Andreas Isaksson

Born in Smygehamn, Isaksson began his senior career with Trelleborgs FF, where he played two seasons 1998 and 1999. He became known as a great goalkeeping prospect and was thus bought by Italian club Juventus in July 1999, but with the likes of Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the squad, Isaksson never played a first-team game for the Turin-based club.

In January 2001, Isaksson signed with Stockholm-based Djurgårdens IF[4] in order to play first-team football. In his first two full seasons, 2002 and 2003, Djurgården won two-straight Swedish titles as well as the cup in 2002. He was voted best Swedish goalkeeper for four consecutive years from 2002 to 2005.[5]

In July 2004, French club Rennes signed him to replace Petr Čech, and he became the starting goalkeeper.

Isaksson in goal for Manchester City in May 2007

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Isaksson completed a £2 million move to Manchester City of the Premier League on 15 August 2006. He was expected to replace David James as their first choice goalkeeper, but due to knee and ankle injuries[6] and the form of Nicky Weaver, he did not achieve this. He made his debut on 9 December 2006, when he replaced the injured Weaver at half-time in a Manchester derby match which City lost 3–1 to Manchester United.[7] After his second start for City on 14 March 2007, he played all of the remaining ten games of 2006–07, keeping four clean sheets, and saved a penalty kick from Jermain Defoe on the last day of the season, although City nonetheless lost 2–1 to Tottenham Hotspur.[8]

Isaksson played the majority of City's next pre-season campaign in Sweden and Belgium, but after his thumb was fractured in a training session, he did not play for City in the first two months of 2007–08, picking up a knee injury right afterwards. Isaksson made his first appearance of the season for Manchester City by keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 away win against Bolton Wanderers to put the team into the quarter-finals of the League Cup, on 31 October 2007.[9] In November and December. he had a run of five league games in the first team, as part of a rotation used by manager Sven-Göran Eriksson to decide upon his first-choice goalkeeper. His run, however, was ended by an injury. While he was out, England under-21 goalkeeper Joe Hart took over in goal and impressed. The youngster kept his place even after Isaksson returned to full fitness and the Swede was once again relegated to the bench.

Manchester City confirmed that they would be willing to sell Isaksson at the end of the season, and his final appearance was in the humiliating 8–1 defeat by Middlesbrough which would have been even worse if not for several excellent saves by Isaksson.[10]

Isaksson playing for PSV Eindhoven in 2010

Isaksson signed for Dutch champions PSV, thus enabling him to play in the UEFA Champions League.[11] He took over the number 1 shirt from Heurelho Gomes, who had transferred to Tottenham. Isaksson tallied 124 league appearances for PSV before leaving the club in the summer of 2012 when his contract expired.

On 9 July 2012, it was confirmed that Isaksson had left PSV after four seasons to join newly promoted Turkish side Kasımpaşa on a free transfer.[12] On joining the club, Isaksson signed a three-year deal and became the Turkish side's sixth signing during the summer transfer window.[13]

On 11 August 2016, Isaksson signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Djurgårdens IF, returning after 12 years away from Sweden and the club.[14] On 24 August, he played his first game in his second spell for Djurgården in the Swedish Cup qualifier, a 5–1 win against Smedby AIS. He conceded one goal in the final minute from a penalty.[15] On 7 August 2017, Isaksson made his 100th match in Allsvenskan for Djurgården. On 10 May 2018, he played as Djurgården beat Malmö FF 3-0 in the Swedish Cup Final.[16]

As of 12 November 2018[27][28]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[29]