Anders makes the headlines...... one more time.

[david in sweden]

...with yet another milestone for Anders Svensson, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week.

 

I can almost hear some newer /younger Saints fans saying... who ?...at the mention of a player who left Saints in 2005, but in Sweden.... Anders was the closest to a footballing ikon this country had seen, (prior to the Zlatan era). A Swedish journo' once called him " the Scandinavian Beckham."

 

Anders retired last year with a place in the record books as the most capped (male) footballer in Swedish history (148 games) in a career that saw him play over 700 games...most of which were with his home club (Elfsborg) for whom he played over 400 times, sandwiched between his 140 games for Saints (2001-2005).

 

Even today, fans who recall his time at SMS, are divided in their opinions of his contribution to a Saints at a time that also saw him play in the FA Cup Final 2003.

 

In a newspaper interview, he commented on his move to Saints, (after his first spell with the Elfsborg club where he had won both Cup and League medals).

 

The move to the Premier League was a big event which helped him develop in many ways. He said he had been used to having people around him, taking care of things, but then had to get used to taking care of himself. He said that he developed a lot as a player and a person during his time at St. Mary's.

 

" I came as an attacking midfielder, who also made a lot of mistakes defensively, yet who could also provide spectacular goals, as well as dribbling and passing.

At Southampton, I developed into a more complete footballer, both in attack and defence, as well as becoming ... a bit tougher."

 

Anders said that, for him, playing Premier League was a boyhood dream. He recalled that several changes of Saints' manager contributed to much turbulance at the club, and he finally moved back to Sweden in 2005. He also added that he regretted many Swedish clubs didn't do more to develop their younger players, (as Saints do).. recalling his own development when he began kicking a ball around (as a 4 year old)......with the village team that his father managed.

 

Back in Sweden, he clocked up another 250+ games for his beloved Elfsborg, and continued his career as a Swedish international before retiring last year.

 

During his time in England, there was a lot of publicity surrounding a romance with Danish designer Anine Bing, but after returning to Sweden, he met and married a childhood girlfriend (Emma), and they now have 2 young children.

After retiring from internationals some years ago, the Swedish FA decided to present him with .. a brand-new Volvo.... to mark his career achievement.

When he learned he would have to pay a large % of the car's value in accordance with the infamous Swedish " gift tax ", he told the FA.... they could keep it. (!)

 

Anders now devotes himself to several different areas in football, as a consultant and sometime football commentator, but that the income from these events goes to Cancer research and a childrens cancer charity. He said that he had achieved many of the things he could only have dreamed of 20 years ago.

He has been a constant critic of recent Swedish team performances (as was seen in Euro 2016), and somehow I don't think we've heard the last of that issue.

 

He said he is very thankful to be fit and healthy, has a wonderful wife and family and the sort of playing career that he always wanted.

Edited 22 July, 2016 by david in sweden

[Saint_clark]

Thanks for the update. Always rated him and had we signed him at the same age today as we did then, he would have flourished in our current set up.