Örjan Persson Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Per Örjan Persson
  • Born: August 27th, 1942 (Uddevalla, Sweden)
  • Position: Left Winger
  • Signed: December 2nd, 1964
  • First Manager: Jerry Kerr
  • Career Totals: 101 appearances, 17 goals
  • Also Played For: Orgryte, Rangers


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1966-67 42 11 0 0 45.2% 26.2% 28.6%
1965-66 37 2 0 1 51.4% 16.2% 32.4%
1964-65 22 4 0 0 63.6% 13.6% 22.7%
Totals: 101 (0) 17


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 03/05/67 Division One vs. Celtic (A) 3 - 2
 22/04/67 Division One vs. Partick Th (H) 2 - 2
 08/04/67 Division One vs. Hearts (H) 2 - 0
 05/04/67 Division One vs. Falkirk (H) 4 - 4
 01/04/67 Semi Final vs. Aberdeen (N) 0 - 1

 Recent First Team Goals
 22/04/67 Division One vs. Partick Th (H) 2 - 2
 04/03/67 Division One vs. Airdrie (H) 3 - 1
 25/02/67 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A) 3 - 3
 18/02/67 2nd Round vs. Falkirk (H) 1 - 0
 07/01/67 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H) 4 - 0

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 22/04/67 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 2
 04/03/67 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  3 - 1
 25/02/67 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  3 - 3
 18/02/67 2nd Round vs. Falkirk (H)  1 - 0
 07/01/67 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  4 - 0
 05/11/66 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 2
 15/10/66 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  4 - 3
 08/10/66 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (A)  4 - 1
 24/09/66 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  7 - 0
 24/09/66 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  7 - 0
 13/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. Dundee (H)  2 - 0
 19/03/66 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  5 - 1
 12/02/66 Division One vs. Hamilton (A)  4 - 0
 24/04/65 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  3 - 1
 24/03/65 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 2
 24/03/65 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 2
 16/01/65 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  4 - 3

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 03/05/67 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  3 - 2
 22/04/67 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 2
 08/04/67 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 05/04/67 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  4 - 4
 01/04/67 Semi Final vs. Aberdeen (N)  0 - 1
 25/03/67 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 20/03/67 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 4
 18/03/67 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 11/03/67 3rd Round vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 08/03/67 3rd Round 2nd Leg vs. Juventus (H)  1 - 0
 04/03/67 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  3 - 1
 25/02/67 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  3 - 3
 18/02/67 2nd Round vs. Falkirk (H)  1 - 0
 11/02/67 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 3
 08/02/67 3rd Round 1st Leg vs. Juventus (A)  0 - 3
 04/02/67 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  0 - 2
 21/01/67 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (H)  2 - 0
 07/01/67 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (H)  4 - 0
 03/01/67 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  3 - 2
 02/01/67 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 0
 31/12/66 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 2
 17/12/66 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 2
 10/12/66 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 2
 26/11/66 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 3
 19/11/66 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 1
 16/11/66 2nd Round 2nd Leg vs. Barcelona (H)  2 - 0
 12/11/66 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 1
 05/11/66 Division One vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 2
 29/10/66 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  2 - 4
 25/10/66 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Barcelona (A)  2 - 1
 22/10/66 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 2
 15/10/66 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  4 - 3
 08/10/66 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (A)  4 - 1
 01/10/66 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 3
 24/09/66 Division One vs. Ayr Utd (A)  7 - 0
 17/09/66 Division One vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 4
 03/09/66 Sectional Tie vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 4
 31/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. St Johnstone (H)  5 - 3
 27/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. Dundee (A)  1 - 1
 20/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 4
 17/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 13/08/66 Sectional Tie vs. Dundee (H)  2 - 0
 30/04/66 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (H)  1 - 1
 20/04/66 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  3 - 3
 16/04/66 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 0
 09/04/66 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  5 - 4
 30/03/66 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  2 - 1
 26/03/66 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  1 - 4
 21/03/66 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 0
 19/03/66 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  5 - 1
 16/03/66 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 0
 12/03/66 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 3
 23/02/66 2nd Round vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 5
 16/02/66 1st Round Replay vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 1
 12/02/66 Division One vs. Hamilton (A)  4 - 0
 07/02/66 1st Round vs. Falkirk (H)  0 - 0
 29/01/66 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 4
 22/01/66 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 4
 15/01/66 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 0
 08/01/66 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 25/12/65 Division One vs. Stirling Albion (A)  4 - 2
 18/12/65 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  0 - 0
 11/12/65 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 0
 27/11/65 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  0 - 2
 20/11/65 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 0
 13/11/65 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 1
 30/10/65 Division One vs. Morton (H)  4 - 2
 27/10/65 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 2
 16/10/65 Division One vs. Hamilton (H)  7 - 0
 09/10/65 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  4 - 2
 02/10/65 Division One vs. Partick Th (H)  5 - 2
 11/09/65 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  5 - 0
 04/09/65 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 3
 01/09/65 Sectional Tie vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 3
 28/08/65 Sectional Tie vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 3
 25/08/65 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 4
 21/08/65 Sectional Tie vs. Motherwell (H)  4 - 1
 18/08/65 Sectional Tie vs. Dundee (A)  0 - 0
 14/08/65 Sectional Tie vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 1
 24/04/65 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  3 - 1
 19/04/65 Division One vs. Partick Th (A)  0 - 0
 17/04/65 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 0
 10/04/65 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 03/04/65 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 1
 27/03/65 Division One vs. Morton (H)  3 - 2
 24/03/65 Division One vs. Dundee (A)  4 - 2
 20/03/65 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 13/03/65 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  6 - 0
 10/03/65 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 4
 27/02/65 Division One vs. Airdrie (H)  3 - 2
 20/02/65 2nd Round vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 2
 17/02/65 Division One vs. Third Lanark (A)  2 - 1
 13/02/65 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  4 - 1
 06/02/65 1st Round vs. Forfar Athletic (A)  3 - 0
 23/01/65 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 0
 16/01/65 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  4 - 3
 09/01/65 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 1
 01/01/65 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  4 - 1
 19/12/64 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 1
 12/12/64 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 3
 05/12/64 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 3


