1. Personal life and background
Johan Wiland's personal history is rooted in Sweden, where he began his journey in football from a young age, laying the foundation for his professional career.
1.1. Early life and upbringing
Johan Kristoffer Sellberg-Wiland was born on 24 January 1981 in Borås, Sweden, but spent his formative years growing up in the nearby locality of Viskafors. His early exposure to sports included playing ice hockey during his early teenage years, alongside his developing interest in football. He started playing football at a young age with his local club, Rydboholms SK.
1.2. Youth career
Wiland made his senior debut for Rydboholms SK at the age of 16, playing in the Swedish seventh level. His performances at this early stage caught the attention of the goalkeeping coach from IF Elfsborg, a prominent local club. In 1997, Wiland joined IF Elfsborg's youth system, marking a significant step in his football development. He remained in their youth setup until 2000 before transitioning to the senior team.
2. Club career
Wiland's club career spanned several prominent teams in Sweden and Denmark, where he consistently performed as a reliable goalkeeper, contributing to numerous league and cup titles.
2.1. IF Elfsborg
Wiland's tenure at IF Elfsborg saw him rise from a young prospect to a key player, culminating in a historic league title and multiple cup successes.
2.1.1. Senior debut and early seasons
Johan Wiland made his senior debut for IF Elfsborg on 4 May 2000, in an away match against Halmstad BK. In this debut, he was denied a clean sheet by a penalty kick scored in the 91st minute. Throughout the remainder of the season, the 19-year-old Wiland rotated with the more experienced Anders Bogsjö as Elfsborg's first-choice goalkeeper.
By the 2001 season, Wiland had firmly established himself as the starting goalkeeper for Elfsborg. On 25 May 2001, he started in the final of the Svenska Cupen against AIK. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw after both regular and extra time, but Elfsborg ultimately secured the trophy with a 10-9 victory in the penalty shootout. Later that year, on 9 August, Wiland made his debut in European competition, participating in a UEFA Cup qualifying fixture against the Estonian side JK Narva Trans, which Elfsborg won 3-1.
Between 2002 and 2004, Wiland played in all of Elfsborg's competitive Allsvenskan matches, with the exception of a few games missed due to suspensions. During these three seasons, the club generally finished in the lower half of the league table. In 2003, Elfsborg again won the Svenska Cupen, defeating Assyriska FF 2-0 in the final on 1 November at Råsunda Stadium, with Wiland keeping a clean sheet. Elfsborg subsequently participated in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup, where they were eliminated in the first round by Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. Wiland maintained a clean sheet in the home leg, which ended 0-0, but Elfsborg lost the away fixture 2-0. In 2005, Wiland missed a significant portion of the season due to a forearm fracture, limiting him to only 11 appearances in Allsvenskan.
2.1.2. League and European campaigns
The 2006 season marked a historic achievement for IF Elfsborg, as they won the Allsvenskan title, their first in 45 years. Wiland was instrumental in this success, starting in all 26 matches throughout the campaign. He conceded only 19 goals, the fewest in the league, and recorded an impressive 12 clean sheets.
As reigning Swedish champions, Elfsborg entered the qualification rounds for the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League. Their campaign ended in the third qualifying round on 29 August 2007, when they were knocked out by Valencia CF with a 5-1 aggregate score. Notably, Valencia became the first visiting team to secure a victory at Borås Arena in eight months. Following their Champions League exit, Elfsborg competed in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Wiland featured in all six of their fixtures in this competition.
2.1.3. Individual recognition
In 2008, Wiland set a new league record in Allsvenskan by keeping 19 clean sheets in a single season. Elfsborg finished second in the league that year, and Wiland's strong performances attracted considerable interest from clubs abroad. In the fall of 2008, he notably declined a move to Premier League side Tottenham, reportedly seeking more regular playing time than the backup role he was offered behind Heurelho Gomes. At the end of 2008, Wiland was honored as the Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year at the annual Fotbollsgalan, an event hosted by the Swedish Football Association.
2.2. F.C. Copenhagen
Wiland's move to F.C. Copenhagen marked a highly successful period in his career, characterized by multiple domestic titles and individual accolades, though he also faced challenges towards the end of his tenure.
