From unknown prospect to international teammate of Zlatan Ibrahimovic ... the Rotherham United story of Viktor Johansson
PLAYER of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, Supporters’ Player of the Year ...
Manager Matt Taylor is in no doubt who would make a clean sweep of the Rotherham United awards for the season if they were being handed out right now.
Viktor Johansson is having the Championship campaign of his life. And it’s just got even better for the Scandinavian goalkeeper whom Millers supporters affectionately refer to as ‘Viking’.
The 24-year-old is hoping to make his Sweden debut during the international break after being called into his country’s senior set-up for the first time.
“He is playing only one rung below the Premier League and his performances have been superb,” Taylor said.
Johansson’s competition for two home Euro 2024 qualifiers comes from a pair of 33-year-olds — established first-choice Robin Olsen and regular back-up Kristoffer Nordfeldt — and Taylor is urging the Millers man to show no trepidation now he is mixing in new company.
“He deserves this opportunity,” the boss said. “I hope he doesn’t go and be just one of three goalkeepers. I want him to go and grab it and become a number one, like he has done with ourselves.”
Johansson is on the small side for a shot-stopper but that doesn’t stop his boss Taylor predicting a big future for the former Leicester City trainee.
“I see Premier League quality in him,” said the manager, who played to a high standard between the sticks himself before forging a pro career as a centre-half
“Anyone who has seen him play this season will testify to the saves he has made on a consistent basis. He has kept the ball out of the net by hook or by crook, with a fingertip or a shinbone or whatever.
“He makes saves you wouldn’t expect him to make and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him.
“Other aspects of his game have improved as well: his delivery forward, his distribution, his claiming of crosses, his dealing with pressured moments.
“That’s despite him not being the largest of goalkeepers. That might be the one thing people will hold against him, but we certainly won’t. We’re lucky to have him.”
Johansson is a league ever-present this term and Rotherham did well to tie him to new contract in January, six months before his present deal was due to expire.
If anyone comes calling for him in the summer then they’ll have to pay a decent price to lure him away from the club where he has gone from untried prospect to standing on the brink of his international breakthrough. “It protects us and is also a reward for Viktor for playing well,” said Taylor.
So impressed has been the boss, he believes that, along with being a certainty to take all the Millers awards, the Swede is worthy of consideration as the best performer in the entire second tier. “That’s how good he’s been,” Taylor said.
The keeper has spent the last few days rubbing shoulders with AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a legend of 120-plus appearances for his country and recalled to the national squad at the age of 41.
The pair could line up together against Belgium tomorrow and/or on Monday versus Azerbaijan.
The recognition is great for Johansson, great for Rotherham and great for the player’s loved ones who make the pilgrimage from their homeland to New York as often as they can.
“It’s a big moment for Viktor, a big moment for his family,” Taylor said. “They’ve been on the journey with him. It’s also another marker for the club. It says that if we invest in the right people we can develop them so they realise their full potential.”
“I hope he enjoys the next two weeks. Out of everyone here, he probably deserves an international chance the most.”
All Millers fans will be hoping to see his name on the team sheet for a clash with a Belgian team who are behind only Brazil, Argentina and France in the FIFA world rankings.
If it happens, seize the day, Viking.
Or ‘fånga dagen’ as they say in Sweden.
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VIKTOR Johansson is up against two experienced operators as he bids to earn a starting role in the Sweden team.
Robin Olsen has worn the jersey most often in the last eight years, winning 63 caps since 2015.
The former Roma keeper is the understudy to World-Cup-winning Argentine Emi Martinez — once a Rotherham United loanee — at Premier League Aston Villa and has previously had loan spells at Everton and Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, Kristoffer Nordfeldt plays for AIK Solna in the Swedish top flight and has made 11 appearances for his country over a 12-year spell.
From June 2015 to January 2020 he was on the books of Swansea City and his 24 games for the South Wales club included one Premier League outing.
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ROTHERHAM United have five more of their players on international duty during the fortnight-long break in Championship action.
Winger Shane Ferguson and centre-forward Conor Washington have received Northern Ireland call-ups while there have been summonses from the Republic of Ireland and Australia for attacker Chiedozie Ogbene and loan centre-half Bailey Wright respectively.
Young Leeds United loanee left-back Leo Hjelde is in the Norway under-21 squad.
Here’s when they could be in action:
Northern Ireland (Euro 2024 qualifiers)
Tonight: San Marino, away
Sunday: Finland, home
Republic of Ireland (friendly, then a Euro 2024 qualifier)
Last night: Latvia, home
Monday: France, home
Australia (friendlies)
Tomorrow: Ecuador, home
Tuesday: Ecuador, home
Norway under-21s (friendlies)
Saturday: Holland, away
Tuesday: Portugal, away