Scotland and Sweden, Friends Forever
Scotland may not be at the World Cup but there is a contender with strong ties to our beautiful country, both in its history and in women's football. Here's why we're chanting "An t-Suain gu bràth".
It’s not just a love for the colour blue, Rekorderlig, and Abba that Scotland and Sweden have in common. Despite being separated by the North sea and over 1,000 miles we share a lot of history and have had big cultural impacts on each other. In women’s football we have seen a strong link form, the Damallsvenskan has been home to a number of Scots while many Damallsvenskan players have chosen to move in the opposite direction to our wonderful country over the years. That’s before we think about Anna Signeul and her impact on Scottish women’s football. But, this story starts well before women’s football, or even organised sport, were a cornerstone of culture. As early as the 7th and 8th century, Scandinavia was having an impact on Scotland in ways that we are still feeling today. Some even claim that it was the Viking invasions that set about the events that led to the varying groups in Scotland uniting to form Alba (what we now know as Scotland). Fast forward 10 or so centuries and it is Scotland’s turn to influence the future of Sweden.
We’re no history experts so we spoke to Dr. Kathrin Zickermann, a history lecturer at the University of Highlands and Islands, to make sure we had our timeline right. She discussed research that she had been involved in led by Professor Steve Murdoch and gave us some recommended reading to learn more about the events of the 17th century that saw Scottish people impact Sweden.
Between 1618 and 1648 much of Scandinavia was fighting against the Holy Roman Empire in the name of anti-imperialism, the Thirty Years’ War. While in Scotland, a highly educated middle and lower class were struggling for opportunities. This led many to migrate to join the military, some 50,000 Scots are estimated to have moved to fight for the Anti-Imperialist alliance. These soldiers weren’t just fighting for Sweden but for Denmark, Norway, and the Dutch republic but there were thousands of Scots fighting as part of the Swedish army. Professor Zickermann tell us that around a third of Swedish regiments were actually commanded by Scottish officers. Many of the common soldiers leave after the war ends, either to fight elsewhere or to return home. Those that return bring back new ways of doing things, friendships overseas, new ideals. They continue Sweden’s influence on Scotland with their return. The Scots that survived and had risen through the ranks, however, often stayed with many being gifted land and being inducted into the Swedish nobility. For one example there’s Robert Douglas who was ennobled as a baron and then a count by the Queen of Sweden following the war. With this he was gifted many properties and land around Göteborg (Yuh-tu-bor-g).
It wasn’t just the Swedish military that had a significant Scottish influence, many civilians also made their way to Sweden to become merchants, in the iron trade, cloth working, and many others. Zickermann describes Scottish people as being very adaptable when it comes to the restrictions in operating from certain ports at the time with many claiming that they are from whatever country suits them best. This leads to a lot of Scotland’s impact becoming harder to investigate but also means our impact is more significant in many places across Northern Europe as Scots found a way to work wherever they ended up. In Sweden this was mostly in Stockholm where there was a sizable Scottish community. Unlike in other countries where Scottish communities were centred around a church, in Stockholm they became Lutherans, married into the wider Swedish community, and often changed their names to fit in with their new Swedish surroundings.
Like those in the army, many Scottish people work their way into positions of power and in 1621 the town charter of Göteborg was written. Now Sweden’s second largest city, when it was formed it was written into the town charter that two of the twelve councillors had to be Scottish. Scotland’s influence here is significant, introducing new agricultural practices that helped the town grow into a city, forming links in various trades to boost the local economy, and moulding the town as the population boomed and it expanded. A little over 300 years later they would host the first Gothia Cup. An annual youth tournament that many Scottish players have competed in before going on to have successful careers, including many at Boroughmuir Thistle and Hutchison Vale (an ‘Eilidh Adams’ pops up in Boroughmuir Thistle’s 2015 squad and it is the Eilidh Adams, now of Hibernian).
This influence and migration continued throughout much of the 18th century. People often move to countries where they already have a link. Scottish people rarely forgot their roots and would stay in contact with their family back home, when times got tough in Scotland many of these families would be reunited in Sweden. Immigrants in Sweden would leave their estates to those back in Scotland, some would move over and take up residence in these while others would sell and the money would go on to influence Scottish society.
