Pierre Bengtsson

Pierre Thomas Robin Neurath Bengtsson (born 12 April 1988) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a left back.^[1] Starting his career with AIK in the mid-2000s, he has spent most of his career in the Danish Superliga, and has also had stints in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 before returning to Sweden in 2022. A full international between 2011 and 2022, he won 42 caps for Sweden and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2020.

Pierre Neurath Bengtsson

Neurath Bengtsson with Copenhagen in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Pierre Thomas Robin Neurath Bengtsson
Date of birth	(1988-04-12) 12 April 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Kumla, Sweden
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Youth career
1993–2004	IFK Kumla
2004–2006	AIK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2009	AIK	43	(0)
2009–2011	Nordsjælland	39	(1)
2011–2014	Copenhagen	109	(2)
2015–2017	Mainz 05	29	(0)
2016–2017	→ Bastia (loan)	30	(1)
2017–2022	Copenhagen	80	(2)
2021	→ Vejle BK (loan)	14	(0)
2022–2023	Djurgårdens IF	21	(0)
Total		365	(6)
International career
2003–2004	Sweden U17	7	(1)
2006	Sweden U19	2	(0)
2007–2010	Sweden U21	20	(1)
2011–2022	Sweden	42	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

AIK

Neurath Bengtsson started his senior career at AIK, where he made his debut in August 2006, against Östers IF at Råsunda Stadium.

FC Nordsjælland

After 3+1⁄2 seasons at AIK, Neurath Bengtsson searched for more playtime and joined on 1 September 2009 the Danish Superliga FC Nordsjælland.^[2] Bengtsson began his Nordsjælland spell as back-up for Dennis Cagara, receiving his debut in the Danish Cup against AB on 23 September 2009. His first Superliga match was a 6–3 defeat against Brøndby IF on 4 October 2009.^[3]

From 1 November 2009, Neurath Bengtsson became a regular starter for FC Nordsjælland on the left back position. Through his performances, Bengtsson became in the interest of UEFA Champions League competitors Copenhagen in the summer 2010,^[4] and in the following winter transfer window, Bengtsson moved to Copenhagen.^[5]

FC Copenhagen

In Copenhagen, Neurath Bengtsson was a back-up for Oscar Wendt in his first half year. Nevertheless, Neurath Bengtsson appeared in 8 of 16 matches before Wendt moved on to join Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bengtsson's debut came as a substitute on 22 February 2011 in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16-match against Chelsea^[3]

In the 2011–12 season, Neurath Bengtsson began as first choice at left back. Through autumn, however, he was overtaken by Bryan Oviedo, and from 27 October to 15 April Neurath Bengtsson was only in the lineup twice.^[3] Oviedo was sold to Everton on 31 August 2012,^[6] and since Bengtsson has been the preferred left back in the club.

Mainz 05

On 23 November 2014, Mainz 05 announced that they had signed Neurath Bengtsson effective 1 January 2015. Since his contract with FC Copenhagen had expired 31 December 2014, he was available on a free transfer and signed a contract for 3+1⁄2 years until summer 2018.^[7]

International career

Neurath Bengtsson was a part of the Swedish youth national teams, gaining 29 matches in total. He was a part of the Swedish squad at the 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championship.^[8]

On 19 January 2011, Bengtsson made his debut for the senior national team in a friendly against Botswana.^[8]

Despite playing regularly as left back for Sweden during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, he was surprisingly not selected for the final squad.^[9] However, he was eventually called up to replace the injured Martin Olsson.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 August 2023^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League Cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AIK	2007	Allsvenskan	5	0	0	0	—		4[c]	0	—		9	0
	2008		18	0	0	0	—		—		—		18	0
	2009		14	0	3	0	—		—		—		17	0
	Total		37	0	3	0	—		4	0	—		44	0
Nordsjælland	2009–10	Danish Superliga	20	1	5	1	—		—		—		25	2
	2010–11		19	0	2	0	—		2[d]	0	—		23	0
	Total		39	1	7	1	—		2	0	—		48	2
Copenhagen	2010–11	Danish Superliga	6	0	0	0	—		2[e]	0	—		8	0
	2011–12		27	0	3	0	—		8[f]	0	—		38	0
	2012–13		29	1	2	0	—		9[g]	0	—		40	1
	2013–14		31	1	6	2	—		6[e]	0	—		43	3
	2014–15		16	0	1	0	—		9[h]	0	—		26	0
	Total		109	2	12	2	—		34	0	—		155	4
Mainz	2014–15	Bundesliga	13	0	0	0	—		0	0	—		13	0
	2015–16		16	0	1	0	—		—		—		17	0
	Total		29	0	1	0	—		0	0	—		30	0
Bastia (loan)	2016–17	Ligue 1	30	1	1	0	1	0	—		—		32	1
Copenhagen	2017–18	Danish Superliga	24	1	2	0	—		11[i]	0	—		37	1
	2018–19		15	0	2	0	—		8[d]	0	—		25	0
	2019–20		31	1	0	0	—		16[j]	0	—		47	1
	2020–21		8	0	1	0	—		3[d]	0	—		12	0
	2021–22		3	0	1	0	—		4[k]	0	—		8	0
	Total		81	2	6	0	—		42	0	—		129	2
Vejle (loan)	2020–21	Danish Superliga	14	0	2	0	—		—		—		16	0
Career total			339	6	32	3	1	0	82	0	—		454	9

1. Includes Svenska Cupen, Danish Cup, Coupe de France
2. Includes Coupe de la Ligue
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
6. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
7. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
8. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
9. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
10. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances in UEFA Europa League
11. Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played on 24 March 2022.^[12]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sweden	2011	3	0
	2012	1	0
	2013	5	0
	2014	9	0
	2015	6	0
	2016	0	0
	2017	0	0
	2018	0	0
	2019	5	0
	2020	5	0
	2021	7	0
	2022	1	0
Total		42	0

Honours

AIK

• Allsvenskan: 2009^[13]

Nordsjælland

• Danish Cup: 2009–10

Copenhagen

• Danish Superliga: 2010–11, 2012–13, 2018–19^[14]
• Danish Cup: 2011–12