Former IFK Gothenburg and Östersund’s FK defender Tom Pettersson, 31, is back on Scandinavian soil. After a year and a half with Cincinnati in MLS, he recently signed for the Norwegian club Lillestrøm, which is in third place in the Elite Series.
Pettersson’s time in Cincinnati did not turn out as he had hoped.
After only a few weeks last year, coach Ron Jans, who had recruited him, left after accusations that he expressed himself racistly in front of his players. Then instead the Dutch legend Jaap Stam (who played in Milan and Manchester United) took over, which was not to the Swede’s advantage. Last year, Pettersson got to play a lot, but this year there was little playing time in the USA.
– It was lousy timing. He (Ron Jans) was fired even before I had played a single minute. I’m not the kind of midfielder that Jaap (Stam) really advocates, but I was the third choice and had to play quite a lot anyway. I did well when I got to play, but after I maybe got to play five games in a row, he said I would sit on the bench, Pettersson tells Fotbollskanalen.
He continues:
– Then I asked: “Why? It has gone well? What do you want me to do instead and what can I do differently?”. He could not point to anything negative: “It’s just that. I have nothing negative to say about your achievements. They have been good”. Then I knew. My future is probably not here then. It was more a question of when I would move, but then we only had two midfielders during the winter this year and then I decided to drive on until the summer.
Pettersson was simply not Stam’s favorite. Stam wants to use a different type of midfielder and despite the fact that Cincinnati only had two healthy midfielders, including Pettersson, before this year’s season, the club management made it clear to Pettersson that he should look around for a new challenge in his career.
– Even though we were only two midfielders, they did everything they could for me to move. I was not Jaap Stam’s favorite midfielder. I’m not the type of player he wants. He wants a super fast, athletic and great midfielder. These are qualities that are quite difficult to fix, so he made it very clear to me that it is better I draw from there. We still only had two midfielders and it premiered in a week, but that did not mean I would have to play anyway. Then I understood.
Pettersson had already heard about Lillestrøm’s interest during the winter this year, but chose to stay in Cincinnati due to the team having few slopes available. This summer, he finally got enough and chose to make the move to the Norwegian club after four games this year in MLS.
– I still thought I would get to play the first matches regardless, at the same time as it was not far to the summer. I therefore chose to stay, even though Lillestrøm wanted over me. I had to play in the first three matches and it was pretty hard for us, but I did not give up. I knew at the same time that it does not matter what I do. Then I felt that I did not want to stay. I heard about Lillestrøm’s interest and that made it easier, he says and continues:
– I talked to the sports director, the coach and people who have been in the club and got a very good impression. It is their first year in the top league after previously leaving and they have invested a lot of money in the academy and younger players and have gone up again. Now they have done well with quite a few young players, who are their own products, and some older players. I think it feels like I’m getting into a good position in the club.
Pettersson is happy that he tested on games in Cincinnati and in MLS. He met many nice people and got to experience something completely new, but at the same time is now happy to play with Lillestrøm in Norway. He wants to feel joy on the football field again.
– I think it’s fun to get into a new team with great energy and get some joy back to football and hopefully play a lot, so I can enjoy football life again, says Pettersson.
He continues:
– My family and I had a great time in Cincinnati, but we moved there for football and it did not turn out as I had imagined. I fought and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. If I play well and still do not have confidence, I can not do more. Now I’m just really happy that I’ve come to a club that seems to be the other way around. I’ve talked to people in the club and it feels great. The gut feeling is fun. It feels good to be able to come to the training and have fun every day.
In addition, top battle is now awaiting in the Norwegian top league. This weekend, Pettersson made his debut with games from the start against Sandefjord (1-1) and on Sunday, the reigning league champion Bodø / Glimt awaits. Lillestrøm is in third place in the table with eight points up to Molde in the league lead.
– It has gone better than expected already the first year. Even if the club wants to return to the top, they are newcomers this year, but they have done very well. It’s a team in success.
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