Oscar Wendt

Oscar Joakim Wendt (born 24 October 1985) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He is currently the assistant sporting director of Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg. A product of the IFK Skövde youth academy, he started his professional career with the club. Across his career, Wendt played for IFK Skövde, Copenhagen, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and IFK Göteborg. A full international from 2007 to 2016, he won 28 caps for Sweden.

Oscar Wendt

Wendt playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Oscar Joakim Wendt
Date of birth	(1985-10-24) 24 October 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Skövde, Sweden
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	IFK Göteborg (assistant sporting director)
Youth career
0000–2002	IFK Skövde
2003	IFK Göteborg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002	IFK Skövde
2003–2006	IFK Göteborg	36	(1)
2006–2011	Copenhagen	138	(5)
2011–2021	Borussia Mönchengladbach	244	(16)
2021–2024	IFK Göteborg	86	(4)
Total		504	(26)
International career
2002	Sweden U17	2	(0)
2003	Sweden U19	7	(0)
2004–2006	Sweden U21	14	(1)
2007–2016	Sweden	28	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

IFK Göteborg

After playing for IFK Skövde, he joined IFK Göteborg in 2003. He became an important first team player, earning 14 appearances on the Swedish U21 team and a call-up for the Sweden national team.

In his time at the club he played 91 matches, before moving to the Danish champions Copenhagen on a four-year contract for 6 million DKK.^[1] After his departure to Copenhagen, a huge gap arose in the defence, later filled by Argentine defender José Shaffer coming from Racing Club.

Copenhagen

In his first two years at Copenhagen, he struggled to become a first team regular, first being a back-up for former Norwegian international André Bergdølmo and later Danish international Niclas Jensen. However, in 2008, he managed to become a first choice on the left back position for his team, earning him after 18 months a call-up to the Sweden national team. His strong performances also had him linked with both English club West Ham United and Italian club Genoa.^[2][3]

With an injured Bergdølmo in Copenhagen's 2006–07 UEFA Champions League campaign, Wendt played regularly as a left back, and in the team's 3–1 win against Celtic, he alongside fellow Copenhagen defender Michael Gravgaard was chosen for the Eurosport "Team of the Round".^[4]

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Wendt joined Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach on a free transfer on 10 June 2011.^[5]

On 17 August 2015, Wendt signed a three-year contract extension with the club, running until the end of the 2017–18 season.^[6]

On 23 March 2021, Mönchengladbach announced that Wendt would be leaving the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2020–21 season.^[7] Over his time at the club, he made over 290 appearances for the club in ten years across all competitions.

Return to IFK Göteborg

On the same day, it was announced that Wendt would return to Sweden and rejoin IFK Göteborg on a free transfer.^[8] He returned on 1 July 2021, signing a one and-a-half year contract. Wendt was named club captain after Marcus Berg announced his retirement after the 2023 season.

Retirement

On 22 November 2024, Wendt announced his retirement from professional football, earning over 600 total appearances in 22 years.^[9]

International career

Wendt playing for Sweden in 2013

Having represented Sweden at U17, U19, and U21 levels, Wendt made his Sweden senior team debut in January 2007 in a friendly game against Venezuela.^[10] Wendt was overlooked for a spot in Sweden's UEFA Euro 2016 squad despite a strong season in Bundesliga.^[11]

Wendt retired from the national team in March 2017, having represented the national team a total of 28 times.^[12]

Personal life

He is the son of former footballer Joakim Wendt, who played two seasons with IFK Göteborg.^[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 March 2021.^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
IFK Göteborg	2003	Allsvenskan	3	0	2	0	–		5	0
	2004	Allsvenskan	3	0	1	0	4	1	8	1
	2005	Allsvenskan	21	1	3	0	–		24	1
	2006	Allsvenskan	9	0	2	0	–		11	0
	Total		36	1	8	0	4	1	48	2
Copenhagen	2006–07	Danish Superliga	21	0	5	0	4	0	30	0
	2007–08	Danish Superliga	24	0	4	0	3	0	31	0
	2008–09	Danish Superliga	31	2	3	0	12	0	46	2
	2009–10	Danish Superliga	33	3	1	0	13	0	47	3
	2010–11	Danish Superliga	29	1	0	0	12	0	41	1
	Total		138	6	13	0	44	0	195	6
Borussia Mönchengladbach	2011–12	Bundesliga	14	0	2	1	–		16	1
	2012–13	Bundesliga	21	1	1	0	6	0	28	1
	2013–14	Bundesliga	18	3	0	0	–		18	3
	2014–15	Bundesliga	26	2	3	0	7	0	36	2
	2015–16	Bundesliga	30	3	3	0	6	0	38	3
	2016–17	Bundesliga	28	2	5	1	10	0	43	3
	2017–18	Bundesliga	28	1	3	0	–		31	1
	2018–19	Bundesliga	32	1	2	0	–		34	1
	2019–20	Bundesliga	25	2	2	0	4	0	31	2
	2020–21	Bundesliga	22	1	3	0	4	1	29	2
	Total		244	16	24	2	37	1	305	19
Career total			418	23	45	2	85	2	548	27

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[15]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sweden	2007	3	0
	2008	2	0
	2009	2	0
	2010	5	0
	2011	6	0
	2012	0	0
	2013	3	0
	2014	2	0
	2015	2	0
	2016	3	0
Total		28	0

Honours

Copenhagen

• Danish Superliga: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
• Danish Cup: 2008–09