By Gabriel Kuhn
April 11th, 2025
My full-time union job leaves less time for sports journalism these days, but on occasion I get to slip back into the role. On April 10, it was impossible not to attend a very special soccer game.
In the quarterfinals of the European Conference League, Djurgårdens IF played Rapid Vienna in
Stockholm. Djurgården is the first Swedish representative in a European men’s tournament in 25 years,
and Rapid hadn’t made it to this stage for even longer (although a couple of other Austrian clubs have).
That, however, is only of interest to soccer nerds. For me, there was a strong personal touch to the game.
Rapid was once upon a time a powerhouse in European football, and in 1985 I traveled to Rotterdam from my native Austria as a twelve-year-old to watch them play the European cup winner’s final against Everton. They lost, but the journey was memorable.
Djurgården is one of the main soccer clubs of Stockholm, a city I moved to eighteen years ago. That
a Stockholm side would be the first Swedish representative at this level of European men’s club
competition since the shift of the millennium was far from given. The Swedish league has long been
dominated by Malmö FF. Even less given was that their opponent would be a club from Austria I followed in my youth.
I won’t bore you with details about the game. Rapid won 1-0. The goal was lucky – an own-goal – but it
was forced by my favorite Rapid player, Louis Schaub, so I was content. Djurgården had its chances and
controlled most of the match, but well, that’s soccer. Only the goals count.
In any case, the tie is far from decided. The Stockholm game was only the first leg. On April 17, the
second leg will be played in Vienna. Considering the Stockholm result, Rapid are now the favorites, but
anything can happen.
I have lived in Sweden longer than in Austria, but I feel way more Austrian than Swedish. (It’s not even a
comparison.) Naturally, I don’t mind if Rapid goes through. But there’s a silver lining in a possible
Djurgården success, and it shines brightly. This is where yet another very personal note comes in.
I have been to Djurgården matches before, but never without my dear friend Olle Eriksson. Olle was a
solid political ally, always a pleasure to be around, and a dedicated Djurgården fan. He contributed to the club’s blog and social media, and knew many of the staff and the players. He loved the work and was cherished by everyone in the Djurgården family.
In the fall of 2021, Olle passed away due to an illness diagnosed not even two weeks earlier. He was 42
years old. Djurgårdens IF honored him at the next home game. I remember supporters from the
Stockholm rivals, AIK and Hammarby, writing that they never thought they’d attend a Djurgården game,
but they did so for him.
It took me almost four years to go see a Djurgården match again. I did so without Olle for the first time.
Now, if the team defies the odds in Vienna and advances to the next round after all, I can’t be too upset,
Austrian identity and Rapid childhood memories notwithstanding. Olle would have been happy. R.I.P. ♥
