Glenn Strömberg met some of the world’s best players during his years in Italy.
But one stood out.
– He was unbelievably good, says Strömberg.
Glenn Strömberg was the tireless midfield general who never backed down. He fit like a glove into the Italian way of playing football, but he could never have guessed what would happen when he left for Atalanta in the mid-80s.
“Unbelievably good”
Serie A was then arguably the best league in the world, with star players in almost every team. Players like Zico, Socrates, Maradona, Michel Platini… Every week a new chance for Strömberg to face some of the best players of all time, and his elegant play in the middle made him an icon in Bergamo, where he still lives today.
Glenn Strömberg particularly remembers the meetings with Diego Maradona, classified by many as one of the world’s absolute best players of all time – and in Strömberg’s eyes, there is no doubt that he is the best he has met.
– He was unbelievably good and it was also noticeable when we played a charity match together many years later, says Strömberg to Expressen.
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Maradona’s show
The match was in Bergamo, Glenn’s hometown for almost 40 years, and Maradona was perhaps not in his best form. He was happy with life, after his career, to put it very mildly.
– Most of the players took it quite calmly. But I was at my stadium and ran into hell, says Strömberg.
When Maradona saw Glenn Strömberg’s enormous warm-up, he came forward and told him that if Glenn just runs, then he will get the ball. Glenn Strömberg never forgets what happened once the match started, and what a really out of sorts Maradona did.
– It was completely crazy. I ran. And he fit the bill. He pulled the ball 30-40 meters and it just landed at my feet – every time. I have never seen such a technical player, he says.
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