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Bengt Erik Markus Berg (; born 17 August 1986) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is currently assistant coach for Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg. Beginning his footballing career in Sweden with IFK Göteborg in the early 2000s, Berg went on to play professionally in the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia before returning to IFK Göteborg in 2021.
A full international between 2008 and 2021, Berg won 90 caps and scored 24 goals for the Sweden national team. He represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2020.
Berg played for IFK Göteborg until the 2007 summer and put forth an attracting performance throughout his final season, as he maintained a high scoring efficiency throughout the league matches. Göteborg won the league that season and Berg received a standing ovation upon leaving the field after the 5–0 away victory over Kalmar FF where Berg scored, which was his last for the club because of his suspension for the game against Djurgårdens IF.
Among dedicated IFK Göteborg supporters, Berg is known as Svarte-Marcus ("Black Marcus") due to his many goals in the Göteborg youth and reserve teams, and later also senior team. The nickname is an homage to the legendary IFK Göteborg striker Filip "Svarte-Filip" Johansson.
Berg had a good debut season in the Netherlands. Although he was not the top scorer in the Eredivisie in 2007–08, he scored 18 goals for Groningen, helping the Dutch outfit to a seventh-place finish.
In the 2008–09 season, Groningen remained top of the Eredivisie table after five games played. Berg had a good display as well. He managed to score 13 goals in 15 matches. He also scored four goals in a December game against Roda JC.
On 26 April 2014, in the Greek Cup final against rivals PAOK, Berg scored a hat-trick to lead Panathinaikos to a 4–1 victory, who won the Greek Cup as they had done in 2010. On 11 January 2015, Berg scored his second hat-trick in a 5–0 home win against Ergotelis in the Superleague Greece. On 26 January 2015, he signed a one-year extension contract, until 2018. On 8 March, in a Panathinaikos–PAOK derby, Berg scored his third hat-trick in a 4–3 home win. On 30 March 2015, after two-and-a-half years, Berg scored his seventh international goal on friendly match against Iran.
On 31 August 2015, Panathinaikos rivals PAOK offered to €2 million for Berg, but the "Greens" turned it down. Additionally, Marseille tried to complete a move for the Swedish striker on the deadline date, however, they were put off by Panathinaikos's price tag. Marseille enquiried Panathinaikos over Berg Retrieved 1 September 2015.
On 6 September 2015, Berg was left frustrated as he did not start in the line-up for the game against Russia. Sweden lost 1–0 at the hands of Russia with Berg making his appearance for only 30 minutes on the pitch as he started from the bench. Swedish press criticised this decision and Berg demanded first team football in the National Team after the final whistle. "Ola Toivonen is a kind of a different player than me and this decision has been taken. But it's pretty clear that I want to play as I'm in a decent form," the Panathinaikos striker underlined straight after the game. Berg wants first team football in Sweden Retrieved 6 September 2015. On 7 November 2015, he scored the winning goal in the 10th day of the Greek Superleague match against Atromitos, It was his 50th goal with the club in all competitions. Επιστροφή στις νίκες με ανατροπή για τον Παναθηναϊκο 2–1 τον Ατρόμητο Retrieved 7 November 2015. On 24 January 2016, almost 2.5 months since his last goal in the Superleague, Berg scored leading his club to away 2–0 victory against Levadiakos. Berg and Essien lead Panathinaikos to away victory Retrieved 24 January 2016. On 6 March 2016, Swedish striker and fans of Panathinaikos' favorite Berg reached 100 official appearances with the Greek club at a home game against Atromitos. Berg reaches 100 Panathinaikos' appearances Retrieved 6 March 2016. On 19 March 2016, he scored a brace against Iraklis for the Superleague. Μπεργκ: "Πάντα θέλω δεύτερο επιθετικό" Retrieved 20 March 2016. Berg and Moledo score twice, Panathinaikos crash Iraklis Retrieved 19 March 2016. On 17 April 2016, in the last matchday for the 2015–16 season, Berg scored five times (23', 41', 45+2', 51', 62') in his team's 6–1 victory against Panthrakikos. Παναθηναϊκός – Πανθρακικός 6–1 Retrieved 17 April 2016. On 18 August 2016, Berg was the scorer of two goals, helping Panathinaikos win the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play offs and is set to qualify for the group stage, as the Greens crushed Danish Brøndby IF 3–0 at Leoforos stadium. Panathinaikos vs Brøndby 3–0 Retrieved 18 August 2016.
