Jonas Olsson |
Central defender |
| Born: | Landskrona | 10 March 1983 | Signed: | 31 August 2008 | |||
| Nationality: | Sweden | Height: | 6' 4" | From: | NEC (Nijmegen) | ||
| Caps: | 20 U-21 | Weight: | 13st 3lbs | Fee: | £800,000 | ||
Jonas Olsson signed for Albion on the
penultimate day of the Summer 2008
transfer window - following our successful promotion campaign under Tony Mowbray.
He came from NEC, of the Dutch Eredivisie (their top division) for a fee of
£800,000.
(NEC stands for Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie, or Nijemegen Unity Combination. They are often referred to in English as "NEC Nijmegen", but never in the Netherlands - it's a bit like saying "WBA West Bromwich".)
Olsson moved to NEC in 2005 from his home-town club, Landskrona (in Sweden). In his three years there he made 93 appearances and scored five goals. While playing for Landskrona he gained an unwanted reputation as a reckless defender, picking up a record number of yellow cards in one season, but he matured during his time at Nijemegen - saying the Dutch "one against one approach" suited his style of play.
He was linked with several English Premiership clubs (including Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Bolton and Everton) during the 2007-8 season, but an injury during the crucial January transfer window scuppered any chance of a move at that time - to Albion's eventual benefit.
He made his Albion debut in the home game against West Ham on 13th September 2008, partnering Leon Barnett in central defence. It was our fourth game of the League campaign, and it resulted in our first win.
Olsson scored his first goal two games later - the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough. He made 28 Premiership appearances in his first season, despite being out of the side for over two months (mid-January to mid-March) with tendinitis. Along with Robert Koren he was runner-up to to James Morrison in the Manchester Baggies' poll for Player of the Year.
He was made the club's vice-captain for 2009-10, and in the first half of that season he was an ever-present in Albion's defence, playing alongside Shelton Martis in the early stages and later Abdoulaye Meite. He scored two goals in the 3-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers in September, bringing his Albion total to five. He made his 50th League appearance in the game against Peterborough on Boxing Day 2009.
Olsson's towering presence at the heart of Albion's defence has been a major factor in our much-improved record against set pieces. He is no less vital as a threat to opposition defences, and his leadership qualities have established him as one of the first names on Albion's team sheet.
