The Glasgow centre-back was next open for a return to Malmö FF
He sees the light at the end of injury hell and gets a boost in his private life besides the football field.
Last week, national team defender Philip Hilander, 29, and his girlfriend, Louisa Plymouth, became parents to twins.
– This is the biggest thing that has happened in my life, the Rangers defender tells Sportbladet.
Philip Hilander’s Instagram photo of newborn twin boys speaks of pure happiness.
– I am very grateful that we have become parents of two wonderful children, – he says and tells briefly about the premature birth of both boys.
– I was there and there was an incredible amount of emotion, of course, but also nervousness that crept in before. My girlfriend stayed in the hospital with them for a while. They were very young when they were born, but they are doing very well and have just been allowed home. We are in the middle of a baby bubble. This is the most important thing right now, says Philip Hilander.
Noun?
We have names to call them, but we have not fully decided them, so I dare not say them until we are quite sure.
Blagult’s twin duo at 25 years old?
In the national football team, midfielder Samuel Gustafsson, Hacken, has just made his way. Twin brother Simon previously played in Blagoult.
Joel Anderson, Midtjylland, is vying for a place as right-back in the current squad, and twin brother Adam Anderson, Randers, has four caps.
– I wish I could say that my sons are a new striker husband in the future. But if they inherit any of my talents, it’s probably two quarterbacks, Hilander says.
Over the past autumn, the former Bologna, Verona and Malmö defender was the Rangers’ first choice at the center of the Swedish defence, along with Victor Nelson Lindelof. Then began the slightly injured Hilander, who has so far been hailed by Rangers fans in Scotland, and a major change at centre-back for national team captain Jan Anderson.
– There were a lot of injuries, but there were ones that it was difficult for me to do anything about. First it was the knee, then the foot. It’s been tough. But there was not much more to do than fight. Hopefully I’ve had my fair share of injuries now over the past year.
Complementary to a foot injury
After knee problems last fall, Philip Hilander is back at the start of 2022. He jumped into his first World Cup qualifying play-off against the Czech Republic but picked up a foot injury in the Scottish League a few weeks later.
– I tried to rehabilitate the foot without surgery. When I got back in time for prep season last summer, I hurt my feet again. It turned out that it hadn’t healed properly and I needed surgery. That’s why it took so long.
In recent weeks, it wasn’t just childbirth that felt satisfying.
It appears that surgery on the right foot two months ago was a success and Hilander has begun to ramp up his rehabilitation.
– I hope to be back at the end of February or the beginning of March. There is little left. Everything in rehab has gone well so far.
On social media and among Rangers supporters, there was speculation that Philip Hilander’s career was in jeopardy due to a foot injury.
Were you worried that you wouldn’t be able to come back?
– No no. Start. With surgery, this foot will be just like any other. Besides, it’s the right foot that I’ve had issues with and could hardly use before anyway…it’s just a support leg, Hilander says with a laugh.
I’ve felt the support of the Rangers fans and have a strong inner drive to come back and help the club in the spring.
The contract ends in the summer
The contract with Rangers, with whom Hilander became Scottish champion in the spring of 2021, expires next summer.
What’s Next?
– I don’t know. My priority is to get back on the field first and foremost. Somewhere I realize I have to make a decision before summer. Whether we stay here or move somewhere else, we’ll see.
Anton Tennerholm returned to Malmö FF. Pontus Jansson could be next, and both Robin Olsen and Emil Forsberg look set to pull the sky blue jersey again in the not too distant future.
Malmö FF can get a great team of high-class returnees not too old.
Is MFF an option when contract with Rangers expires in the summer?
– he is here. I follow Malmö a lot. My girlfriend and I have our families and friends there. It’s an option. I certainly hope to play in MFF again one day, but I don’t know when that will be.
In honor of the national team
What do you think of Henrik Rydstrom as the new coach?
– He’s a very interesting coach. In interviews, he always makes a good impression. It is important to have personality in the trainer. The coach can talk to the players. The defender, who won SM gold with the MFF Championship in 2013 and 2014, says he feels like he has that quality and then went U21 EC with Sweden in 2015.
What do you think of the national team’s efforts last week by beating Mexico and Algeria?
– It was absolutely amazing for a while with all the guys in and out. But now they are playing as Sweden did before. As long as you define the defensive game, Philip Hilander says, there are creative players like Foppa, Kulusevski, Alexander Isak, Elanga, Viktor Claesson and newer strikers who will make a good offense.