“They told me, do not go to Stockholm. Because you will never be the same again “, sings Håkan Hellström. But despite the dream of staying in Gothenburg and one day wearing the blue and white suit, Victor Edvardsen has now – via a road further than the E4 that connects the cities – ended up in Stockholm. Here everything is a little bigger, a little more stressful and a little more expensive.
– That’s it, it’s most fun to work with Stockholmers, that they are good, but there is also a little truth in that. In terms of courtesy, it is better in Gothenburg. I must try to teach them, says Edvardsen and smiles.
Common to Sweden two largest cities are at least the sometimes incomprehensible traffic, and Edvardsen has already experienced it. So too this Friday afternoon. After Djurgården’s preparatory training before the cup semifinal against Malmö FF, he will be a few minutes late. Cyclists, trucks and, above all, parking lot searchers have taken up time.
– It is hardly possible to drive a car in this city, says the 26-year-old when he finally arrives at the café at S: t Eriksplan.
– Victor Edvardsen does not yet feel completely at home in Stockholm. “In terms of courtesy, it’s better in Gothenburg.”
Photo: Elin Åberg
Not far from here is Edvardsen’s new apartment. He is not a master at assembling Ikea furniture, but after a couple of rounds to the furniture stores, he begins to feel that it is his home. It has been almost three months since he left Degerfors IF for another DIF. He is already thriving, but it has not always been this positive. Getting to where he is today, to the fine rooms of Sweden and the Allsvenskan, has taken him longer than expected.
The story has been told before. How Edvardsen as a junior sprinkled goals for the team he was passionate about – burned Bengals for – but when it was time for games in the first team, he was overlooked time and time again.
– Why it did not become more, only those who sat on the throne can probably answer. I think I did well, I just never got a receipt that what I did was enough.
He explains that he had to play left-back in some training sessions, was received by “a damn attitude from the older players”, and that he said what he thought and thought even then.
– Why would I train with them if I still was not allowed to play in my main position? If I say what I think today, it’s nothing compared to when I was a teenager. I think they had a little problem with that, that I stepped a little outside the box.
What did the club think and think about your support then?
– I think they knew about it. One day I could train with the A-team and the next day stand in the stands for an away match. But from my point of view, such a thing can only be positive, it shows that I play with heart. Had I had the chance, I would have done everything a little extra. Now it did not happen, says Edvardsen, looks out towards S: t Eriksplan and continues:
– Which I am grateful for today. It’s not like I go and think that I did not get the chance in Blåvitt. I’m just glad they did not invest in me, because the journey I have made is rare. There are not many in today’s all-Swedish top team who played in division 2 four years ago.
What does it say about you as a person?
– I do not know, I have tried to fight only. I think it is difficult for players in big clubs, regardless of whether we are in Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm, that if you do not reach all the way, it is easy to stop late. For somewhere, you think you are someone, even though you do not even play in the A-team. You belong to a big club and think you are better than you are.
Via a turn in Norway and games in both division 1 and 2, he reached the super one. In Degerfors, “everything clapped”. First, Edvardsen was involved in taking up the classic association in the Allsvenskan for the first time in 23 years and then he, with his 14 goals, was the strongest contributing factor to the team succeeding in staying.
– The other day, a group of preschool children from Degerfors sent a letter to Djurgården’s office. Then you can still say that you have done something good.
– Victor Edvardsen was successful during his years in the Degerfor jersey.
Photo: Tommy Pedersen/TT
At Stora Valla got Edvardsen be himself. He describes a family environment that was highly necessary for him to succeed, and once he succeeded, he had to give back in the form of the reported transfer fee of seven million kronor. But he could have ended up somewhere else, for example in the Middle East.
– I could have called my dad, and said “you, you can resign at work now if you want”. But I’ve been playing football since I was four, why should I just give up for money? I can do that later. I have built something here in Sweden now. I do not want to quit as fast as I started.
Even though there was no game in the Middle East, that was where the plans were forged, says Edvardsen. Many football players and agents travel to the emirate of Dubai.
