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Lennart Skoglund, (December 24, 1929–July
20, 1975), was a Sweden|Swedish football
(soccer)|football player.

Nicknamed through-out his career as Nacka, Lennart
Skoglund was a star of two Swedish Football World
Cup|World Cup sides in the 1950s. First as a young
inside-left in Football World Cup 1950|1950 and
then as a mature winger (sport)|left winger on
home soil in Football World Cup 1958|1958. He
started at a local club called IK Stjärnan in
1943 before moving on to his favoured club
Hammarby IF|Hammarby the following year. He played
for Hammarby between 1944 and 1949. In 1950 he was
controversially sold to rivals AIK Fotboll|AIK due
to the sad financial situation of the club. He
soon made his first appearance for the national
and made a great impact in the World Cup held in
Brazil. He formed a great partnership with
Karl-Erik Palmér as Sweden finished third, and he
also earned a new nickname: "The swaying
corn-cob", a reference to his blond hair and his
running style.

Skoglund moved to Italy to play for
Internazionale|Internazionale Milan after the
World Cup and had huge success helping them win
the Serie A title twice in the 1953 and 1954. In
all, he played 246 matches with Internazionale,
scoring 57 goals.

His fine ball-control, excellent left foot and
fine distribution made him a big favourite with
the fans. Sweden failed to qualify to the 1954
World Cup because they would not recall exiles
like Nacka, hence his few caps, but when the
Swedes played host to the 1958 tournament, they
had a change of heart and Skoglund appeared in all
Sweden’s games as they finished runners-up to
Brazil national football team|Brazil. In the
semifinal against Germany national football
team|West Germany, Nacka scored his first and only
goal for Sweden in the 3-1 win which set them up
for the classic final against Brazil.

He was a true entertainer living to please the
crowds, wherever he plied his trade. Nutmegs,
back-heels and mazy turns always kept his
opponents guessing and mostly in the wrong
direction. 

After 13 years as a pro in Italy, where he also
played for U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria and U.S.
CittĂ  di Palermo|Palermo, he returned to his
native Södermalm and Hammarby in 1964.

Nacka also had two footballing sons, both born in
Milano, Georg and Evert; Everet played 16 matches
with Internazionale, and the brother Georg some
matches with A.C. Milan. Both laterplayed for
Hammarby. 

During his summer breaks in Sweden he used to tour
around amusement-parks in Sweden, singing and
doing his famed "Two-Crown"-stint where he would
actually drop a coin and kick it into his shirt
pocket.

He died a desolate and broken man in 1975. But in
1984, a statue was raised in his honour outside
his childhood home at Katarina Bangata.