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |5–0
|-
| align="center" |6
|18 May 1966
|[[Stadion Olimpijski (Wrocław)|Swierczewski]], [[Wrocław]], Poland
|{{fb|POL}}
| align="center" |1–0
| align="center"|1–1
|Friendly
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polen - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/polen-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568371/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |7
| rowspan="2" |9 October 1968
| rowspan="2" |Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden
| rowspan="2" |{{fb|NOR}}
| align="center" |2–0
| rowspan="2" align="center" |5–0
| rowspan="2" |[[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1970 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Norge - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-norge-landskamper-herr-senior/1568410/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |5–0
|-
| align="center" |9
|20 May 1971
|[[Ryavallen]], [[Örebro]], Sweden
|{{fb|FIN}}
| align="center" |1–1
| align="center" |4–1
|[[1968–71 Nordic Football Championship]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Finland - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-finland-landskamper-herr-senior/1568448/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sveriges Landslag i Fotboll 1971|url=https://www.fotbollsweden.se/1971.htm|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.fotbollsweden.se}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |10
|8 August 1971
|Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden
|{{fb|NOR}}
| align="center" |3–0
| align="center" |3–0
|1968–71 Nordic Football Championship
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Norge - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.sehttps//www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-norge-landskamper-herr-senior/1568458/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.sehttps|language=sv}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
|-
| align="center" |11
|29 June 1972
|Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden
|{{fb|DEN}}
| align="center" |1–0
| align="center" |2–0
|[[1972–77 Nordic Football Championship]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Danmark - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-danmark-landskamper-herr-senior/1568471/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Sveriges Landslag i Fotboll 1972|url=https://www.fotbollsweden.se/1972.htm|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.fotbollsweden.se}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |12
|17 September 1972
|Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
|{{fb|NOR}}
| align="center" |3–1
| align="center"|3–1
|1972–77 Nordic Football Championship
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norge - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/norge-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568476/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
|-
| align="center" |13
| rowspan="2" |15 October 1972
| rowspan="2" |[[Ullevi]], [[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| rowspan="2" |{{fb|MLT}}
| align="center" |2–0
| rowspan="2" align="center" |7–0
| rowspan="2" |[[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1974 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Malta - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.sehttps//www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-malta-landskamper-herr-senior/1568477/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.sehttps|language=sv}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |3–0
|-
| align="center" |15
|11 November 1973
|[[Empire Stadium (Gżira)|Gzira Stadium]], [[Gżira]], Malta
|{{fb|MLT}}
| align="center" |2–1
| align="center" |2–1
|1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malta - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/malta-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1568494/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |16
|27 November 1973
|[[Parkstadion]], [[Gelsenkirchen]], West Germany
|{{fb|AUT}}
| align="center" |2–0
| align="center" |2–1
|1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Österrike - Sverige - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/osterrike-sverige-landskamper-herr-senior/1653034/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |17
|4 September 1974
|Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden
|{{fb|NED}}
| align="center" |1–1
| align="center" |1–5
|Friendly
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sverige - Nederländerna - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-nederlanderna-landskamper-herr-senior/1568510/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
|}

==Honours==
'''Malmö FF'''
*[[Allsvenskan]]: [[1965 Allsvenskan|1965]], [[1970 Allsvenskan|1970]], [[1971 Allsvenskan|1971]], [[1974 Allsvenskan|1974]], [[1975 Allsvenskan|1975]], [[1977 Allsvenskan|1977]]
*[[Svenska Cupen]]: [[1973 Svenska Cupen Final|1973]], [[1974 Svenska Cupen Final|1974]], [[1975 Svenska Cupen Final|1975]], [[1978 Svenska Cupen Final|1978]]
'''Trelleborgs FF'''

* [[Division 3 (Swedish football)|Division 3 Skåne]]: 1980<ref>{{Cite web|title=1980 - Clas Glenning Football|url=https://sites.google.com/site/clasglenningfootball/home/sweden-historical-tables/1980|access-date=2021-03-30|website=sites.google.com|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101035659/https://sites.google.com/site/clasglenningfootball/home/sweden-historical-tables/1980|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SvenskaFans|url=https://www.svenskafans.com/fotboll/299292|access-date=2021-03-30|website=svenskafans.com|language=sv}}</ref>
'''Individual'''
* [[Allsvenskan top scorer]]: [[1963 Allsvenskan|1963]] (17 goals), [[1965 Allsvenskan|1965]] (28 goals), [[1970 Allsvenskan|1970]] (16 goals)
* [[Guldbollen]] (Swedish Footballer of the Year): 1965, 1973 (the first to be awarded twice)
* [[Stor Grabb]]: 1968<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stora Grabbars Märke - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/landslag/herr/historik-herr/stora-grabbar/|access-date=2021-03-30|website=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}</ref>
* Best footballer of the [[Bundesliga]]: [[1968–69 Bundesliga|1968–69]]
* Athlete of the Year by the city of [[Stuttgart]]: 1969
* 2005 [[Swedish Football Association]] Hall of Fame inductee<ref>{{Cite web|title=Larsson, Bo – svenskfotboll.se|url=https://www2.svenskfotboll.se/landslag/hall-of-fame/sfs-hall-of-fame/?profile=16743|access-date=2021-03-30|website=www2.svenskfotboll.se}}</ref>
* Honorary member of [[Malmö FF]]

'''Records'''

* Most goal scorer of Malmö FF: 119 goals (307 games)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{WorldFootball.net|bo-larsson}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box| before=[[Krister Kristensson]]| title=[[Malmö FF]]<br />[[List of Malmö FF players#Club captains|Captain]]| years=1979| after=[[Roland Andersson]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg    = gold
| fg    = navy
| list1 = 
{{Allsvenskan top scorers}}
{{Swedish Footballer of the Year}}
{{Swedish Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{navboxes
| title       = Sweden squads
| bg          = #FFF01C
| fg          = #005B99
| bordercolor = #005B99
| list1  =
{{Sweden squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Sweden squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Sweden squad 1978 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larsson, Bo}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in West Germany]]
[[Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in West Germany]]
[[Category:Swedish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Skåne County]]
[[Category:Sweden men's international footballers]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart players]]
[[Category:Malmö FF players]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Trelleborgs FF players]]
[[Category:Allsvenskan players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen]]