Biography

Starting his footballing life with local side Smögens IF, Örjan joined Gothenburg Örgryte in 1961, newly promoted to the Allsvenskan. He became a regular in their side, and made his international debut for Sweden against Finland in June 1962. Örgryte qualified for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1964, and in October they faced Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park, where the classy left winger hugely impressed United manager Jerry Kerr. After nearly two months of protracted negotiations, Persson became the first overseas player to sign for United, and he was swiftly joined by Danish centre forward Finn Døssing, and the two players impressed greatly on their first appearance against Hearts at Tynecastle in December 1964.

They were soon joined by Mogens Berg and Örjan's former Örgryte team-mate Lennart Wing, and the Scandinavians were instrumental in United's fantastic run that saw them defeated only twice in the league, and go from relegation candidates to a respectable ninth place finish. At the end of their first season, Persson and Wing returned home and turned out for Örgryte during the summer, and missed out on United's run to the final of the Summer Cup that year. Having already won 14 international caps before coming to Scotland, Örjan, along with Wing, became the first Dundee United players to be capped at full international level whilst playing for the club when they turned out for Sweden in a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in May 1965.

Persson's all-action style, penetrative wing play and pin-point crossing was a huge factor in United finishing in fifth place in Division One during the 1965-66 season. This was, at the time, the club's highest ever placing in the Scottish League, and also meant that the club qualified for European football for the first time. His European and international experience was invaluable as United took on two giants of the European scene, winning three of their four matches against Barcelona and Juventus during the 1966-67 season.

At the end of that season the winger refused to re-sign terms with the Club, maintaining that he was a free agent. The Club argued otherwise, and excluded him from the summer trip to the United States to represent Dallas Tornadoes, and a complicated contractual dispute followed, which was never fully resolved. In the end, Orjan joined Rangers in August 1967 in exchange for Davie Wilson and Wilson Wood, and he spent three seasons at Ibrox.

Whilst with Rangers, he played in the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico, and later that year returned to Orgryte where he continued his international career, turning out in the World Cup finals in West Germany in 1974.He later played for Kungsbacka and IF Väster before retiring in 1980.

Along with former team-mate Don Mackay, Orjan was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame in 2013.

Last updated on Thursday, September 10th, 2020 by B Orr.





Debut

December 5th, 1964
Heart of Midlothian 3 - 1 Dundee United

League (Division One)


International Career (Sweden)

Caps: 48

Goals: 7

International Debut: June 19th, 1962 v. Finland

Orjan made his international debut aged 19, in a friendly match against Finland in June 1962. By the time he signed for United, he had already accumulated 14 international caps, including appearances in the 1964 European Championships. Along with fellow country man Lennart Wing, Orjan became the first Dundee United players to be capped at full international level whilst playing for the club when they turned out for Sweden in a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in May 1965. He appeared for Sweden nine times during his spell at Tannadice, and would go on to make 48 appearances, including two games in the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico and again in the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany, where he made his final international appearance against Yugoslavia.

Click here for a full list of international matches for this player


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Örjan was born on this date in Uddevalla, Sweden.

    Thursday, August 27th, 1942

  • International Debut


    Örjan earned his first International cap for Sweden, playing against Finland.

    Tuesday, June 19th, 1962

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Wednesday, December 2nd, 1964

  • First Team Debut

    Hearts 3 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, December 5th, 1964

  • First Goal

    Hibernian 3 - 4 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Hibs looked far from comfortable in the opening stages of this match. Dossing beat McNamee before crossing for Berg. The inside man's shot was deflected and Thom failed to capitalise by firing over. I

    Saturday, January 16th, 1965

  • 50th Appearance

    Dundee United 2 - 3 Falkirk
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, March 12th, 1966

  • 50th League Appearance

    Ayr Utd 0 - 7 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, September 24th, 1966

  • 100th Appearance

    Dundee United 2 - 2 Partick Th
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, April 22nd, 1967

  • Last Goal

    Dundee United 2 - 2 Partick Th
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, April 22nd, 1967

  • Last Appearance

    Celtic 2 - 3 Dundee United
    League (Division One)

    Wednesday, May 3rd, 1967