In the history of football there have been many attacking partnerships that have automatically induced fear on any defence that has had to face them, whether that be England's SAS (Shearer and Sheringham), or Manchester United's treble-winning combo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. However, AC Milan's Gre No Li is a much under-rated partnership, which I will look at.
The story of Gre No Li began in 1948, when the trio Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm represented Sweden in the Olympic football tournament, which they won, with Nordahl finishing as top goalscorer and Gren having scored a double in the final 3-1 win over Yugoslavia. Following the tournament, Nordahl signed for the Rossoneri in January 1949. There was, however, a big implication he had to embrace, as, at the time, the Swedish FA had rules that forbid any player working outside of Sweden from playing for the national side, thus enforcing Nordahl's international retirement. In this season, Nordahl got the fantastic record of 16 goals in 15 games, and this was before the arrival of his main creator.
The signing of Nordahl was followed by the arrival of Gren and Liedholm, who both made their debuts on September 11th of 1949 in a 3-1 victory against Sampdoria. During that season, the Gre No Li partnership amassed a fantastic return of 118 goals in 38 games. But it was the following one the most successful for the trio, with the side winning the Scudetto.
Amazingly during this time, although it is almost impossible to find proper stats, it is often stated of Nils Liedholm that in two years at the San Siro he did not misplace one pass (or give it away - probably a better statement). He received a 5-minute standing ovation, although, as I?m sure you know, this is likely to be, at least, an exaggeration, and at most, a complete fabrication - make of this what you will.
In 1952, Gren was hired as AC Milan's manager-player in order to replace Lajos Czeizler, the man who brought the trio to the club. Nevertheless, this was a short affair, leaving the club completely the following year, with only the No and Li parts of the partnership remaining at the club. However, this would not stop them from being a huge success, with the duo winning another Scudetto in 1955. Nordahl himself, then, left in 1956 joining Roma and leaving Nils Liedholm alone at the club.
Liedholm was to remain at AC Milan as captain, winning another 2 Scudetto's and being finalist in the 1958 European cup final loss, of which it is said that Alfredo Di Stefano offered Nils the opportunity to join Real on the lap of honour, thing which Liedholm rejected as he had lost; this shows how well he and AC had played in that game.
Hitherto, Gunnar Nordahl is the second highest goalscorer in Serie A history, having amassed a staggering 225 goals in 291 games for AC and Roma, even though his Roma scoring record was a mere 15 goals in 34 games; thus, the total he achieved for AC can actually be contemplated, especially considering he achieved his Italian records playing for only nine years in the country, as massive. Goals-per-game wise, in the league his record is 0.77 goals per game, the next highest total is 0.46 goals per-game by Silvio Piola, who sits atop of the actual goalscoring charts.
Who knows what the Swedish national side could have gone on to achieve if they had allowed players such as Gre No Li to appear in their colours whilst based abroad, a truly horrifying prospect for any defence, and no doubt an unfulfilled wish for many Swedes.
The story of Gre No Li began in 1948, when the trio Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm represented Sweden in the Olympic football tournament, which they won, with Nordahl finishing as top goalscorer and Gren having scored a double in the final 3-1 win over Yugoslavia. Following the tournament, Nordahl signed for the Rossoneri in January 1949. There was, however, a big implication he had to embrace, as, at the time, the Swedish FA had rules that forbid any player working outside of Sweden from playing for the national side, thus enforcing Nordahl's international retirement. In this season, Nordahl got the fantastic record of 16 goals in 15 games, and this was before the arrival of his main creator.
The signing of Nordahl was followed by the arrival of Gren and Liedholm, who both made their debuts on September 11th of 1949 in a 3-1 victory against Sampdoria. During that season, the Gre No Li partnership amassed a fantastic return of 118 goals in 38 games. But it was the following one the most successful for the trio, with the side winning the Scudetto.
Amazingly during this time, although it is almost impossible to find proper stats, it is often stated of Nils Liedholm that in two years at the San Siro he did not misplace one pass (or give it away - probably a better statement). He received a 5-minute standing ovation, although, as I?m sure you know, this is likely to be, at least, an exaggeration, and at most, a complete fabrication - make of this what you will.
In 1952, Gren was hired as AC Milan's manager-player in order to replace Lajos Czeizler, the man who brought the trio to the club. Nevertheless, this was a short affair, leaving the club completely the following year, with only the No and Li parts of the partnership remaining at the club. However, this would not stop them from being a huge success, with the duo winning another Scudetto in 1955. Nordahl himself, then, left in 1956 joining Roma and leaving Nils Liedholm alone at the club.
Liedholm was to remain at AC Milan as captain, winning another 2 Scudetto's and being finalist in the 1958 European cup final loss, of which it is said that Alfredo Di Stefano offered Nils the opportunity to join Real on the lap of honour, thing which Liedholm rejected as he had lost; this shows how well he and AC had played in that game.
Hitherto, Gunnar Nordahl is the second highest goalscorer in Serie A history, having amassed a staggering 225 goals in 291 games for AC and Roma, even though his Roma scoring record was a mere 15 goals in 34 games; thus, the total he achieved for AC can actually be contemplated, especially considering he achieved his Italian records playing for only nine years in the country, as massive. Goals-per-game wise, in the league his record is 0.77 goals per game, the next highest total is 0.46 goals per-game by Silvio Piola, who sits atop of the actual goalscoring charts.
Who knows what the Swedish national side could have gone on to achieve if they had allowed players such as Gre No Li to appear in their colours whilst based abroad, a truly horrifying prospect for any defence, and no doubt an unfulfilled wish for many Swedes.
such a rent boy