On 6 September 2016, Berg stepped into retired Sweden national team captain Zlatan Ibrahimović's vacant boots to open the scoring in Stockholm just two minutes before the break against Netherlands, as he capitalised on Kevin Strootman's defensive mishap to smash in from outside the box into the top left corner. Sweden vs Netherlands 1–1 Retrieved 6 September 2016. On 18 September 2016, he was the scorer of two goals, helping the club to achieve a 4–0 home win against PAS Giannina. It was his first goals for the 2016–17 season. Ο Παναθηναϊκός έχει τον καλύτερο Retrieved 18 September 2016. On 23 September 2016, Berg extended his three-year contract for an annual fee of €1.1 million and with a €10 million release clause. O Μάρκους Μπεργκ μιλάει για το νέο συμβόλαιό του στο PAO TV Retrieved 23 September 2016. Panathinaikos has 55% of Berg's rights, Hamburger SV has 45% and the rest 10% belongs to the player. On 19 January, was the scorer of two goals, helping the club, to achieve a 2–1 home win against Platanias, helping the club climbing in the third place of Superleague. Με τον Μπεργκ να δίνει απαντήσεις, 2–1 ο Παναθηναϊκός τον Πλατανιά Retrieved 19 January 2017. On 30 January 2017, Panathinaikos announced the agreement for the extension of Berg's contract till the summer of 2019. On 12 February 2017, he was the scorer of three goals in a Superleague 4–0 home win against Panetolikos. He was named MVP of the match. Παναθηναϊκός – Παναιτωλικός 4–0 Retrieved 12 February 2017. On 4 March 2017, with Swedish international striker grabbing a hat-trick (pen. 18', pen. 39', 41'), Panathinaikos won 5–0 against struggling Veria. He became the leading scorer of Superleague so far and named MVP of the march. Σκόρπισε τη Βέροια στους... πέντε ανέμους ο Παναθηναϊκός Retrieved 4 March 2017. On 11 March 2017, Panathinaikos striker scored his 24th goal into the season breaking his own record since he joined the Greens. The Swedish striker continues to be in great form as he scored once again in Panathinaikos's 1–1 Superleague draw with Iraklis. Έσπασε ρεκόρ ο Μπεργκ Retrieved 12 March 2017. On 19 March 2017, Berg scored for the third time in his "green" career in the derby against Olympiacos in Panathinaikos's win with 1–0 at home. Berg scored twice on 2 April 2017 against AEK Athens in the away win 2–3 in the Athens derby. On 6 April 2017, Panathinaikos won 1–0 Panionios at Leoforos Stadium, thanks to a penalty kick by Berg. It was the fifth consecutive game that the Swedish international scored. On 30 April 2017, he scored his last goal for the season, in a 2–0 home win against AEL gaining the title of the 2016–17 League top scorer for first time in his Greek career.
On 18 May 2017, the Swedish striker will miss the remainder of Superleague play-offs because he will serve four-game suspension. The 31-year-old international and captain of the Greens showed unprofessional behavior on home clash against PAOK (1–0), which was finally interrupted by referee Giorgos Kominis at 55', and will not perform at the four remaining matches.
On 20 June 2017, the Administration of Panathinaikos rejected the first offer of Al Ain FC (€2.5–3 million) about the purchase of experienced Swedish striker. The Greens are holding the 55% of the rights of 31-year-old international (his former team, Hamburger SV, have the other 35%), whose current contract expires in the summer of 2019, with a buy-out clause of €5.2 million, but the negotiations with the UAE club are expected to be continued, while Berg has already agreed to sign a two (plus one) years' season contract with Al Ain, with an annual salary of €3 million after taxes.
On 16 April 2018, following an incredible season in UAE Pro-League, Berg was twice on target as his club advanced to the last 16 stage of the AFC Champions League with an emphatic 4–1 rout of Qatar's Al Rayyan SC. On 21 April 2018, Al Ain were crowned UAE Pro-League champions for the 13th time in their history thanks to a Marcus Berg's hat-trick in an emphatic 4–0 win over Al Nasr. On 29 April 2018, netting four goals in a glorious 5–0 home win game against Al Dhafra FC, helping his club to win the 2017–18 UAE Pro-League, being the top scorer of the League in his first season.
On 3 May 2018, he scored, making use of a cleverly executed volley pass by the mid-fielder Omar Abdulrahman, the second goal in a 2–1 as Al Ain outlasted Al-Wasl F.C., lifting UAE President's Cup to secure trophy double in UAE Pro-League club's 50th year.