That relationship may be less obvious in 2023, but it is still there in women’s football. While we’ve never beaten Sweden (or played them at a major tournament) they were there when Kim Little earned her first player of the match award in a Scottish jersey; the Damallsvenskan (Dam-al-sven-ska-n) gave experience and full-time football to Cailin Michie, Hayley Lauder, Paige McAllister, Fiona Brown, and many more; and most notably it was a Swede, Anna Signeul, who took over as head coach in 2005 and started to revolutionise women’s football in this country. Her efforts culminating in a generation of immensely talented footballers and qualification to our first major tournament with the 2017 EUROs (in which we beat Spain 1-0). On the other side of the coin the SWPL has been home to Rebecca Hellgren, Julia Molin, and Anna Oscarsson. We have also seen a number of non-Swedish players make the move across the North Sea from Damallsvenskan to SWPL such as Linda Motlhalo, Arna Asgrimsdottir, and Summer Green. That link is what we have been speaking to Emma Tobiasson, Cailin Michie, Paige McAllister, Rebecca Hellgren, and Anna Oscarsson about (now that we have our Swedish history rabbit hole out the way).
Why Sweden?
So, what is it about Sweden? England and France are just down the road. Spain, Italy, Germany all have professional leagues and are more often in the Scottish conscious, especially in football. The USA has an exceptional college system. Why have so many players chosen to make Sweden their home?
First of all we need to know what convinced the players to make the move, did they push for Sweden independently, was it just where they landed as they moved abroad, is there some massive SWPL stan working in the Damallsvenskan? So we asked Michie and McAllister how their moves arose and what it was that pulled them to the elongated country (that is Sweden’s actual nickname, seriously).
Cailin Michie describes her move to Piteå (Pit-ay-oh) like something out of the dreams you have as a kid. We often hear of moves in women’s football being trials or long winded attempts to convince someone to move to a country they’ve never seen before. For Michie’s move to Piteå, that absolutely wasn’t the case.
In January 2019 we [Hibernian] played against Piteå in a friendly, so they had come to Edinburgh to play against Glasgow City, Spartans, and us I think and then at the end of the season they got in touch and with my agent and invited me to come along. They basically said to me, we've got our flights booked on the Tuesday, which was only in about two days, and to come for two nights to see what it's like.
Hearing her speak about the events, it is clear how important Piteå made her feel and how that factored into her decision to move overseas.
I was expecting a kind of trial but I think that they're just so used to doing these types of things throughout the whole Sweden, but also because they’re such a small town in the north of Sweden that they always have to be catering for players and you know, bringing them along to convince them that one degree south of the Arctic Circle is an OK place to be! Showing everybody what the town is like and giving them a presentation of everything. So I just went on three planes to get up there, talked to the manager and the board and things and then have a look around and then they said “can you tell us by the end of the week whether you would like to join? Otherwise we’ll have to go and look to someone else.” So it's quite a whirlwind.
For Paige McAllister it is a story of wanting to play in a new country, to experience a different environment, and of using her own contacts to make that happen.
I am very heavy hearted on things. Like, if I've got my mind set on it I go for it. If things try and come in the way, I just kind of palm them off in a way. Once my mind is set on something I push for that thing. So, I have a friend who's from America [former Glasgow City midfielder Nicole Robertson] and she was like “oh, do you want to come help out with like my business [coaching in America]?” So that's how that period in the states kind of came about. I came back, obviously played with Motherwell for a bit, my experience there was not so good and I decided just to kind of pack my bags and leave to Sweden. Nicole [Robertson], she had played in a club in Sweden and she showed the coach like my highlights and he asked me to go for a trial and then I just ended up staying in Sweden.
It’s impossible to ignore that Swedish women’s football is ahead of us in their development, it is worth noting though that while they deserve praise for where they are there have been issues recently. More specifically, Emma Tobiasson referenced the ongoing contract dispute that has spilled over into the season leaving players uninsured in the event of injury. But, when Anna Signeul was appointed Scotland manager in 2005 it was said that Sweden were two decades ahead of Scotland in their development of the game. Looking at the SWPL and Damallsvenskan now that feels like an exaggeration, but while we have caught up, we aren’t there yet.
Emma also raised the point that the Damallsvenskan is a good middle step between the top leagues in Europe and the WSL. A league that has been full time for a while, and has seen many superstars pass through it, with teams of similar quality from top to bottom. It is a move that could be attractive to take the next step after the SWPL on the journey to a top 5 league. We have already seen a similar move with Clarissa Larisey taking the step after pressure from the Canadian national team to play at a perceived ‘higher level’.
Paige McAllister has played at the top and bottom of the SWPL as well as at every national team level up until under-17s, she’s experienced all of SWPL football. Now at Eskilstuna (Eh-skill-stu-nah), in 2020 she made the move overseas landing in the second division, Elitettan (Eh-leet-tan), at IK Uppsala (Oop-sal-ah). Just outside of Stockholm for those not confident with their Swedish cities. She was impressed with the training at her new club as soon as she arrived.
