Rasmus Lindgren (born 29 November 1984) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a defender and midfielder. He started off his footballing career at Landskrona BoIS, but spent most of his career in the Netherlands, representing AFC Ajax and FC Groningen, and also had a short stint in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg. He retired at BK Häcken in the Swedish Allsvenskan in 2021. A full international between 2008 and 2009, he won two caps for the Sweden national team.
Club career
Landskrona Lindgren was born in Landskrona and started his footballing career at Landskrona BoIS' youth academy, alongside future professional footballers such as Pontus Farnerud, Alexander Farnerud, Jonas Olsson, and Johan Andersson. He progressed through the club's youth system and contributed the achievements at Landskrona. Lindgren sat on the bench in an Allsvenskan game against Örebro SK in 2003 as an unused substitute, but never made his senior debut for the team.
Ajax On 6 January 2003, Eredivisie side Ajax was impressed with his performance and offered him a professional contract following a trial. It was announced on 17 January 2003 that he signed a one–year contract with the club.Lindgren tekent contract AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
After joining Ajax, Lindgren was assigned to the club's second team for the next two years. A year later on 24 March 2004, he signed a one–year contract extension with the club. Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Lindgren was promoted to the club's first team squad, having called up to Ajax's training squad. Following this, Lindgren returned to the Ajax's second team. However, lack of first team opportunities at the club led him to consider his future at Ajax. Shortly after, he was called up to the club's first team squad. Lindgren made his debut for Ajax, in the 1–2 away win in the Eredivisie against NAC Breda on 13 February 2005.Rasmus Lindgren maakt officieel debuut AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011 After the match, Lindgren says he is happy to make his debut and expected to make his way into the first team. Three days later, on 16 February 2005, Lindgren made his European debut, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win against Auxerre in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Round of 32. In the return leg, however, the club lost 3–1 on aggregate, eliminating the club from the tournament. Following this, he was offered a new contract by Ajax, which believed to be a three–year contract. However, Lindgren failed to secure a place in the starting line-up, as he played four matches at the end of the 2004–05 season.
FC Groningen
On 9 August 2005 it was announced that Lindgren would join FC Groningen for a 1-year loan period.Lindgren verhuurd aan FC Groningen AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011
He made his debut for the club, coming on as a 33rd-minute substitute for the injured Erik Nevland and played for the rest of the game, in a 1–0 win against RBC Roosendaal in the opening game of the season. In a follow–up match, Lindgren scored his first goal for FC Groningen, in a 2–1 loss against RKC Waalwijk. His second goal for the club came on 29 January 2006, in a 3–2 win against NAC Breda. For his performance, he was named Man of the Man by the supporters on the club's website. On 1 March 2006 it was announced that Lindgren would sign a new deal, making him a FC Groningen player for four years, with the transfer fee reportedly to have cost €300,000.Rasmus Lindgren naar FC Groningen AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011 His third goal for the club came on 12 April 2006, in a 2–1 win against FC Utrecht. He then played in both legs of the league's play–offs spot for the UEFA Champions League for FC Groningen by beating AZ Alkmaar 4–3 on aggregate. However, Lindgren, once again, played in both legs of the league's play–offs spot for the UEFA Champions League against his former club, Ajax, as the club lost 3–2, resulting in FC Groningen failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Having established himself in the starting eleven for the side, he went on to make forty appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
At the start of the 2006–07 season, Lindgren continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, playing in the midfield position. He scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win against TOP Oss in the second round of the KNVB Beker on 20 September 2006. In a match against Excelsior on 25 October 2006, Lindgren sent up the club's first goal of the game, but was sent–off for a professional foul on Sieme Zijm in the 81st minute, as FC Groningen won 2–1. After the match, he was given a one match suspension, but the suspension was overturned, due to lack of evidence. Following this, Lindgren contributed three more assists for FC Groningen throughout the 2006–07 season. Despite being sidelined on four occasions during the 2006–07 season, he went on to make thirty–four appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, Lindgren continued to establish himself in the first team, playing in the midfield position. Between 22 December 2007 and 29 December 2007, he played an important role for FC Groningen when he set up three goals and earning a goal himself, coming against PSV Eindhoven on 26 December 2007. Despite missing two matches in the first half of the 2007–08 season, Lindgren went on to make twenty–four appearances and scoring once in all competitions. During his total -year stay at FC Groningen, he became one of the most important players in the squad, playing a total of 82 Eredivisie-matches and scoring 4 goals.
