Viktor Johansson #12

Profile

Johansson’s career took off while on loan at Alfreton Town in the National League North – the sixth tier of English football – at the age of 18. “It was about getting stuck in and using your elbows,” he says. “It made me the goalkeeper I wanted to become.” His journey also took him to Rotherham, where he was nicknamed “The Viking” after taking a kick to the face. When he was about to leave the club, he treated fans to 600 beers, each with a personal message. It cost nearly £2,500. “A very small amount for everything they [the fans] have done for me and my family.” The beers were handed out at a supporters’ bar, where Johansson’s father had once jumped behind the bar and started pouring beer when visiting the city. “Dad was the king of the bar that evening – less so the morning after.” Often described as the “kindest” person in the national team.

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