Ever present

Sweden's defender Olof Mellberg (R) and Nigeria's forward Bartholomew Ogbeche both loose their balance during match 21 group F of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan opposing Sweden and Nigeria 07 June, 2002 in Kobe, Japan. AFP PHOTO PEDRO UGARTE

The phrase 'captain's performance' is often used to describe the influence and contribution of Olof Mellberg, the giant central defender named Swedish player of the year in 2003.

At 25-years-old, Mellberg took over the captaincy of Sweden from veteran Johan Mjallby after the two had starred in the run to the 2002 World Cup second round, the younger man often doubling up as a right back.

He started every match in the successful qualification for Euro 2004, even bagging a rare goal in the penultimate match, a 2-0 win over Poland that ensured their ticket to Portugal.

Fans of Aston Villa in the English Premiership also named him their player of the year for 2002-03, a season in which he started all 38 league matches, his efforts ensuring they escaped relegation.

Villa fared much better in the 2003-04 season and Mellberg was again rock solid, earning a new four-year contract with the Birmingham club in May 2004.

At the 2002 World Cup he played in all four matches, 1-1 draws with both England and Argentina, a 2-1 win over Nigeria and the golden goal defeat in the second round to Senegal.

Lucky number

Racing de Santander's Swedish player Olof Mellberg (L) figths for the ball with an unidentified defender of Numancia, during the Primera Division match at El Sardinero stadium in Santander 30 April 2000.

He made his name at Degerfors (1994-97) and AIK Stockholm, where he won the Swedish title in 1998 before moving on to the Spanish first division. At Racing Santander he played 97 matches in two seasons, but they were relegated in 2001, sparking a 7 million euros plus transfer to Villa in August 2001.

Swedish defender Olof Mellberg (L) looks on as Argentinian midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin (R) chests the ball during the Group F first round last match Sweden/Argentina of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 12 June 2002 at Myagi Stadium. AFP PHOTO ODD ANDERSEN

His lucky number must be 37, as his only two career goals came in that minute, one against Poland and the other at Old Trafford earlier that season in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. This meagre tally is his one weakness.

During the 2002 World Cup he was involved in a fist fight with teammate Freddie Ljungberg, who reacted violently to a crunching tackle on the training ground.

He is otherwise known to be an extremely calm man, who in November 2003 evoked the possibility of a move to a larger, but unnamed club.