In April, he made his debut in Allsvenskan, in August in Serie A.
Through September, Isak Hien could add his national team debut to the account.
For Sportbladet, the center back talks about the comet’s traumatic career in Italy and his reunion with Alexander Isaacs.
After a rather slow start to his career, Isaac Hain has delivered fast for the past six months. The central defender, who made five interventions Djurgarden Last year, he made a starting line-up right at the premiere, thrived in one of Allsvenskan’s best defenders and was sold to Hellas Verona before the transfer window closed.
Then I called the captain of the national team Jan Andersson.
Just getting the chance to play at Allsvenskan was really special and something I dreamed about. Then, to go abroad and play in the First Division, and now in the national team, you can hear for yourself what it feels like, it’s almost unimaginable, says Hein, who just over four years ago sat on the bench in the division 1 before retraining him. Forward to the center of defence.
– It’s so much fun and I hope it inspires many footballers not to give up and shows that you can take so many different paths. Some hack when they are 17-18 years old and others may need to take the trip you took. This does not mean that you are worse than anyone else, just that you can take a different path to become a professional abroad and play for the national team.
I played with Isak and Wahlstedt
With Hien on the national team, there is now a scripted example showing what different paths to the same final destination can look like. The center back played for the same P99 team as Alexander Isak, and while Hien advanced through Division 1 and Super One, his former teammate broke through at the age of 16 in 2016 before being sold to Borussia Dortmund, then to Real Sociedad and now Newcastle.
In addition, the recently called-up goalkeeper Leopold Walstedt also played in the same AIK team.
– It’s fun and special to play now in the national team with the players I played with at a young age from 10-11 to 15-16 when Leopold and I left. It definitely indicates that we were a good group of boys and I think there will be offers for more soon. We’ve all taken completely different journeys, and it’s a lot of fun, says Hien, who grew up in Akalla just like another star in blue and yellow.
Robin Keason has meant a lot to me. As a suburban guy, it’s always fun and inspiring to see the people you know who come from the same area. There’s a few years difference between us, so I sat on the sidelines and watched Robin play and he was an inspiration to many in the suburbs and you shouldn’t underestimate that.
Hin continues:
Football is not only about being able to make a living from it, it is also good to meet new people and keep going. It is also good for health, so it is very important to be a good role model and example for young people, especially in suburbs and high-risk areas so that children see that anything is possible. I will really try to be a good role model like Robin, even if it is difficult.
‘I suffocated’
After 22 matches at Allsvenskan, Hien Djurgården left for Hellas Verona during the summer break. The transfer became official on August 27, the next day he made his debut in Serie A.
– I was so shocked. I didn’t really think I’d enjoy playing after a training session with the team so I wasn’t quite as prepared as I’d like but it’s nice to be thrown into the hot air right away. Although it’s hard at first, you don’t have time to think too much, so it was fun, but special.
He describes the first time as difficult, without adapting it to a new language, a new game, and a different culture.
When you step onto the playing field, there is no room for excuses, no matter how you live, how you live, or if you don’t know the language or if you’re in pain somewhere. People expect you to perform and that’s a pressure, but I try to see everything in a positive light, so it’s mostly just fun and challenging. I was totally prepared for how difficult it would be.
How much do you miss Djurgården?
A lot anyway, I won’t lie about that. It was very safe to be in Kaknäs, especially this year when I had a year behind. Now it was a bit more of a challenge, but at the same time I felt like it was a step I should take in my career. But there are great guys out there, who are like family, and many of them are lifelong friends.
If Heen manages to make his national team debut against Serbia or Slovenia in the Nations League, he says “Ka Ching” to Djurgården, as expressed by sporting director Bos Anderson himself. Sportbladet previously wrote that the club brings in just over two million crowns into the account for the first time with the national team.
Djurgården has been very important to my development and Bosse has been very important to me since the day I signed. He had great faith in me as a person and as a footballer, and I appreciate that very much. He believed in me when maybe not everyone else did, so if I had the chance to raise money for Djurgården, I’d just be happy for Bosse and Djurgården.
“I shouldn’t say much”
After making his debut against Degerfors at the Philsvenskan premiere, Sportbladet Haen asked: “When are you going to play alongside Fig in the national team?”. An angry reader emailed the question and called it trivial, and there was nothing signed or Hinn himself thought to be particularly close.
But with several midfielders injured, the 23-year-old is the favorite to take a place alongside Lindelof in the central lockout – something that would be very special for the former Manchester United fan(?).
– I don’t know. As you get closer and closer to the pinnacle of football, you probably shouldn’t say much, says Henn and smiles as the club’s sympathy appears.
I liked United a lot in my younger days, but that kind of thing goes away a bit when you play for yourself. I have to ask Victor and Anthony how it is. It’s fun to get some lowdown on, you didn’t have that before. I have watched many matches with Victor since he went there. But now when you play and train with him, it feels more like a teammate than a United player.
What would his drawing look like?
It could have meant so much and it was such an honor to be able to wear the Sweden shirt. It’s a childhood dream and something I’ve longed for, but I haven’t really had time to land, so I don’t feel any pressure or pressure.
In the end, when the national team meeting is over, the apartment in Italy is ready and he has some spare time, Hien will try to take what he’s been through over the past six months.
I feel like I just moved from one place to another and didn’t have time to think about it. Some evenings you have to settle for these thoughts and be grateful for what you have come to. It’s something you will regret after your career otherwise, if you don’t appreciate what you have done during your career.