IFK Gothenburg talent Felix Eriksson, 18, joined the club’s academy four years ago and was promoted to Mikael Stahre’s A-team last year. At the beginning of September last year, he made his Allsvenskan debut with an appearance in the 4-1 away win against Mjällby AIF, and in the last round he had another short appearance against IFK Värnamo away, when the season ended with another 4-1- victory in the Allsvenskan.
The 18-year-old was last week at Blåvitt’s training camp in Spain and is now looking forward to the upcoming season. He has high expectations of himself.
– I want to fit into the team, and get as many minutes as possible. It is a good competitive situation with many good players, but I feel that there is a good chance and that it is possible to break in, he says to the Football Channel.
Eriksson can play in several different positions, such as centre-back and full-back, but prefers to play as right-back, which he mostly did this year in Blåvitt.
– I am quite an all-round player, as I can play in many positions, but my main qualities are perhaps my understanding of the game and my passing foot, he says and continues:
– The idea is that I will play fullback, and that is where most of my qualities come to the fore. I can also follow up offensively, which I cannot do in the same way as a centre-back. Given my height, it’s also most useful to be a full back, so that’s where I think I’ll play.
Eriksson thus competes mainly with the experienced players Sebastian Ohlsson, 29, and Emil Salomonsson, 33, for the right-back position.
– It is tough, as both can play as right-back and they are good players. At the same time, I feel that it is possible to get minutes and as long as I only train well and take care when I get to play, I think there are opportunities for me to break in and get minutes from the bench.
Eriksson has so far had a relatively straight path, via Gais and the PR Academy, to Blåvitt’s academy and the A team.
– I came to Blåvitts U16, and almost immediately, as a 15-year-old centre-back, I got to play with the U17, so it went quite quickly at the beginning and then it has flown. I played an extra year in the U17, when I was there early, but then it became the U19, and the A team after six months.
When Fotbollskanalen asks what Eriksson sees ahead of his career, the goal is crystal clear, to take a place in IFK Göteborg and help the club.
– I want to join Blåvitt, that’s what I dream of and want. Then I think everyone wants to go to Europe, which is a big goal, but the closest thing is to join Blåvitt.
Eriksson has, since childhood, attended matches and followed the Allsvenskan big club.
– I have pictures from when I was two years old and wore a blue-white shirt, when it has been blue-white from the beginning. Although I started in Gais, it has always been Blåvitt. I then also started at Änglagårdsskolan, which has a connection to Blåvitt, and then it became completely natural to go to Blåvitt. I am extremely grateful to be here, he says.
IFK Gothenburg will face Utsiktens BK at home in the Swedish Cup group stage on February 20.