It was like playing with Celtic or Rangers, that's how the training standard was. It was up there. The training load and how many times we went in the gym especially. All of the staff members that we had, like for a second league team, it was very professional. I thought the standard was high, and the girls were lovely. They spoke very good English as well so I already felt part of the team after one day, I felt like I had already been there for for years.
While McAllister felt at home immediately, it is the human side of things that Michie highlighted as the big difference. The often forgotten life of a player off the pitch and the club’s role in supporting players who are moving to a foreign country or to a new team.
It just felt so professional and they provided everything for you… I was asking what players did off the pitch and they had all these different kind of social enterprises and stuff set up. If you wanted to have extra work through the club or different opportunities. So I think in terms of being 20 years ahead, They’re still a long way ahead in terms of understanding what foreign players need when they come to the country, and even what their domestic players need as well, and how to support them. I think in Scotland a lot because people have their own lives and because we're transitioning from part time to full time only recently the clubs don't really realise that your support network becomes the team as a whole.
It really hits home how much that support is needed when she goes on to describe her first hours in the country. While looking at the two countries it is easy to feel a sense of familiarity in Sweden. Our architecture is similar, our cities feel almost like siblings, and our shared history goes extremely deep. But, it is still a new country with a different language over 1,000 miles away.
Basically everybody speaks English, almost better than some people in Britain speak English, so in terms of going away for the first time it's not a huge leap from what you know but it did feel pretty strange. Especially when I first arrived just for those couple of days, When the plane was landing, I kind of realised it's been quite a quick decision to go and see what it’s like. I realised I didn't know who I was looking for at the airport. I just hoped that someone would be there and I was like, this would be a really elaborate kidnapping, if that was the case! But I knew absolutely nothing about what's going on, so luckily, someone just kind of came up to me and was like “I’m here to pick you up” because I was heading to a random guy in a tracksuit who apparently wasn't there to pick me up. It was quite surreal, but you definitely felt like safe and looked after. I went to visit in December and then moved there in January. At that point it's still pretty much two hours of sun between 11:00am and 1:00pm and then the rest is darkness and snow. So I didn't really realise how much snow there would be. They were like “it will be dark and there will be snow until at least May”, but like, they're equipped for it. You know, they've got snowmobiles and things at work, and they know what to do with the pitches. We played on an indoor pitch until the season started, which is in a kind of blow up dome. They even they even know that all the balls get really hard and also your feet are cold. So, they heat up the balls before the session so that you don't get injured by kicking them. Like all these little things, they just know how to do. It does seem strange, but when you're on the pitch I felt so much more relaxed because, you know, the game hasn't changed. At least I know what's going on here.
On the Pitch
The game doesn’t change but it certainly comes in different styles. While we may share a history - and it is Scottish people that are credited with bringing football to Sweden - the football on display is very different. In Scotland tactics typically focus on vertical play, getting the ball forward quickly through counterattacks and passes breaking the lines of the opposition, then there’s our reputation for the physical side of the game. Perhaps outdated now, Scotland is known for being a tough country with physical battles expected. In Sweden that is very different, play is mostly dominated by slow build-up phases and a focus on defensive organisation. Passes typically go short, looking to move an opponent from side to side to create gaps. There are variations between within each, of course. We’d be laughed out the room if we said that Eva Olid and Craig Feroz play the same style just because they were in the same league. But broadly, these are the dominant characteristics of football in the two countries.
Rebecca Hellgren has spent the last 4 years at the heart of Stirling Uni’s defence while earning her degree. Stirling Uni play one of the most fast paced styles throughout the SWPL and it was something that took her some time to adapt to.
I think maybe the style of play [was the biggest change]. You've seen how Stirling Uni play, like long ball and lots of transitions. Obviously it's different from team to team, but I definitely prefer just passing the ball more and keeping the ball. I know all the teams I played for before, like the role was to not kick it long and to be more technical.
She did also give some thought to how the differences, and similarities, between our cultures can be an advantage for people moving between SWPL and Sweden.
Scottish players are really good technically and physically, I think Scottish people have a great mentality as well. They go push like themselves so hard, maybe that's a difference to Swedish people that are a bit more like holding themselves back. They’re really loud, good communicators on the pitch, very straight through point when something's not good enough, they'll just say how it is. Swedish people in general more reserved and quiet. So, if Scottish players go to the Swedish leagues they could bring that communication and just giving everything for the team as well. I also think Scottish and Swedish people get along really well. Like, how I did in Scotland the past four years, they probably feel the same in Sweden.