Return to Ajax
On 28 January 2008, Lindgren moved back to Ajax, signing a -year deal, joining his teammate, Bruno Silva.Ajax versterkt zich met Lindgren AFC Ajax, retrieved 21 June 2011 The transfer fee was about €2.5 million. His first club, Landskrona, would not be entitled to compensation as part of his transfer move.
He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, against rivals, Feyenoord on 3 February 2008 and set up a goal for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored twice, in a 3–0 win. Two weeks later on 15 February 2008, Lindgren scored his first goal for Ajax, as well as, setting up the club's two other goals, in a 6–2 win against Sparta Rotterdam. However, he suffered a hamstring injury that saw him sustained the same injury earlier this month and missed one match. Following his return, Lindgren started in the remaining six league matches for the club. He then scored his second goal for Ajax, in a 2–1 win against his former club, FC Groningen on 16 April 2008. Lindgren played in both legs against SC Heerenveen in the play–offs for the UEFA Champions League spot, as the club won 5–2 on aggregate. He, once again, played in both legs against FC Twente in the play–offs for the UEFA Champions League spot, as Ajax lost 2–1 on aggregate, resulting in the club failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Lindgren went on to make eleven appearances and scoring two times in all competitions. For his performance, Voetbal International named him Team of the Season.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Lindgren continued to remain as a regular first team player, playing in the midfield position. He scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against FC Twente on 1 November 2008. A month later, Lindgren captained Ajax in a match against NAC Breda on 12 December 2008 and scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–0 win. However, he suffered a hamstring injury while training and was sidelined for a month. Although Lindgren recovered, he returned to the first team on 8 February 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 4–1 loss against SBV Vitesse. Following this, Lindgren made six starts between 15 February 2009 and 8 March 2009. However, during a 2–1 loss against Marseille in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Last Sixteen, he suffered a concussion and was substituted in the 22nd minute. After the match, Lindgren was taken to the hospital and was sidelined for weeks. Because of his absent, he was no longer used as a vice–captain and was replaced by Thomas Vermaelen. Lindgren returned to the first team on 12 April 2009 when he came on as a 57th-minute substitute, in a 7–0 win against Willem II. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Lindgren went on to make thirty–two appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Lindgren had to have an operation on his left foot shortly before the end of last season. Although he recovered from his injury, Lindgren, however, was not one hundred percent fit. He was included in Ajax's friendly match against Ajax Cape Town on 4 July 2009 and played in the first half before being substituted, as the club won 3–2. However, since returning from injury, Lindgren found his first team opportunities limited, under the management of head-coach Martin Jol. This led to him discuss his future at Ajax, but he wanted to stay at the club to fight for his place in the first team. Lindgren made his first team appearance on 22 September 2009 when he started and played 120 minutes against AZ Alkmaar in the second round of the KNVB Beker, as Ajax lost 2–0. Lindgren spent the rest of the year, playing for the club's reserve team. With his first team opportunities limited, Lindgren was expected to leave Ajax in the January transfer window. But in mid–January, he was called up to the club's first team for the first time in three months. Lindgren scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against NAC Breda on 17 January 2010. Following this, he was told by Manager Jol to stay at Ajax. Lindgren appeared in the next five matches for the club. However, during a match against SC Heerenveen on 13 February 2010, he suffered a knee injury and was substituted at half time, as Ajax won 2–0. Following this, Lindgren did not play for the rest of the 2009–10 season, due to injuries. While absent, the club won the KNVB Cup after beating rivals, Feyenoord, 6–3 on aggregate. At the end of the 2009–10 season, he went on to make eight appearances and scoring once in all competitions.