Challenges The Gunnar Nordahl Challenge

[samhardy]

The Gunnar Nordahl Challenge

Credit to @danovic78 for this challenge.

When Swedish footballers are brought up today, most people would think of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the most well-known Swedish player in modern history. Nordahl, however, who preceded Ibrahimovic by over half a century, is arguably the greatest goal-scorer Sweden has ever seen.

In four stunning seasons with Norrkoping, Nordahl made history, leading his club to the title in every season while also winning the Golden Boot for the league all four times. The Swede finished his stint at the club with 87 goals in 85 games, seven of those coming in Norrkoping’s 11-1 annihilation of Djurgardens. Nordahl’s incredible play was hardly unnoticed, and in 1949 Italy’s AC Milan bought one of the best  players in Europe. Scoring on his Rossoneri debut to win 3-2 against Pro Patria, Nordahl’s 16 goals in 15 games with the club in half a season was such a good record that the club renewed his contract just six months into his Milan career.

In Nordahl’s first full season with Milan, the Swede broke the post-war goal scoring record for a single season in Serie A, netting an astonishing 35 goals, 11 of which were volleys. While no slouch with his head, Nordahl became well-known for his stealthy movement and simple finishes, driving his club to new heights. In fact, Nordahl had such a strong influence on Milan that the Rossoneri went out and bought two of his former Swedish teammates, Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Gren, forming the feared Gre-No-Li attacking trio that would terrorize Serie A defences in the coming years.

It was with his country mates at Milan where Nordahl thrived, claiming the Italian championship in 1951 and 1955 while becoming the Capocannoniere in all but the 1951/52 campaign during that period. The striker hit goal after goal assisted by his fellow Swedes, forming a “telepathic understanding, which we developed through years of training together,” as he put it himself. In 1956, after 257 appearances and an incredible 210 goals for Milan, Nordahl left to join Roma in the twilight of his career. He would play for two more seasons, netting 15 times in 34 games despite his age, and became a player-coach in a third campaign with the club.

Can you match these incredible goal scoring feats in the one of the toughest leagues to play in?

Challenge Rules

Load up Italy and any other countries and take charge of any Serie A side.

• You must sign a Scandiwegian (Norway/Sweden/Denmark) striker.
• You have eight seasons in which to replicate Gunnar’s achievements.
• You must win at least 2 League Titles, League Top Scorer in at least 5 seasons, beat his total of 210 league goals and his average of 0.77 goals per match.
• Own formations only.
• No unlockables, edited databases, or use of any of the editors.
• Evidence is required, I'd suggest posting a career thread for us to follow.
• No cheating - Restarting to avoid injuries counts as cheating!!

Leaderboard

@Mr Tree - Emiliano Marcondes - 206 goals, 0.72 per match

[EvzeyWales]

Think i'm going to give this a try - when I get some time I will start a career - I have a guy in mind for this