Markus Rosenberg

CelticKing · Nov 29, 2007

Champions League MVP Profile: Markus Rosenberg

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>

This week’s Champions League MVP was a close call, not least because of the number of strikers on form. Ibrahimović, Vučinić, Torres and Drogba were just four names to spring to mind. But it’s not everyday that one of Europe’s smaller clubs gets the better of the mighty Real Madrid: scoring one and making one in a 3-2 win, Werder Bremen’s Markus Rosenberg is Goal.com’s Champions League MVP for Matchday 5.

Humble Beginnings

Born in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Malmö</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region></st1lace> in September 1982, Nils Markus Rosenberg has developed into a leading striker for his club and country. The professional career of the man nicknamed ‘Mackan’ began in 2001 at local club Malmö FF. 

It is fair, however, to say that the striker’s potential was not immediately recognised. Often languishing on the sidelines at Malmö, Markus was loaned out at the age of 21 to fellow Swedish outfit Halmstads BK. 

2004 proved to be the season in which <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city>’s goalscoring ability finally became apparent. Netting 14 times in just 26 appearances for Halmstad, Markus was crowned the Swedish league’s top goalscorer. Returning to Malmö, he also topped the scoring charts in <st1lace w:st="on">Scandinavia</st1lace>’s international club competition, the Royal League.

Going Dutch<o></o>

<st1:city w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1:city>’s exploits in front of goal convinced <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Ajax</st1lace></st1:city> manager Danny Blind to take a punt on him. A €5.3m bid at the start of the 2005/06 season secured the striker’s passage to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1lace></st1:city>, where he scored on both his club debut (in a Uefa Cup qualifier) and his Eredivisie debut. 

The Swede’s impressive early performances quickly established him as a regular in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Ajax</st1lace></st1:city>’s starting line-up, but his form dipped soon after. Blind eventually elected to deploy him on the left flank of a 4-3-3 formation, instead favouring Klaas Jan Huntelaar in the central striking role. 

<st1:city w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1:city> found the target with decreasing regularity, but nonetheless played his part in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Ajax</st1lace></st1:city>’s success, helping them lift the Dutch Cup and clinch a Champions League qualification spot via the Eredivisie’s playoff system. Meanwhile, he had already broken into the Swedish national side, but despite making the squad for the 2006 World Cup, Rosenberg failed to feature in any of the Blue-and-Yellows’ matches in Germany.

Bundesliga Bound<o></o>

It was the desire to make strides with his country that prompted Markus to seek pastures new. Restricted to a peripheral role at <st1:city w:st="on">Ajax</st1:city> under new boss Henk ten Cate, the Swede seized his chance in January 2007 as Werder <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Bremen</st1lace></st1:state> came knocking. 

Trainer Thomas Schaaf wasted no time in putting the €3m signing straight into the starting XI. Nevertheless, <st1:city w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1:city> had to wait until March for his first Werder goal, but it proved an invaluable strike: one-nil down against Bayern München at the Allianz Arena, <st1:city w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1:city> pounced in the 66th minute to earn <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Bremen</st1lace></st1:state> a draw.

International Incident

<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city>’s quest for international football has since proved fruitful – he now has 19 Swedish caps and six goals to his name, playing an important role in Lars Lagerbäck’s side’s successful qualification for next summer’s European Championships. 

Ironically though, perhaps his highest profile moment in a yellow shirt came in a Euro 2008 qualifier against <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Denmark</st1lace></st1:country-region> where he was the recipient of a punch in the stomach from Christian Poulsen. The infamous incident sparked chaos as the referee awarded a penalty, only to be assaulted by a fan who had invaded the pitch.

Not Working At Werder?

The 2007/08 season at Werder has been a mixed bag for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city>. Despite departure of Miroslav Klose, competition for places in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Bremen</st1:state></st1lace>’s attack remains tough. Ivan Klasnić and Aaron Hunt – both recently returned from injury – are vying for starting spots along with Rosenberg, Boubacar Sanogo and Hugo Almeida. <o></o>

<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city> has already been the subject of criticism from his boss this season, who suggested his work rate was far from satisfactory. On Wednesday night at the Weserstadion, however, the Swede demonstrated the height of his capabilities, playing a pivotal role in the 3-2 victory over Real Madrid. 

Giant Killing At The Weser

<st1:state w:st="on">Bremen</st1:state> have always pursued big ambitions on a small budget, constantly causing Bayern problems in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Germany</st1lace></st1:country-region> despite enjoying only a fraction of the Bavarians’ wealth. In Europe last season they defeated <st1:city w:st="on">Chelsea</st1:city>, while <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Barcelona</st1lace></st1:city> only escaped the Weserstadion with a point courtesy of a last-minute equaliser. 

Real <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Madrid</st1lace></st1:state> had no such luck on Wednesday. As is typically the way with these things, debate after the game focused on <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Madrid</st1lace></st1:state>’s poor performance. But Werder – without five key players, including Diego and Torsten Frings – outshone the Spanish champions and deserve credit. None more so than Markus Rosenberg.<o></o>

Schaaf’s side came roaring out of the blocks and took the lead through their Swedish number 9 after just four minutes. Boubacar Sanogo chested a high ball into the path of Rosenberg, who kept his cool to tap the ball over the diving Casillas. 

Twice more Werder hit the back of the net, with their second strike the goal of the night: showing pace in abundance, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city> collected the ball inside his own half and darted down the right wing, leaving firstly Gago, then Metzelder trailing in his wake. The cross to the waiting Sanogo was inch-perfect, the finish sublime as the home side took a 2-1 lead. 

<st1:city w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1:city>’s classy display continued after the break, his movement on and off the ball creating havoc amongst <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Madrid</st1lace></st1:state>’s back four. The Swede could even have added to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Bremen</st1lace></st1:state>’s tally in the 70th minute, firing narrowly wide.

A Team Effort

<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Rosenberg</st1lace></st1:city> gets the nod from us, but Thomas Schaaf rightly observed that the whole team earned this famous victory. “When you look at how many absentees we had, you can’t rate this win highly enough,” said the coach. “This was not your everyday performance.” Indeed it wasn't, but Werder will need more of the same at Olympiacos on Matchday 6 to progress to the knock-out stages.



Particulars <o></o>

Name: Nils Markus Rosenberg<o></o>

Position: Striker<o></o>

Nationality: Swedish<o></o>

Date Of Birth: 27th September 1982<o></o>

Place Of Birth: <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Malmö</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region></st1lace><o></o>

Height: 1.83m<o></o>

Weight: 80kg

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Markus Rosenberg

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