Martin Tony Waikwa Olsson (born 17 May 1988) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a left-back.
Olsson signed for Blackburn Rovers from Högaborgs BK in January 2006. In 2013, Premier League side Norwich City signed him for an undisclosed fee. In January 2017, he left Norwich to join Swansea until 2019. In 2020, he signed with Allsvenskan club Helsingborgs IF in his native Sweden before moving on to represent both BK Häcken and Malmö FF.
A full international between 2010 and 2023, Olsson won 56 caps for the Sweden national team and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2012 and 2016 as well as the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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Club career
Blackburn Rovers
Olsson began his playing career in Sweden by playing for Högaborgs BK, where former national star Henrik Larsson began his career. Olsson was working his way through the youth setup at the club in 2005–06. His talent attracted the attention of football clubs in Europe and in January 2006 Premier League club Blackburn Rovers signed him for their youth academy.
He made his Blackburn debut in the UEFA Cup qualifier in the 2007–08 season as a late substitution for Stephen Warnock.
He made his Premier League debut against Derby County in a 2–1 victory on 30 December 2007, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Morten Gamst Pedersen at Pride Park, in front of a crowd of 30,048 spectators and the referee was Peter Walton. He was voted Blackburn's Young Player of the Year for the season 2007–08.
In May 2008, Olsson signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at Blackburn until June 2012.
On 24 September 2008, Olsson scored his first Blackburn goal, scoring the winning goal in a League Cup tie against Everton. The goal turned out to be the only goal of the match. On 20 January 2010, he scored a spectacular overhead kick in a 6–4 League Cup semi-final defeat against Aston Villa in the 63rd minute at Villa Park.
On 23 November 2009, Olsson was sent off for two yellow card offences on Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon. He scored his first Premier League goal on 10 February against Hull City at Ewood Park in a 1–0 victory. Olsson made his 25th league appearance at home to Birmingham City on 24 March 2010 in a 2–1 win. On 28 March 2010, when he made his 40th appearance for Blackburn against Burnley in the East Lancashire derby at Turf Moor in the 1–0 victory, he caused controversy when he looked like he had dived inside Burnley's penalty area, consequently by winning a penalty after taking the ball round Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen. Subsequently, the penalty was scored by David Dunn. On 29 March 2010, Olsson admitted to the dive, Rovers manager, Sam Allardyce defended Olsson by saying he was his man of the match and created havoc and chaos in and around the eighteen yard box all match.
Norwich City
On 10 July 2013, Olsson was signed by Premier League side Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. He signed a four-year deal at Carrow Road. He scored his first goal for the club against Bury in the League Cup on 27 August 2013. Olsson made 37 appearances in all competitions but could not prevent his new team from relegation in his return to Premier League football.
On the opening day of the 2014–15 season, Olsson was sent off for two bookable offences in a 1–0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship. He was later charged with improper conduct by the FA for allegedly making physical contact with referee Simon Hooper. On 18 August, Olsson's ban was extended by a further three matches after the FA found him guilty of improper conduct, which Norwich announced they would not contend. He was also fined £3,000. He returned from suspension for the match away at Cardiff City where, with Norwich two goals down, he scored the first goal in a comeback that saw Norwich win the match 4–2. From then on, he would be a permanent feature in the Norwich team, appearing in 42 of the 46 league matches, as the team finished third in the league to qualify for the Championship play-offs. Olsson played in all three matches including the 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley Stadium, which saw Norwich return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Olsson would however make fewer appearances in the 2015–16 Premier League season, only appearing in 24 of the 38 league matches, including four appearances as a substitute, with Robbie Brady often being preferred at left-back. He would however score a dramatic winner on 2 April 2016 against Newcastle United. With the match 2–2 going into stoppage time, Olsson scored with a long-distance shot to give Norwich a 3–2 win. The win was ultimately in vain however, as Norwich were relegated to the Championship again at the end of the season. The relegation was confirmed after Sunderland won 3–0 against Everton where the Canaries were four points off safety.