Anna Oscarsson concurs that the standard in Scotland is higher than she expected. Coming directly from Damallsvenskan she didn’t have much prior knowledge of the league but it has impressed when compared to her experience at home.
I was just like, OK, now I'm 26 years old. If I'm gonna try something new and to play in another country maybe I should try it now. I've been positively surprised in every possible way actually. I think it's a really good level and also like really competitive.
Cailin Michie credits her Damallsvenskan experience for helping to improve her as a player and find her position on the pitch. Before she left she filled in a number of defensive roles for Hibernian but since returning she’s really made the defensive midfield position her own and become one of the best in the league at that role. Although she admits she lost some of her standout qualities while she was in Sweden.
They told me halfway through the season that I had the highest percentage passing rate in the team and they were like ‘that's surprising for a fullback’ because you're often like to under loads of pressure there. So yeah, I have that and I have the kind of 1 v 1 defending that was different from them too. They taught me a lot about moving the ball quicker. You have a lot more time and space on the ball [in Scotland]. I've kind of lost a bit [of aggression] again when I came back just because you have a lot more space, so it’s harder to get close to people. So that's something that I'll be looking to re-establish now and in the central midfield. As the season [in Sweden] went on, I was taught to stay more in the shape of a four and be screening more than committing isolated. I developed new skills like the range of passing and being more aware of the team shape when I was there. But you sometimes lose these kind of more individual skills because you're so focused on the team as a whole and keeping your shape. So there are kind of pros and cons from changing the styles of play, but I think it's with everything that you just adapt to what the manager wants, what the team wants, and then go from there. I also came back a much fitter player.
It’s not just her technical ability that she felt was improved, despite our reputation for being more physical than our Nordic neighbours.
You don't notice it through all of the training sessions because they were all ball based. We did some small sided games and things, but we also did a lot of full pitch matches and shaping and within training. So I covered a lot more distance than I ever did in Scotland without really realising it as well.
Oscarsson agrees on the style of play. She does, however, think that our leagues may not be as far apart as many may expect while highlighting the parity on display in her home country.
I agree on parts of that [differences in style between Scotland and Sweden]. I think in Sweden, it's a bit more like tactical in defence and the organisation in defence is what almost every team is relying on. I feel like it's a lot of like transitions here in the SWPL. It's going back and forth a lot so. Sweden is a bit slower, but then at the same time I would say it is a bit more even. At least the the past few years it's been just a few points difference between maybe sixth place to twelfth or something in the league. But, I feel like the top the top teams in here in Scotland it's a really good level and so when we played the split last season we it was like really good games and and really competitive.
Off the Pitch
As in history many Scots went over to Sweden and were benefitted by their cultural starting point, so have Scottish players heading to Sweden. Many Scottish players have felt at home in Sweden and worked their way into leadership roles in their team, others have found the Swedish football culture different but with its own advantages that they enjoy. Crucially they have been able to stand out in the style of play on show.
Paige McAllister has experienced pressure at both ends of the SWPL and has found that the culture around making mistakes in Sweden has really helped her thrive.
I feel like in Scotland we're very quick to be like “you made a mistake”, you know? Like we're very quick to say “you shouldn’t do it like that”. Whereas in Sweden they're very like “it’s OK! You’ll get the next one”. It's all happy and positive. Not that Scotland is negative, but it's just a more positive culture which then that helps me become more confident to try things that I’m not used to trying. But then again, I do like it being tough sometimes. Sometimes I do want someone to say “no, you need to be better”.
She also credits Damallsvenskan teams willingness to give opportunities to youth, something that she feels the top teams in Scotland are often hesitant to do despite the league average age being fairly young.
I also feel like there's a lot more chances for the youth players in Sweden than in Scotland. Obviously, being a youth player with the top team and a bottom team [in Scotland] I can kind of see the differences and the top teams here [in Sweden], they bring up youth players if they're good enough. I feel there's more opportunity for the youth players to just try and get that little chance and prove to the coach. Whereas back at home I think it's tougher.
For Michie the culture was something that helped to convince her it was the correct move to make. The communal, celebratory, nature of Swedish life being something that is reminiscent of life in Scotland but dialled to 100. She also introduced us to our new favourite excuse to eat cake.