2.2.1. Transfer and initial period
In January 2009, Johan Wiland transferred to F.C. Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga. He signed a five-year contract with the club, with the transfer fee reported to be approximately 8.00 M DKK, equivalent to about 1.00 M GBP. Initially, Wiland faced competition for playing time and served as a backup to Danish international goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen throughout the spring of 2009. However, by the following season, 2009-10, Wiland had established himself as Copenhagen's first-choice goalkeeper.
2.2.2. Successes and individual awards
The 2009-10 season was highly successful for Wiland and F.C. Copenhagen. He won several honors, including the Goalkeeper of the Year in Denmark and, for the second time in his career, the Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year award. During the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League campaign, Wiland's impressive performances led to his inclusion in the UEFA Champions League "Team of the Week."
In the 2011-12 season, Wiland recorded the second-highest number of clean sheets in the league. He also secured his second consecutive Goalkeeper of the Year in Denmark award in 2011 and was voted F.C. Copenhagen Player of the Year in 2012, highlighting his consistent excellence.
2.2.3. Later seasons and departure
During the 2012-13 season, Wiland experienced a decline in form and suffered from several injuries. Manager Ståle Solbakken openly criticized his performances, though Wiland remained the first-choice goalkeeper for the entire season. A notable moment for Wiland during this period was Copenhagen's surprising 1-1 draw against Serie A club Juventus in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 17 September 2013. Wiland's series of crucial saves in the second half helped his team secure a valuable point.
In the summer of 2014, Wiland lost his starting position at Copenhagen following the arrival of Danish international goalkeeper Stephan Andersen. He remained on the bench for the rest of the year, with his playing time limited to a single appearance in the Danish Cup. In total, Wiland played 141 matches in the Danish Superliga during his time at Copenhagen. He also made 43 appearances in continental competitions (UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League) and played 8 matches in the domestic cup. In 2014, in a fan poll involving 32,000 participants, Wiland was selected as the goalkeeper for F.C. Copenhagen's all-time favorite XI.
2.3. Malmö FF
Wiland's move to Malmö FF saw him continue his success in Swedish football, contributing to more league titles and participating in the UEFA Champions League, before seeking a move for personal reasons.
2.3.1. Transfer and Champions League involvement
In July 2015, Johan Wiland transferred to Malmö FF following the departure of their previous first-choice goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, to PAOK FC. Wiland signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club. In the same fall, Wiland played a crucial role in Malmö's 2015-16 UEFA Champions League campaign. On 25 August, he kept a clean sheet as Malmö defeated Celtic 2-0 in the Champions League group play-off round, securing Malmö's advancement to the group stage with a 4-3 aggregate score.
In the group stage, Malmö was drawn into a challenging group alongside European giants Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Malmö ultimately finished last in their group. However, Wiland kept a clean sheet in the home leg against Shakhtar Donetsk on 21 October, a match Malmö won 1-0, which was their only victory in the group stage.
2.3.2. League championship and departure
In the 2016 season, Malmö FF won the domestic championship, with Wiland playing a significant role. He made 28 appearances and recorded 12 clean sheets, which was the second-highest number in the entire league. At the end of the year, he was recognized for his performances by being voted as the Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year.
As reigning champions, Malmö qualified for the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League. They entered the tournament in the second qualifying round but were surprisingly knocked out on 18 July by FK Vardar from Macedonia, losing 4-2 on aggregate. Around this time, Wiland sought a move away from the club for personal reasons, expressing a desire to live closer to his family in Stockholm. Simultaneously, Malmö had acquired goalkeeper Johan Dahlin from FC Midtjylland, and Wiland was granted permission to leave the club. In total, Wiland made 16 league appearances for Malmö in 2017. Malmö FF went on to win the Allsvenskan title in October, after his departure.
2.4. Hammarby IF
Wiland's final club was Hammarby IF, where he reached a significant career milestone before an injury ultimately led to his retirement.
2.4.1. Transfer and debut
On 28 July 2017, Johan Wiland transferred to Hammarby IF, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for the club the very next day, 29 July, in a 1-0 away loss against Jönköpings Södra. Wiland secured his first clean sheet for Hammarby on 21 August, in a 3-0 away victory over Örebro SK. His performance in a derby fixture against AIK on 10 September, where he made a series of crucial saves to keep the score at 1-1, earned him significant praise. Following the 2017 season, Wiland was nominated for the Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year award, recognizing his strong performances for both Malmö FF and Hammarby. He also won his second consecutive prize as Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year.
