He was fired from Malmö after participating in the Sportbladet podcast about the culture of silence.
Now Oskar Alsenfeldt is ending his football career.
– In an ideal world, I would be able to end on my own terms, he says.
Question marks became many when Malmo Redhawks Termination of the contract with the goalkeeper star Oscar Elsenfelt35, this spring.
According to Sportbladet information, Alsenfelt was fired after participating in a podcast about the culture of silence. Among other things, Malmo’s sponsors must have reacted strongly to the goalkeeper’s comments, and this must have led to Alsenfelt being forced to leave.
After a few uncertain months, as the 35-year-old was still under contract, he has now opted to end his football career.
– When it turned out like in Malmö… it happened very quickly and it came as a shock to me. You need some time to land. I quickly realized that I couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else. I have been preparing and looking forward to this transition for some time. It felt right, and now that that was the case, that feeling got even stronger. It didn’t count, but I still felt ready, Alsenfeldt tells Sportbladet.
Get the highest job in women’s hockey
Was it appropriate to sign with another team?
– I didn’t close the door right away. You never know. But it didn’t take long before I felt that if I was going to play, it would be here (in Malmö). In an ideal world, I would quit on my own terms, but now the industry is what it is and I’ve landed.
Now a new trend awaits a hockey career. Alsenfelt will be SDHL’s sporting director from September.
– It’s about developing the sport at SDHL and being part of the journey they’ve started. In an effort to incorporate my skills that I’ve acquired during all the hours I’ve spent at the ice rinks over the years, he says and continues:
– Obviously, I have to study a lot. But in general, it is about the development of sports. You have to understand that there are other types of conditions, and you have to take new steps commercially and get the product out better. There is a lot about the sport, how to develop everything from rules, referees and scheduling. Then it’s also about teaching people that women’s hockey is important to the whole movement.
Malmo must answer that.
But what does Alsenfeld himself say about the separation in Malmö? The 35-year-old is taciturn.
– I chose not to comment on that at the moment. Malmo should answer that and that’s the line I’ve taken this whole time. I choose to look now.
Are you going to tell me what happened next?
– Maybe I’ll do. Actually, there are no secrets I can’t tell, but I think it’s best for both parties to look ahead.
Do you think participating in the Sportbladet podcast had any consequences for her as it did?
– No, it’s the same there. The answer is the same, I chose not to comment on it for now.
Although Alsenfeldt was not allowed to continue as a player, the goalkeeper was contracted to Malmo until 2023. The Redhawks wanted to keep the goalkeeper in another role at the club.
– I was offered another job in Malmö, says Elsenfeldt.
You chose to decline?
– yes.
Can you tell me why?
– No, I can’t do that.