The 29-year-old Heerenveen defender is a regular member of the Sweden squad but has struggled to take over from Olof Mellberg and Teddy Lucic in his country's starting line-up. He is a reliable replacement for either player though, if they succumb to loss of form or injury. Hansson moved to Heerenveen from Halmstads four years ago and has been a regular in the Dutch side's first team and starred in their 2005-06 UEFA Cup campaign. He has only one year left on his current contract and was recently linked with a move to Greek side Panathinaikos.