Renee Slegers and Stina Blackstenius go back a long way. They were teammates at Linkopping from 2012 until 2016.
Now Slegers is Stina’s coach at club level and with the Swede signing a new contract this week, the Dutch coach is well placed to comment on the player’s development. Stina and Slegers sat side by side in the pre Lyon press conference.
‘It gives me goosebumps talking about this here with Stina now because partly it brings me back to where I come from as well because I think the last year we played together was in 2016 and I think we’d been in the same team for four years.
‘So that’s then 14 years ago and looking at where I am now I never, not a hair on my head, thought I would be here. So that’s great.
‘But to Stina, it’s been special I think because I’ve seen Stina’s journey. You came to Linkoping when you were 16. You were still playing handball at the time I think. And really good at handball. You had to give up that career.
‘And looking at you coming in there with a couple of other younger players trying to impact the team and learning so much still.
‘We had a coach who did a lot of work with you guys. I think we had a really young team. A young team was being built. There was a lot of young players coming in and we built something there.’
Blackstenius was 16 when she first became Slegers’ teammate. Now 30, Slegers says the player and the person has come on so much over the years.
‘And I think what’s so special is what Stina was then. I think we had one summer party at your mum’s lovely place down by the water. Always very humble and not in the centre of attention. But just doing a lot of very important work for yourself and for others.
‘And that’s still Stina now. It’s funny to talk about you whilst you sit next to me. We should have a coffee afterwards! Bring up some memories.’
Stina left Linkopping for Montpellier but found it difficult to adjust to life and football in France, so she signed for Hacken.
‘But looking at where you are now, I think if you look at the steps that Stina’s made, you’ve played in the French League for Montpellier, back to Sweden, then to England to make that step and go abroad.
‘And that’s a big challenge. Just as a human being, as a person going somewhere else. And Stina’s done that. And the way you’ve grown, the way Stina has grown in this environment.
‘It’s unbelievable. And I think still very humble. But so well at presenting yourself in the right way. For the team always.
‘You said ahead of the press conference about the language, I said ‘you’re going to be fine!’ So everything. Stina’s developed so much.
‘And I think that says everything about Stina. Just wanting to grow all the time. And that’s why I think Stina’s such an important player for us. Because that’s the mentality and the culture that we want to create.’