Finnish defender Niklas Moisander says that Malmö’s players thought they had lost the championship a week before the deciding match. Some of the players cried when Malmö lost to Häcken in their penultimate match of the season.
Elfsborg was two points ahead of Malmö in football’s Swedish Allsvenskan. Malmö had lost, and moments later Elfsborg faced Degerfors. However, Degerfors, who was relegated from the main series, stretched to a 2–2 draw in 90+5.
– The second weekend started the closing week. The tension was felt within the whole city and the team when the situation was so special, Moisander describes.
The last time the Allsvenskan champion was decided in the so-called final match was in 2009. In the final round, AIK beat IFK Göteborg, who finished second.
Last Sunday, Malmö and Elfsborg played for gold in the final round. Malmö won on goal difference.
– I am really happy that my parents were here to watch the match. It’s great to share such moments with loved ones.
The wonderful match event was also accompanied by mild incidents, when the safety net was set on fire in the away stands at halftime. When the burning of the net ended, the game was ready to start for the second period. That’s when the home supporters lit flares at the other end, which triggered the stadium’s fire alarm.
The players did not have exact information about why the half-time lasted almost half an hour.
– The fire alarm worried all the players a lot. We had family, children and friends in the stands – and of course the safety of other spectators was a concern. We didn’t know if it was really a fire or just smoke from torches, Moisander says.
Sweden has a wonderful football culture
Moisander praises the Swedish football culture effusively. Moisander’s appreciation towards the supporters grew even more when he played in empty stadiums in Germany during the restrictions that came with the corona pandemic.
After the end of the restrictions in Sweden, the audience has been brought back to the stands time and time again. The country has had statistics on the number of teams in attendance for years In the Public League. This season, the victory was won by AIK from Stockholm, whose matches were attended by more than 386,000 spectators. The audience average for Allsvenskan was over 10,000.
However, disruptive behavior similar to Sunday’s “final match” has been seen as a mild phenomenon. Malmö’s captain Pontus Jansson said after the championship match that the line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior is difficult to define. There are those comments criticized in the Swedish media.
– We talk a lot among the players about pyros, for example. We also think they look great as long as it stays safe. From the player’s point of view, it’s a double-edged sword, because we appreciate it when the fans create an atmosphere, but people’s safety must come first, says Moisander.
According to him, there have been a little too many similar overshoots during the three seasons he has played in Malmö. Still, Moisander praises that Sweden’s fan culture is wonderful.
Finland has always been important
In interviews, Moisander always emphasizes that Sweden has the same football culture as Central Europe. For example, the stadium in Malmö can hold around 22,000 people and the stands are almost always full.
– Compared to Werder Bremen, for example, there is not much of a difference. When I arrived in Malmö, I was a little surprised that there is such a wonderful atmosphere in the Nordic countries, because Finland has never had one.
In 2023, an average of 2,700 spectators attended Veikkausliiga matches. The Helsinki Football Club attracted the most audience with over 4,900 spectators.
In Finland, spectators have found their place in the matches of the Finnish men’s national football team. This year, the Helsinki Olympic Stadium has been full of supporters in three European Championship qualifying games.
Moisander ended his national team career at the age of 32 in 2017. He felt that his body could not withstand the strain brought by both league and national team matches. However, he does not regret his decision.
– When I was 30 years old, I would never have thought that I would play until I was over 35 years old. Ending my national team career was a very difficult decision.
– Even though I have been away from Finland for a long time, my homeland has always been important to me. It is important to me that the children speak Finnish. I am really proud of being Finnish.
Life goes on in Sweden
In the season that ended, Moisander played 10 matches, but at the same time he played an important role in supporting the young players. Malmö signed him to the team as a leader and to set an example. Moisander aims to show younger people how a professional should train and with what attitude.
– In addition, I believe that my calm nature helps the team before important games.
At the end of September, Moisander signed a one-year contract extension with Malmö. The championship secured Malmö a place in the European Games qualifiers, so the team has a lot of matches to play. Moisander believes that he will get more playing time in the coming season than this year.
– When we talked about the continuation of the year, I said that I absolutely do not want to be a mascot of any kind, but I still enjoy playing.
Moisander says the upcoming season will very likely be his last. The player from Turku turns 39 in September. He made the decision for a one-year contract extension together with his family. It was decided to stay in Malmö because the family enjoys the city.
It has also been decided that life will continue in Sweden after the last season.
– My family includes a wife and two children who have supported me incredibly – especially my wife. The older daughter has already started school. The family has followed my career, so after that we will live in Stockholm. However, it is close to Finland and Turku, Moisander states.