It must be on the breakfast table • Unexpected friendship
Published 2024-03-10 19.59
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GIRONA. Hockey star Joel Lundqvist played his last game in the spring of 2023.
But the rest didn’t last long, because soon after that SVT got in touch and wanted him to be one of the participants in this year’s edition of “Master of Masters”.
– Of course you are first happy to be asked, then you have to take it in and think about it, says Joel.
Since Joel Lundqvist41, followed the “Master of Masters” all these years and himself dared to dream of being asked to participate, he didn’t need long thinking time to say yes.
Was it expected that they would contact you when you had announced that you would quit?
– No absolutely not! You have no idea about that, says Joel and laughs.
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full screenJoel Lundqvist. Photo: Andreas BardellFACTS
Joel Lundqvist
Center and team captain in Frölunda HC, but who also played in Järpens IF, Rögle BK and Dallas Stars. Played home in the 2017 World Cup and in November 2022 played his 1,048th game in the SHL, breaking the previous record.
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And the requirements to stand up were not many. The only thing Joel requested was that there be fiber oatmeal and peanut butter on the breakfast table.
– That list was very short, he says.
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full screen Joel Lundqvist talks to Sebastian Larsson. Photo: Andreas Bardell
Unexpected friendship with the football player
During the recording, Joel shares a room with the former soccer player Sebastian Larsson.
– You felt early on that we clicked well. We had somewhat similar roles and are similar as people. Calm outside and a little hotter on the pitch. But also that we’ve both recently broken up and stuff like that. It feels great fun.
After it became clear that Joel had laced up his skates for the last time, he confirmed that he will start as a hockey expert on TV4.
– It is to go over to the other side.
What does TV4 think of you being recorded for an SVT programme?
– This was clear before, so they were aware of it. There were no oddities.
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full screenJoel Lundqvist. Photo: Pontus Orre
Plus on life
The love life
– I have a fantastic family, fantastic wife. I feel good in life and it has also been a key for me to have a long career that you have had a family that you supported and made you feel good and perform well. You are lucky there.
How did you and your wife meet?
– It was 23 years ago. Out in Gothenburg. In the nightlife. In youth.
Was it love at first sight?
– Yes, but it actually was. We both recognized there was something there right away.
The economy
– On the economy? We will have to see that in the future. Now you’ve just started a new career, so we’ll see. No, but you’re lucky to have had a good job over the years, in hockey and such. So I must be grateful for that indeed. A four then.
What do you spend your money on?
– Yes, you have a family and a home, and life has been pretty much set in stone. You haven’t been able to travel that much, I think, during the season. There has been quite limited time, so it is hoped that you will have more time to travel around the world in the future.
The health
– I feel good. Physically, nothing that hurts or bothers in any way. The body feels great. Ready for new challenges.
The career
– I am satisfied, I am proud of my career. I get to put five. I feel that I have experienced things. I have given everything I could and there are no things I regret. Then of course I’ve had tough periods, injuries and so on. Have had dreams about the NHL too. I was there for a short period. Perhaps you could have done more years there while being extremely grateful and happy for those years at home and in Förlunda during all those years. And national teams and so on. So I am very proud and happy about my career
The future plans
– I am very open going forward. Now I have got a direction with doing different things, managing my time, TV, lectures and so on. Very exciting. But at the same time, I am open to the fact that things can happen along the way and develop in different ways. I am very humble about the future. I’m going to start a new life. I can’t say it’s five now, I’m on a journey that just started here. We start on a third.