We would just like cycle or walk down to the local supermarket and then buy things for dinner and go to one person's apartment and make it. You know, just listen to music, play games. Yeah, there's a lot of taking pride in celebrating things and taking time over food. I think sometimes if you go round for dinner in Britain, then you're kind of expected to have everything laid out and you're kind of serving as if a guest was there. They have lots of celebrations like they have cinnamon bun day, Midsommar, any excuse, they'll be like “oh, should we hold the little thing where we'll all cook something and bring it all together?” And they have a thing called ‘fika’ which is basically coffee and cake. When I first arrived they said “that's the first word you'll learn in Swedish”!
Anyone that has taken a walk through the south side or west end of Glasgow, around Leith, across the Dundee waterfront, will recognise the coffee and cake culture within Scotland. Many of us will have ‘fika’ed without realising it hundreds of times. It’s something that we spoke with Professor Zickermann about as a potential impact of our historic relationship with Sweden (HYT influencing academic journals soon perhaps?). Oscarsson lit up as soon as we mentioned the word, and she agreed that it is something that our countries share a love for.
It's a really big thing in Sweden, but the only difference really is that we have a word for it!
She has enjoyed her time living in Glasgow so far, a city that imparts its charm on many visitors and residents from overseas. Life doesn’t end off the pitch and it certainly is an aspect of the SWPL that has grown in her heart.
I’d been living in Stockholm, which is the biggest city in in Sweden. Comparing to that I feel like everyone is so, so, friendly here. I mean, it's not like people aren’t friendly in Stockholm or in Sweden in general, but I feel like here it's on another another level. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. In Stockholm everyone is a bit focused on themselves and just doing their thing. A bit stressed all the time. I really like the life here, the lifestyle here, outside from football too. The people here are great!
Impact of link
It is clear that our two countries are linked through time and have played a great role in impacting the future of the other (for the better unless someone from an alternate timeline wants to tell us otherwise). The future of the women’s game is unknown, we have seen incredible growth worldwide with records broken at a crazy pace and ‘firsts’ coming so regularly it is hard to keep up. We often look to the WSL for influence on how we should run our game here, but what if looked to the Damallsvenskan and Swedish culture to guide the path of the game?
After speaking with these players there are three changes that we’d love to see SWPL clubs follow the Damallsvenskan’s lead on. We aren’t going to get into any big blue sky thinking here about collective bargaining agreements, anything that would require major structural change, or huge investment, Just three changes that clubs could make happen without too much hassle.
As was highlighted by Cailin Michie, as we move to a full time model across the leagues more needs to be done within clubs to support players as people. Many will no longer have the support network of their day jobs or the opportunity to leave football on the pitch. A full time model also means more players joining from abroad who may not have any teammates that speak the same language as them which can be extremely isolating. Then there is the risk of growing criticism online as the league grows. Clubs supporting players away from football is going to become more and more important.
We also heard that the Swedish league is more competitive top to bottom and has a greater freedom for young players, something we’d love to see replicated in SWPL. Of course resources play their part, but often teams feel scared to take the game to the clubs at the top of the table and youth players are only given cameos or are replaced at the first opportunity. Some bravery throughout the league, and a belief that we are good would not go amiss.
Following on from that, trusting our technical ability and using sport science to boost it. The SWPL has produced a great number of hugely technical players yet it still feels like we don’t trust ourselves to be great on the ball. We were told that one of the biggest differences between Scotland and Sweden was in training, not just the actions but the training load as well. An increased focus on getting this side of the game right could see the already amazing players in our league explode (and perhaps gain some much deserved respect from outsiders looking in).
And if we are learning from them - and exporting players to Damallsvenskan - what can they take from us? After all, a successful trade always has something going the other way. Emma Tobiasson has had a huge impact on grassroots football here with Cathkin Blazes and she believes that it is the grassroots and fan culture that Sweden could benefit from most. While Damallsvenskan may boast some impressive attendances, and some really impressive scenes in the stands, she told us that it felt like Scottish fans were more engaged in the action and that our more self-deprecating and inclusive fan culture would be a positive change to Swedish terraces.
So, this summer we’ll be donning the yellow of Sverige, joining the Soft Hooligans, and cheering on Rolfö, Seger, and Blackstenius. Who knows, maybe one of them even has Scottish roots (we’re betting on Jonna Andersson, that’s a Scottish name if we’ve ever heard one). This could be a continuation of the friendship between our countries. We both get some class footballers playing in our leagues, improvements to women’s football, and, most importantly, Scotland can start celebrating Cinnamon Bun Day every 4th of October. An t-Suain gu bràth/Kom igen nu Sverige!