“When I was playing in the 4th division, I played soccer on Sundays and moved on Mondays. Then he hurt his back, and he had the urge to focus more on football and become a true professional.” Still, he learned his life by doing several jobs. It is said that ordinary people who work hard with pride in their jobs have been a great motivation for playing soccer.
This is the story온라인카지노 of Gustav Rubiksson (30), a Swedish striker who leads Ulsan Hyundai’s leading run this season. Wearing the Ulsan uniform ahead of this season, he mainly plays as a left striker and scores 5 goals, ranking third after FC Seoul Na Sang-ho (27 goals, 8 goals) and Ulsan Joo Min-gyu (33 goals, 6 goals). He hit the net five times with 11 of 17 shots on target.
Rubik’s hand’s decisive power is exerting its power as a ‘new weapon’ for Ulsan, which is aiming for a second consecutive victory in the K-League. Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo said, “Rubikson is playing an important role because he is not only capable of scoring but also has excellent speed to press the opponent.”
Since joining Ulsan, Rubiksson is a player who has garnered attention as a ‘human victory drama’ that has risen from the 7th division of Sweden to the 1st division.
He went through Mölnike (Part 7 → Part 6), Sebedalens (Part 5 → Part 4), Oeri Rythe (Part 2), and Hammabi (Part 1), step by step, and went up. He did not attract much attention due to his small physique when he was young, and when he was in the lower leagues, he had to combine soccer and work to make ends meet. His jobs included an eyewear factory, a newspaper distribution center, a sporting goods store, and a packing and moving company.
Rubikson, whom I recently met at the Ulsan Hyundai Clubhouse in Dong-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, introduced himself as “a sincere player who runs a lot,” and said, “I enjoy seizing opportunities by constantly digging into the space behind my opponent.”
When asked what motivated him to not give up on football despite all the hardships he faced, he replied, “Because I love soccer.” “When I was young, soccer was just fun, but as I grew up, I was fascinated by the passionate feelings I felt when I joined forces with my teammates to win, and sometimes fought for my teammates. Most of all, I play soccer, which I love, and I receive support from many fans, so it’s the ‘best job’.”
Like the K-League, the Ulsan club, which has been constantly observing the Swedish league, which is a spring festival (starting in spring and ending in autumn), sent a love call to Rubiksson, who is active in Hammarbi, ahead of the 2022 season. At the time, the contract could not be signed due to the high transfer fee, but as Hammarbi, whose financial situation worsened in a year, started negotiating with Ulsan again, Rubikson will step on the stage of Korean professional football this season.
He said that he often watched Ulsan’s games last season after knowing that Ulsan was interested in him. The process of Ulsan winning the K-League left a deep impression on him.
“There are so many players with good skills in the K-League. It’s hard to find a player who is selfish even though they face each other fiercely like a war. I really want to show the K-League to Europeans.”
His movements in front of the camera were so natural, so when I asked, “Does your pose look like a model?” “My father is a photographer. They used me as a free model a lot when they were taking pictures for commercials.”
His mother is a copywriter. She wondered where she had inherited her ‘soccer DNA’, but her doubts were soon answered. “My great-grandfather (Robert Sander) was the main goalkeeper for Sweden at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. He won a bronze medal four years later at the Paris Olympics as a reserve goalkeeper.”
Rubik’s hand cannot forget the phone call he received during winter vacation the year before last. It was the news that he had been selected for the Swedish national team for the first time. However, as the national team’s winter training was completely canceled due to the spread of corona, Rubik’s hand was eventually unable to wear the national team uniform. After that, there is no chance yet. “I was very disappointed, but I soon made up my mind. Thinking of people suffering from Corona, my problem was just a small pain.”
Rubik Son is adjusting well to his life in Korea, enjoying Korean-style rice and Bulgogi. When he left for an expedition to Gangwon last March, his family worried about the location of the stadium, saying that it was too close to North Korea. Rubikson, who is surprised whenever he hears the news of North Korea’s missile launch, is diligently looking for related news to understand the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
His trademark is his long hair. When I opened it up for a photo shoot, there was no ‘Viking Warrior’. “After graduating from high school, I took a year off from soccer and grew up in a hippie style while enjoying skiing and surfing.” He said that he would not even touch it because he feared that his hair would not produce good performance if his hair was shortened, and he boldly promised to win.
“I have never won a championship in Sweden. If Ulsan reaches the top of the K-League this season, I will cut my hair!”