Tore Klas Agne Simonsson (19 October 1935 â 22 September 2020) was a Swedish professional footballer who played as a striker. Beginning his career with ÃÂrgryte IS in 1953, he went on to represent Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in La Liga in the early 1960s before returning to ÃÂrgryte in 1963. Simonsson won 51 caps for the Sweden national team, and was a part of the Sweden team that finished second at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was also the recipient of the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal after a spectacular performance for Sweden in an international game against England at Wembley Stadium.
Simonsson played youth football for BK René before signing for ÃÂrgryte IS in 1949. He made his senior debut for ÃÂrgryte in 1953, when the team played in Division 3. He helped the team win promotion to Division 2 in 1955, and later won promotion to Allsvenskan in 1958 with Gunnar Gren as a player-coach. While at ÃÂrgryte IS, he finished fifth in votes for the 1959 Ballon d'Or and was awarded the 1959 Guldbollen.
Widely regarded as the best center forward in the world after a string of impressive performances for the Sweden national team, Simonsson was signed by the La Liga team Real Madrid in 1960. However, fierce competition from especially Alfredo Di Stéfano limited Simonsson's playing chances at the club and he ended up playing in only three league games during the 1960âÂÂ61 La Liga season, scoring one goal as Real Madrid was crowned champions. His only goal was the third goal against Real Zaragoza in a 5âÂÂ1 home win in 9th round. He was also a part of the Real Madrid teams that won the 1960 Intercontinental Cup and the 1962âÂÂ63 La Liga, but did receive any playing time. Simonsson is the only Swede ever to have represented Real Madrid menâÂÂs team.
For the 1961âÂÂ62 La Liga season, Simonsson was loaned out to Real Sociedad for which he scored 8 goals in 22 league games. However, at the end of the season Simonsson was forced to see his team be relegated, as the team finished 15th out of 16 teams in the table.
In 1963, Simonsson returned to Sweden and ÃÂrgryte IS to form a feared striker partnership together with Rune Börjesson. Simonsson is ÃÂrgryte IS' best ever goal scorer in league play with a total of 206 goals.
Simonsson made his only appearance for the Sweden U21 team on 22 September 1957 in a friendly game against Finland, scoring a hat-trick in a 7âÂÂ0 win. He made his full international debut for Sweden a month later on 13 October 1957 in a 1956âÂÂ59 Nordic Football Championship game against Norway, scoring two goals as Sweden won 5âÂÂ2.
Simonsson scored four goals as Sweden reached the final of the 1958 FIFA World Cup on home soil, including a goal in the final as Sweden lost 2âÂÂ5 to Brazil.
He was awarded the 1959 Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal as well as the 1959 Guldbollen after his performance against England on 28 October 1959 when Sweden beat the English 3âÂÂ2 at Wembley Stadium and Simonsson scored two goals and made one assist. This was only the second time in history that a team beat England at Wembley.
He won his 51st and final cap in a 2âÂÂ0 win against Finland on 10 August 1967 in the 1964âÂÂ67 Nordic Football Championship. He scored a total of 27 international goals.
In 1982, he managed BK Häcken to win promotion to their first ever season in Allsvenskan. As a manager for ÃÂrgryte IS, Simonsson led the team to the 1985 Swedish Championship title, winning them their first league title since 1913.
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BK Häcken
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