For the 2016–17 season, Olsson was given the number 3 shirt and would once more be a regular in the side, appearing in 19 of the first 26 league matches. He scored another goal for Norwich, the first in a 3–1 win over Burton Albion, and also receive another red card two minutes into a match against Queens Park Rangers when he handled to prevent a goal. Although QPR missed the resulting penalty, Norwich ultimately lost the match 2–1. His last appearance for Norwich was in a 2–2 draw against Southampton in the FA Cup.
Swansea City
On 17 January 2017, it was announced that Olsson had signed for Premier League club Swansea City for around £4 million. Olsson scored his first goal on 12 February 2017 in a match against reigning champions Leicester City in a 2–0 victory for the Welsh club.
Olsson became a first team regular in the 2017–18 season, making a total of 36 appearances, but could not prevent the club with relegation at the end of that season. This meant that Olsson was set for a fourth Premier League relegation, same as Robert Green and former Norwich teammate Sébastien Bassong, but one off the current record holders Hermann Hreiðarsson and Nathan Blake.
The club confirmed on 18 May 2019 that he will be released upon expiry of his contract.
Helsingborgs IF
Olsson signed for Helsingborgs IF on a one-year contract ahead of the 2020 Allsvenskan season and played in 25 league games as Helsingborg was relegated to Superettan.
Häcken BK
After Helsingborg's relegation to Superettan, Olsson left the club to sign for the Allsvenskan club BK Häcken. He made 10 Allsvenskan appearances for the club during the 2021 season before being bought by the reigning Swedish Champions Malmö FF.
Malmö FF
On 12 August 2021, Malmö FF announced the signing of Olsson.
On 19 January 2023, Malmö's manager Henrik Rydström announced that Olsson had been partially suspended from training and the team's match squad due to repeated late arrival for meetings and training sessions.
On 3 March 2024, during the final game of the Swedish Cup group stage, Varberg forward Yusuf Abdulazeez was shown a second yellow and subsequently a red card after a tackle on Derek Cornelius. In the commotion that ensued, Olsson punched Robin Tranberg in the jaw and was instantly shown a red card. A police report was filed against Olsson but Malmö Police dismissed it shortly after. Following the incident, the Swedish Football Association punished Olsson with a five match suspension until April 22, 2024.
International career
Olsson has played several matches for Sweden's under 18 and under 21 national squads.
He was selected to be part of the senior 23-man squad that would face Bosnia and Herzegovina on 29 May and Belarus on 2 June 2010. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Olsson put Sweden back in front from close range in the 68th minute, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, and added his second in the 82nd from Marcus Berg's center. On 6 September 2011, he made his first start for the national team, playing at left back, and scored Sweden's third goal in the 81st minute of the 5–0 victory over San Marino after a clever reverse pass by Zlatan Ibrahimović in a Group E Euro 2012 qualifying fixture. In May 2012, Olsson was named in the 23-man squad to compete for Sweden at UEFA Euro 2012 and was given the number 5 shirt.
In May 2018 he was named in Sweden's 23 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Personal life
Olsson was born in Gävle, Sweden, to a Swedish father and Kenyan mother. He has a twin brother, Marcus, who also is a professional footballer. His brother-in-law is former Dallas Mavericks basketball player Dirk Nowitzki, who is married to Martin's sister Jessica Olsson.
His agent used to be the former Sweden international player Stefan Schwarz. Controversial agent Rune Hauge has also worked for Olsson, after being introduced to him by former Blackburn Rovers teammate Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 29 January 2025
International
As of match played 20 June 2023
Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Olsson goal.
Honours
Norwich City
Football League Championship play-offs: 2015
Malmö FF
Allsvenskan: 2021, 2023, 2024
Svenska Cupen: 2021–22, 2023–24
Individual
Swedish Defender of the Year: 2013
Stor Grabb: 2013