Olle Samuelsson, a 21-year-old Swedish centre-back, has admitted his dream is to one day play for Arsenal, following a meteoric rise that has seen him move from the third tier of Swedish football to BK Häcken in the top flight in just six months.
Having spent 15 years at Kalmar FF, where his father Svante Samuelsson had served as sporting and club director, Samuelsson was ultimately released without being offered a senior contract. He signed for Oskarshamns AIK in Ettan Södra and started 28 games in his first full season, before a January move to Sandviken in Superettan.
Just 13 matches later, Häcken moved quickly to secure his signature ahead of reported interest from other top division clubs.
“It is very fun to have risen to the highest level in Sweden, despite being denied it a year and a half ago,” Samuelsson told Göteborgs-Posten.
“When I was allowed to leave Kalmar FF after being there for 15 years, and grew up with the father I have in that city, it is clear that there have been high expectations for me that I will go up there and become a team player for Kalmar FF. There was something to tackle when it then became a no. That period, he supported me above all.”
Describing himself as a “verbal defender” who is “confident in the passing game” and strong in one-on-one duels, Samuelsson says he now feels ready for Allsvenskan, and is drawn to Häcken‘s track record of developing talent. “It is not my main goal to come here and then move on. I come here because I want to represent Häcken and want to be able to play for them in Allsvenskan. Then it is a bonus if it goes well and that from there you can take further steps.”
But the Swede has already set his sights on a potential leap to the very top. “The favourite team has always been Arsenal, but it probably takes a lot to play there. But you should never stop dreaming.”
When asked whether he could see himself competing with the likes of Gabriel in a few years’ time, Samuelsson smiled: “It feels so hard now, but you never know. It can go fast in football. We’ll see.”
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