Thomas Ravelli

Thomas Ravelli was born on August 13, 1959, in Vimmerby, Sweden. His professional football career as a goalkeeper spanned 21 years. Ravelli played extensively for Östers IF and IFK Göteborg, participating in a combined 416 Allsvenskan games. He made his debut with Östers IF in 1976 and remained with the club until 1988, securing three Allsvenskan championships during this period. In 1989, at the age of 29, he transferred to IFK Göteborg where he achieved six additional league titles and one Swedish Cup.

Ravelli’s international career with the Sweden national team began in 1981 and lasted almost two decades. He represented Sweden in multiple major tournaments, including the 1990 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1992, and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. His performance in the 1994 World Cup, where Sweden finished third, included saving two penalties in the quarter-final shootout against Romania. This achievement contributed to his recognition, earning him a second-place ranking for ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ in 1994 and a seventh-place ranking in Europe by France Football.

After his time with IFK Göteborg, Ravelli played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer in 1998, followed by a final season with his original club, Östers IF, in 1999. He concluded his career having played nearly 500 official matches. Ravelli is the twin brother of Andreas Ravelli, who also played professional football.