Pontus Wernbloom

Pontus Wernbloom

Wernbloom playing for CSKA Moscow in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Pontus Anders Mikael Wernbloom[1]
Date of birth	25 June 1986
Place of birth	Kungälv, Sweden
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Playing position	Central midfielder
Club information
Current team	CSKA Moscow
Number	3
Youth career
2001–2003	Kongahälla
2004–2005	IFK Göteborg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2009	IFK Göteborg	94	(26)
2009–2012	AZ	67	(7)
2012–	CSKA Moscow	113	(9)
National team^‡
2006–2009	Sweden U21	24	(6)
2007–	Sweden	50	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 April 2016. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Pontus Anders Mikael Wernbloom (born 25 June 1986 in Kungälv, Bohuslän) is a Swedish footballer who plays for CSKA Moscow in the Russian Premier League and the Swedish national team. He is regarded by fans as a 'fearless defensive midfielder who is very capable in the air as well as with his feet'. Often nicknamed 'Il Grande Pontus' (Literally translated 'The Big Pontus') by some of his fans, his physique is perhaps one of the reasons he has gained such a nickname.

Club career

After playing for local club Herrljunga SK, he joined the youth team of IFK Göteborg in 2004, before being promoted to the senior team in 2005.^[3] He quickly made a name for himself with his hard tackles, fighting spirit and generally fearless playing style. When Håkan Mild retired after the 2005 season, Wernbloom secured a place in the starting line-up. However, during the following season he struggled to retain his place as the club changed its playing style under new management. When striker Marcus Berg left to play for FC Groningen in the summer of 2007, Wernbloom switched to forward and was able to be a starter once again.

In April 2009, he signed a contract with Dutch club AZ. He made his Eredivisie debut against Heracles Almelo on 2 August 2009 and scored his first goal in a 3–3 draw away to VVV on 21 February 2010. Wernbloom scored a goal in both play-off round legs against Kazakh side FC Aktobe, helping his team to qualify for the group stage of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League.

In January 2012, Wernbloom left AZ for signing a long-term contract with the Russian top club CSKA Moscow.^[4] Plagued by injuries, Wernbloom was plunged into the deep end against a highly favored Real Madrid side in the knockout stages of the Champions League. In the game against his alleged favorite club, he scored a dramatic half-volley in the dying minutes to equalize 1–1.

International career

He debuted for the Sweden under-21 side in 2006, scoring a goal in the 12th minute of the match. On 7 January 2007, he was picked for the Swedish national team's January Tour in South America, and he made his debut on 18 January against Ecuador.^[5]

Personal life

Wernbloom married girlfriend Nina in 2010 who gave birth to their son Mille the following year.^[6]

He openly took a stance against Sweden Democrats prior to the 2010 Swedish general election, and stated his support for socialism in Aftonbladet.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 March 2016^[8][9][10]

Club	Season	League		Cup^1		League Cup		Continental^2		Other^3		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
IFK Göteborg	2005	7	1			-		3	0	-		10	1
	2006	24	6			-		2	0	-		26	6
	2007	24	6			-		-		-		24	6
	2008	26	8			-		3	2	1	0	30	10
	2009	11	5			-		-		1	0	12	5
	Total	92	26			-		8	2	2	0	102	28
AZ	2009–10	23	1	2	0	-		4	0	1	0	28	1
	2010–11	29	4	3	1	-		10	2	-		42	7
	2011–12	11	0	2	1	-		9	4	-		22	5
	Total	63	5	7	2	-		23	6	1	0	94	13
CSKA Moscow	2011–12	11	0	0	0	-		2	1	-		13	1
	2012–13	26	4	4	0	-		2	0	-		32	4
	2013–14	28	1	1	0	-		6	0	1	0	36	1
	2014–15	25	2	4	0	-		2	0	1	1	32	3
	2015–16	19	2	3	0	-		10	0	-		32	2
	Total	109	9	12	0	-		22	1	2	1	145	11
Career total		264	40	19	2	-		53	9	5	1	341	52

¹Includes Svenska Cupen, KNVB Cup and Russian Cup.

²Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

³Includes Svenska Supercupen, Johan Cruijff Shield and Russian Super Cup.

International

Sweden national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2007	1	0
2008	1	0
2009	2	0
2010	8	2
2011	7	0
2012	10	0
2013	7	0
2014	6	0
2015	5	0
2016	2	0
Total	50	2

Statistics accurate as of match played 29 March 2016^[11]

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	3 September 2010	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Hungary	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2.				2–0

Honours

Club

IFK Göteborg

• Allsvenskan (1): 2007
• Svenska Cupen (1): 2008
• Supercupen (1): 2008

AZ

• Johan Cruijff Shield (1): 2009

CSKA Moscow

• Russian Premier League (2): 2012–13, 2013–14
• Russian Cup (1): 2012–13
• Russian Super Cup (2): 2013, 2014

References

1. Holm, Stefan (2 June 2012). "Jag lät honom alltid vinna, annars grät han". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
2. "Pontus Wernbloom profile". CSKA Moscow official website. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
3. Pontus Wernbloom: "Svenska spelare är för tråkiga" on www.ifkgoetborg.blogspot.com
4. "Official: CSKA Moscow snap up Pontus Wernbloom from AZ". www.goal.com/en. goal.com. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
5. "Jag är en maträtt med mycket krydda i" on www.recept.nu
6. "Nina Wernbloom's blog" (in Swedish). Behindeveryman.se. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
7. "Bodström: Gör Wernbloom till minister" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
8. "P.Wernbloom". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
9. "Pontus Wernbloom". http://www.national-football-teams.com/. Retrieved 11 December 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
10. "Pontus Wernbloom" (in Swedish). http://svenskfotboll.se/. Retrieved 11 December 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
11. "Pontus Wernbloom". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 August 2014.

External links

• Pontus Wernbloom at CSKA Moscow
• Pontus Wernbloom at National-Football-Teams.com
• Statistik/ligor – svenskfotboll.se