Photo: Bildbyrån
It has been ten years since Klas Ingesson died.
Now his sons Martin and David tell of how their father urged them to sell off his inheritance if they didn’t want it.
– We don’t have the interest. It shouldn’t stand there and decay, they tell Expressen.
WC 94 hero and Italy pro Klas “Klabbe” Ingesson died only 46 years old. He had suffered from bone marrow cancer for some time. The sons Martin30, and David25, were just children when they lost their beloved father. Now ten years have passed and they have chosen to tell about the memory of him in Expressen.
“Dad was always himself”
The two sons, who today live completely different lives, begin by talking about their father. Since it has been ten years since he passed away, a lot has happened in their lives. Martin has become a father to Matteo – Klas’ grandchildren whom he never got to meet – but still they have a clear memory of what Klas was like.
– Dad was always himself. He doesn’t want to be anyone else, but he was Klas. That was who he was. I think it’s part of why he was so loved, that even though he played in the top league in Italy, he was still a logger from Ödeshög, Martin Ingesson tells Expressen.
The eldest son is careful that he will tell his 18-month-old son, who has been given the middle name Klas, about his grandfather when the time is right. It is not primarily the sportsman and the footballer that he should tell about, but the person.
READ MORE: Ingvar Oldsberg offers unexpected football skills in front of a shocked Klas Ingesson: “Dominates in low shoes”
Got good advice from Klas
When Klas got sick and knew he was going to die, he started writing notes to his sons. The brothers show examples for the evening newspaper. They are scrawled with good advice and Italian phrases, in case someone becomes a Serie A professional like dad.
– It is probably also something that I will give to Matteo to show that “Here it is written, just like by your grandfather.” And he might get a little insight into how familiar he was with both football and family. And that grandfather wanted very well. Live here and now. And don’t try to plan too far ahead, especially. And it’s probably a little bit of that that you have lived by and live by. It’s clear that some things have to be planned and you can’t get away from that, but usually we take it day by day and see how it turns out, says Martin.
It is not just memories of good times together that the sons inherited from Klas Ingesson. He had also bought up a lot of forest and land in his home village of Ödeshög. He bought it with the professional wages he earned in Italy. But Martin and David have chosen to sell the inheritance. It all started with a call from Klas himself.
READ MORE: The time Klas Ingesson offered the solo show of his career – and turned the entire defense into cones
– The interest in that is probably not among any of us. And he kept saying at the end: “Sell it if you don’t want it” and that’s what we came up with after many family meetings. It requires someone to be there and work. And we don’t have the interest. It shouldn’t stand there and decay, says Martin.
Fine Class. You are forever missed. There are many of us who will never forget what you did and who you were.
How do you remember Klas Ingesson? Feel free to write a comment on Sportbibeln’s Facebook page.
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