Phoenix Rising FC signed Swedish defender John Stenberg on December 15, 2022.
Stenberg led Phoenix to its first USL Championship in 2023, joining the club midseason and improving the team’s defense immediately. Prior to his first match in 2023, Phoenix had allowed 45 goals in 22 games – 2.04 per match. After his arrival, Rising allowed just 1.06 goals per game (17GA in 16 games). Stenberg scored the game-tying goal in the 90th minute of the final, then subbed off due to an illness that was later revealed to be Valley Fever. Stenberg was named team captain by head coach Danny Stone on February 29, 2024.
Stenberg spent the last two seasons with Swedish second-division side Öster. The six-foot-three-inch center back found the back of the net three times in 57 Superettan matches since signing with Öster ahead of the 2021 season.
Stenberg began his professional career as a 23-year-old in the Swedish third division with Carlstad United. He played 51 matches with the club prior to it merging with Karlstad BK to form IF Karlstad in 2019. Stenberg played 18 games for IF Karlstad before enjoying a breakout season with Dalkurd in the Superettan the following year. Stenberg scored four goals in 29 appearances for Dalkurd in 2021.
“At the end of my season here, my agent presented me with a few offers and Phoenix was one of them,” said Stenberg. “It felt very exciting right away. I talked to Juan [Guerra] and it was simply clear for me that this was something I wanted to do. If I was to describe my style of play to a Rising fan, I would say I like to play as a quarterback and move the ball forward. I like to switch the play and knock good passes forward for the offensive players.”
Name: John Stenberg
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180
DOB: Oct. 12, 1992
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden
Previous club: Östers IF
Instagram: @j0hnstenberg