2.4.2. Milestones and final season
On 13 August 2018, in a 0-0 away draw against IFK Norrköping, Wiland achieved a significant milestone by keeping his 100th clean sheet in Allsvenskan. He played 25 games during the 2018 season, as Hammarby finished fourth in the Allsvenskan table. However, Wiland's season was cut short in October when he underwent surgery for a shoulder injury.
After being sidelined for the first half of the 2019 season, Wiland made his return to the pitch as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Kalmar FF on 4 August. He ultimately played 7 games in Allsvenskan that year, competing for the starting position with former second-choice goalkeeper Davor Blažević. Hammarby finished third in the league table. On 17 February 2020, at the age of 39, Wiland announced his immediate retirement from professional football, stating that he was unable to fully recover from his persistent shoulder injury.
3. International career
Johan Wiland represented the Swedish national team for several years, participating in major European tournaments as a backup goalkeeper.
3.1. National team debut
Johan Wiland made his debut for the Sweden national team in January 2007, during a tour in South America. His first appearance was against the Ecuador national team on 18 January 2007. He also participated in a North American tour the following year.
3.2. European Championship campaigns
Wiland was included in the Swedish squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament held in Austria and Switzerland. During this competition, he served as a backup goalkeeper to Andreas Isaksson and was considered by manager Lars Lagerbäck as the third-choice goalkeeper, behind Isaksson and Rami Shaaban.
He was again called up to the Swedish national team by manager Erik Hamrén for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, where he once more acted as a backup to Isaksson.
3.3. International retirement
Wiland's final competitive appearance for Sweden occurred on 15 October 2013, in a 5-3 loss against Germany. Following this match, Sweden ultimately failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Subsequently, Wiland informed the Swedish coaching staff of his decision to retire from international football.
4. Playing statistics
| Club | Season | League Apps | League Goals | Cup Apps | Cup Goals | Continental Apps | Continental Goals | Other Apps | Other Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IF Elfsborg | 2000 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2001 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| Total (Elfsborg) | 209 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 246 | 0 | |
| F.C. Copenhagen | 2008-09 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009-10 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2011-12 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2012-13 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| 2013-14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2014-15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total (Copenhagen) | 141 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 0 | |
| Malmö FF | 2015 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Total (Malmö FF) | 58 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 0 | |
| Hammarby IF | 2017 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total (Hammarby IF) | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 453 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 561 | 0 | |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | |
5. Honours
Johan Wiland achieved significant team and individual honors throughout his distinguished career in both Swedish and Danish football.
5.1. Club honours
IF Elfsborg
- Allsvenskan: 2006
- Svenska Cupen: 2001, 2003
- Svenska Supercupen: 2007
F.C. Copenhagen
- Danish Superliga: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13
- Danish Cup: 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15
Malmö FF
- Allsvenskan: 2016, 2017
5.2. Individual awards
- Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year: 2008, 2010
- Goalkeeper of the Year in Denmark: 2010, 2011
- F.C. Copenhagen Player of the Year: 2012
- Allsvenskan Goalkeeper of the Year: 2016, 2017
6. Post-retirement activities
After announcing his retirement from professional football in February 2020 due to a shoulder injury, Johan Wiland transitioned into a coaching role. On 5 January 2021, he was appointed as a goalkeeping coach for AFC Eskilstuna, a Swedish football club.
7. Assessment and impact
Johan Wiland is widely regarded as one of the most consistent and decorated Swedish goalkeepers of his generation. His career, spanning nearly two decades, was marked by remarkable longevity and a significant collection of team and individual honors across both Swedish and Danish top flights. Wiland's ability to maintain high performance standards for multiple successful clubs, including IF Elfsborg, F.C. Copenhagen, and Malmö FF, underscores his reliability and impact. He was a key figure in multiple league championship wins and domestic cup victories, often praised for his shot-stopping abilities, command of the penalty area, and leadership from the back. His individual accolades, such as multiple Goalkeeper of the Year awards in both Sweden and Denmark, further solidify his standing as an elite performer in his position. Wiland's career demonstrated a strong commitment to his craft and a consistent ability to perform under pressure, contributing significantly to the success of the teams he represented.