After only a couple weeks of training camp, Erik Zetterberg was forced into quarantine along with the rest of his new FC Edmonton teammates.
The 23-year-old midfielder made the trip across the Atlantic this winter after spending the first five years of his professional career playing in his native Sweden, most recently making a bunch of appearances with Tvååkers IF.
While Zetterberg’s debut in an Eddies kit will have to wait due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we took the opportunity to sit down with the five-foot-ten midfielder and ask him a few questions in order to get to know him a little better.
NICKNAME: In Sweden my teammates called me ‘Zed,’ but so far here everybody has been calling me ‘Z.’
WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER AND WHY DO YOU WEAR IT?: I’m usually six, eight, or 21. I like 21 because that’s what my dad wore towards the end of his career when I was old enough to remember watching him play. I also like it because of Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane when he was playing for Juventus.
PREGAME MEAL: Curry with chicken and some rice.
PREGAME PLAYLIST: It’s everything. Most of it’s R&B Hip-Hop. Everything from Drake to Eminem, but yeah, most of it’s Drake.
FAVOURITE SOCCER TEAM: Liverpool. My dad is a huge Liverpool supporter. I was actually supporting Arsenal at the beginning because of Thierry Henry, and then when he left for Barcelona I didn’t really like them anymore. My dad has been on me for years to support Liverpool so it ended up with me supporting them at the worst time ever because they were really really bad. It’s nice to support them right now though.
FAVOURITE SOCCER PLAYERS: Zinedine Zidane and Andrea Pirlo.
RELATED READING: FC Edmonton’s Zetterberg self-isolating on his own: ‘You go a little bit crazy’
WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF YOUR SOCCER CAREER SO FAR? When I made my debut in the highest division in Sweden back in 2016. I came back from injury after they said my season was over but I was able to comeback quicker than expected so it was nice because of that and that I made my debut.
JOB OTHER THAN SOCCER PLAYER?: I’m a huge basketball fan but I’m too short to play. I’d definitely like to do some work in sports. I think the work as a GM would be interesting. Something to do with soccer as long as I’m with the team, physiotherapy would also be nice.
IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ANYONE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?: Denzel Washington. I love his movies and I’ve been watching them ever since I was a kid. I watch a lot of his interviews and motivational speeches, he seems like an interesting person.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR OFF DAYS?: Just be with friends and family. Relax normally. Watch movies, play some video games, maybe go out and have a lunch with someone. Try to find a patio or something, I like to do stuff like that. I try to get out a little bit on a day off but then rest and spend the rest of the day inside.
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: For now I have to say La Casa De Papel (Money Heist). It’s really good.
FAVOURITE MOVIE: It’s hard to pick one. American Gangster or Remember the Titans.
FAVOURITE JUNK FOOD: It’s a place in Sweden, Dylon Powley will know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s called Max Hamburgers. Amazing. Dylon was in Sweden in 2018 and he’s still talking about it.