IT HAS been 10 years in the making but Markus Olsson will make his 100th appearance for Blackburn Rovers today when they welcome Ipswich Town to Ewood Park.

Olsson was a fresh-faced 17-year-old when he first arrived at Rovers, along with his twin brother Martin, in late 2005 for a trial.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But while Martin impressed Mark Hughes sufficiently to secure a permanent move to East Lancashire, Markus went back to their native Sweden to continue his career.

The siblings were separated for six years before they were reunited in January 2012 when Rovers signed Markus from Halmstads.

By that stage Martin was an established Ewood star and, before he made a £2.5m move to Norwich City in July 2013, he played 143 times for the club.

Markus’ rise has not been as rapid and it was not until last season, when his impressively consistent showings led him to being voted by supporters as the club’s player of the year, that he made a position in his own.

Since then the left-back has hardly missed a match have but, when he looks back, he could not have foresaw he would follow in Martin’s footsteps and rack up a century appearances for the club.

But, as he prepares to achieve that milestone, he admits it is one that fills him with pride.

“To play 100 games for a club like Blackburn is special,” said Markus, 27.

“It was a long time ago when I first came to the club but I remember it.

“Me and my brother always wanted to play in England, and the chance to come and train with the club was very good for our development, to see how it was outside of Sweden, where we were playing, and to see how it was to play in a foreign atmosphere. It was very different but it was something we felt we wanted to do from early on.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“I went back to Sweden but I always knew Blackburn were looking at me. Being reunited with Martin again was such a good feeling because we’re so close. We both didn’t expect it to happen but we got the chance to play together and it was one of the better moments we’ve had.

“He’s gone now but it is very special that we’ll have both done 100 games for the club. It means a lot and it’s a little bit of history.

“Martin will be pleased for me because he still has very strong feelings for the club.

“He cares a lot about the club, and he has a lot of emotions for the club.

“He always looks out for the club and for their results, and if there’s a game he can watch, he’ll always try and do that.”