Sahlin came late into top-class football: he was nearly 28 years of age when, after lengthy negotiations, he joined Allsvenskan club Hammarby IF in February 1995.
[3] In November 1995, Sahlin made his international debut for Sweden, after which he went to England to join Division One (second-tier) club Birmingham City on loan.
While in hospital, Sahlin suffered a staphylococcal infection in the operated area, which despite lengthy recuperative treatment forced his retirement.
[16] On 15 November 1995, he made his senior international debut, as an 83rd-minute substitute to replace Jörgen Pettersson in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Turkey which finished as a 2–2 draw.
His first start for his country came on 22 February 1996, when he played the first half of the Carlsberg Cup final against Japan in Hong Kong.