On 18 December 2018, opened the score helping his club through to the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup final as they dumped Copa Libertadores winners River Plate out on penalties in the semi-finals, after a final 2–2 game.
Berg scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season in Krasnodar's first league game of the season, a 3–0 victory at FC Ufa on 9 August 2020. Berg featured in both matches of the Champions League play-off tied against PAOK FC in September 2020 as Krasnodar won 4–2 on aggregate to secure qualification to the group stage for the first time in club history. On 2 December 2020, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Rennes in the Champions League, their first win in the competition, to qualify Krasnodar for the Europa League.
In 2024, Berg became a developer as a part of IFK Göteborg men's first-team coaching staff.
Berg was called-up regularly during Sweden's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored his first goal for the team on 10 June 2009 in the 4–0 home win over Malta. He was on the score sheet also in the final match day against Albania, netting the second in an eventual 4–1 home win, which was not enough to secure Sweden a place at the tournament. With 2 goals, he was Sweden's joint second top goalscorer along with Zlatan Ibrahimović and behind Olof Mellberg.
Berg managed only two appearances at UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying, both of them as substitute, recording only 19 minutes on the field. He scored one goal, the last of the 6–0 home win over San Marino on 7 September 2010. Sweden finished Group E as runner-up which was enough for a place at final tournament, which Berg missed out.
At 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Berg was part of the team only in the first Group C matches; he made only two appearances, both as replacement, netting only one time in the 2–0 home win over Kazakhstan on 11 September 2012. Sweden finished second in Group C which secured them a spot at second round where they were eliminated by Portugal 4–2 on aggregate.
On 11 May 2016, Berg was called by manager Erik Hamrén for the UEFA Euro 2016 which was his first major tournament. He started in the opening Group E match versus Republic of Ireland on 13 June, playing for 59 minutes as the match ended in a 1–1 draw. Berg also appeared in the remaining matches as Sweden lost to both Italy and Belgium which brought the elimination from the tournament.
In May 2018 he was named in Sweden's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Berg started in all five games for Sweden – but failed to score – as they were eliminated by England in the quarter final.
In May 2021, he was named in Sweden's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. Following Sweden's opening game in Euro 2020 against Spain in Seville, Berg became the target of severe online abuse and hatred after missing a chance to score. The Swedish FA responded by reporting the abuse to the police.
On 9 July 2021, Berg announced his retirement from international football. He won a total of 90 caps for Sweden, scoring 24 goals.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| Torsby IF | 2000 | Division 5 Värmland Västra | |
| 2001 | Division 4 Värmland | ||
| 2002 | Division 4 Värmland | ||
| 2003 | Division 4 Värmland | ||
| IFK Göteborg | 2005 | Allsvenskan | 7 |
| 2006 | Allsvenskan | 6 | |
| 2007 | Allsvenskan | 18 | |
| FC Groningen | 2007–08 | Eredivisie | 18 |
| 2008–09 | Eredivisie | 26 | |
| Hamburger SV | 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 10 |
| 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 2 | |
| 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 1 | |
| PSV Eindhoven (loan) | 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 11 |
| Panathinaikos | 2013–14 | Super League Greece | 23 |
| 2014–15 | Super League Greece | 22 | |
| 2015–16 | Super League Greece | 19 | |
| 2016–17 | Super League Greece | 31 | |
| Al Ain | 2017–18 | UAE Pro League | 36 |
| 2018–19 | UAE Pro League | 15 | |
| FC Krasnodar | 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 10 |
| 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 12 | |
| IFK Göteborg | 2021 | Allsvenskan | 10 |
| 2022 | Allsvenskan | 14 | |
| 2023 | Allsvenskan | 7 | |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | ||
| Sweden | 0 | |
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| + International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition | ||
| 1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 3 | 29 May 2010 | Friendly |
| 4 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | |
| 5 | 2011 Cyprus International Football Tournament | |
| 6 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 7 | Friendly | |
| 8 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying | |
| 9 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying | |
| 10 | Friendly | |
| 11 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 12 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 13 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 14 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 15 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 16 | 3–0 | |
| 17 | 4–0 | |
| 18 | 7–0 | |
| 19 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B | |
| 20 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | |
| 21 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | |
| 22 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A | |
| 23 | Friendly | |
| 24 | Friendly |
Sweden U21
Individual
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