Former AS Roma star attends Gothia Cup
Christian “Chippen” Wilhelmsson on his own Gothia Cup memories, life in Dubai, and what he does nowadays.
The list of professional players who have played in Gothia Cup is long. Among them is the former swedish national team player Chippen.
- I played in the Gothia Cup twice, with Mjällby. One year we reached the semifinals, we had a good team, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Despite that, I have only positive memories of the tournament. We played fun matches, spent a lot of time together, and experienced a very exciting penalty shootout that we won, says Chippen.
On a daily basis, he resides in Dubai but is visiting Gothenburg as both his son and daughter are playing in the Gothia Cup.
- It's fantastic to be back in Sweden and also to see the kids play football, especially today when my son scored two goals. Soon, we’re off to watch my daughter who plays later this afternoon. The only downside to our stay in Sweden has been the rain, we’ve almost experienced four different seasons in a single day, he says with a chuckle.
Many teams and spectators traveling to the Gothia Cup from other countries often experience a colder climate here than they are used to. This is especially true for Chippen, who is used to 30 degrees and sunny weather at home. Besides the weather, he talks about other benefits of living in Dubai.
- I couldn't imagine a better place to live with my family than Dubai. The kids' school is fantastic, healthcare is top-notch, and the society is overall very safe. Everything is secure and well-organized, he says.
We revisit Chippen’s football career, and when asked about the best player he has played with, he thinks for a moment before answering:
- If I don’t want to be boring and say Zlatan, then I’ll say Daniel De Rossi. We were teammates when I lived in Italy and played for Roma. He had tough tackles and an incredible understanding about the game, Chippen continues.
When asked about the best player he has played against, another well-known name comes up.
- It has to be Henry. I had him on my flank when we faced France in an international match with Sweden. It was tough. He was fast and amazing with the ball, he says.
To cultivate players like Daniel De Rossi and Henry, it's important that players have good conditions. Talented players tend to join academies to develop into better footballers.
- The academy where my kids play is relatively new, but it's a good one. In Dubai, the level of academies and clubs is very mixed. There are those who focus on elite training and those who play just for fun. There’s something for every level and age. Especially women's football is growing rapidly, which is great to see, he ends by saying.
Christian ended his professional football career about 10 years ago. Today, he is involved in various businesses and makes sure to enjoy family life to the fullest.