– We talked a lot with Hasan Cetinkaya who is a great agent. It’s good in Dubai, it’s a kind of meeting place for us players and agents.
There is also one city in a country where human rights violations are constantly reported.
– All countries have it tough in some way. Now I am not familiar enough to speak. But Dubai is six hours away, it’s sun, heat and relaxation. There are many who go there, then I stay away from politics. I think we football or hockey players or athletes in general should stay away from politics if we are not familiar.
But it is election year.
– There I know what I should vote for in any case, but outside of that I do not have very good control.
Can you still understand the value in that you football players can express yourself?
– Absolutely. But we must also primarily do what we do. If you are familiar, know how things are and can stand for your opinion, then it can be good. But if you do not have control, then at least I choose not to speak, it only gets worse.
Outside the small café, the cold has now taken over. The sun’s rays of recent weeks have been blown away, but under the gray sky one of the Allsvenskan’s big stars lights up instead. Edvardsen is in the middle of life and life that he has fought for as long as he can remember. But it is difficult to let go of the emotions, to enjoy the moment.
– If you have a background in the stands, you still know what football means. People spend a lot of time, money and take time off from their jobs to go to away matches, but it can be difficult for me to enjoy. I still live in it, and if you enjoy it too much, it can be dangerous.
Are there additional steps to take?
– A bit like that. It is dangerous if a feeling of security develops and you start to stop. This applies both on a private field and on a football field.
In Djurgården, Edvardsen is expected to be what the team missed in the title fight last year – namely a goal scorer.
– Maybe I’m this last little piece of the puzzle to reach all the way. In any case, it feels like I have come in to score goals, and if I succeed, we can really challenge.
Before last year sat he raised a shame limit of ten goals which he later stepped over. He intends to do the same this year.
– As a striker in the Allsvenskan, the goal should always be ten. Then whether it’s the river or 18, we’ll see. It does not matter much as long as the team performs. There were 14 goals last season but we were close to going out. Had we done that, my goals would have meant nothing.
It took three matches before it came loose in the Allsvenskan for him last season. He is not afraid that it will happen again.
– No, not really. I have already shown that I can score goals here. That’s nice. But you should not stare blindly either. I’m still a freshman in the Allsvenskan. I was a real freshman last year, but I could adapt, it had to take the time it took.
He is driven by that constantly proving people the opposite and the incitement of the opponents’ supporters. When he scored in the derby at Behrn arena, he celebrated in front of ÖSK’s heel. When AIK visited Stora valla, he took a detour to AIK’s section after his 1-0 goal.
– It is in front of an audience you want to play. And there will be a difference of three thousand at Valla, compared to here. That extra ignition does a hell of a lot. It’s hard to describe, but, to hear everything around, you get started on that.
He does not want to reveal if he plans to do the same against AIK this year.
– It is important to find a balance, you must also show respect. But I do not want to go into too much of what I have thought, we’ll see if there is a situation.
– “As a striker in the Allsvenskan, the goal should always be ten,” says Victor Edvardsen regarding how many goals he expects to score this year.
Photo: Elin Åberg
We defy the weather and takes a short walk in Vasastan. Edvardsen says that when his father is visiting, there is a constant comparison between his hometown and Stockholm: “It’s cozier in Gothenburg”, “that had never happened in Gothenburg”, and so on.
– I try to tell him that we do not always need to compare, but it is not possible, says Edvardsen who knows about Håkan Hellström’s words in the song I have been in all cities.
In the capital you will never be the same, but also: if you go there, “never come back”.
“We’ll see,” says Edvardsen with a grin.
As early as April 20, he will at least be back for a short visit. But the striker is not yet completely clear what will happen if he scores a goal for Djurgården at Gamla Ullevi.
– I do not know yet. I will have all my friends there, I have great respect for them, the fans and the club. If I score in front of Blåvittklacken, I may not celebrate, but if it is in front of Djurgården’s heel, then maybe I will celebrate.
But first, a meeting with the former club Degerfors IF awaits at Tele2 arena on Monday night. On Sunday night, 20,078 tickets were sold for the premiere match.
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