The national team has been renewed, has Albin Granlund become a victim? A return drives him, but the plan was not to do it in IFK Mariehamn. The reality of the player market brought him to Åland.
Despite 21 A international matches, Albin Granlund’s national team career has been a journey in the borderland since his debut during the January tour in 2017. He has played heavy qualifying matches against Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina and made solid, safe efforts – but has seen his name become increasingly rare in the lineup.
In the last two years, Finland has played 29 international matches. Granlund has played in three of them, all times from the start. The most recent international match is the Nations League match against Montenegro in Helsinki last summer.
– I may have had to experience the slightly bigger generational shift from the boring side, to eventually start to be phased out. In my head, I’m still competing for a place in the national team, says Granlund.
During a three-year period between autumn 2017 and 2020, the full-back was almost always in the national team squad.
– I am humble. The best should join and play. I don’t gain anything by being mad if I don’t get selected.
During the years when the national football team progressed in terms of results, Albin Granlund was a given in the squad.
Bild: EPA-EFE/All Over Press
Albin Granlund, Finland’s men’s national soccer team, soccer
At the end of last summer, Granlund returned to IFK Mariehamn after almost five years abroad in Örebro and Stal Mielec. One goal during the spring season in the domestic soccer league is to regain the place in the national team.
– It is a motivational factor that drives me. If I’m fit, I’ll never say no. My time in the national team started so late in my career that I would love to experience it again.
“Unfortunate that the EC was postponed”
It has been almost two years since Albin Granlund’s heaviest time in football life. He felt the historic EC final with his fingertips, but he was the first player outside the team.
– The biggest disappointment of his career, for sure. 26 players were taken out, I was the 27th man. I tried to see the positive in that I was there during the entire upload and also in the stands when the EC started in Denmark. I got to experience the EC hype from the inside, and only 27 players in Finland’s history have been able to do that.
He returns to the situation in the national team then. Due to the pandemic, the EC was moved forward by one year.
– It was a bit unlucky for me that the EC was postponed. New players came in and became relevant. In addition, I gave a positive corona test when I was going to travel to the EC camp. I missed our internationals before the EC and hurt my chances. I thought I was a candidate to be selected, but didn’t get the same opportunity.
In this year’s league football, Albin Granlund will be a key player for IFK Mariehamn to avoid a bottom battle.
Image: Mats Ahlnäs / Yle
Albin Granlund, IFK Mariehamn
Granlund last had contact with Markku Kanerva in November last year. A strong spring in IFK Mariehamn can open the door to the national team again.
There are few natural options in the full-back position and when the European Championship qualifiers began, Richard Jensen had to start on the left in the four-back line. Kanerva left the five-back line, a welcome change for Granlund.
– I think I have defensive qualities that not many others have in the squad that was part of the European Championship qualifiers. I’m good in a four-back line when we defend. These are my greatest strengths, above all at national team level, and that is probably why I have been selected before.
– It is not possible to walk into a national team squad, but I believe that I measure up. We haven’t used four back in a while, and it suits me better.
Have been looking for other club addresses
Compared to the years in Sweden and Poland, the step between club football and the national team is greater now. Granlund played in IFK Mariehamn when he made his debut and remembers the marked difference.
– I noticed the difference in pace and technique for a couple of years, but now I’m so experienced that I wouldn’t be shocked by the level of the national team. The adaptation would be easier.
Granlund missed a few weeks in the pre-season due to a thigh injury, but he played just over an hour as IFK Mariehamn opened the season with a 1–1 draw against Ilves.
Albin Granlund managed to play six games for IFK Mariehamn last season before an injury stopped him in October.
Image: Mats Ahlnäs / Yle
Albin Granlund, IFK Mariehamn
He was definitely ready for another season in Åland’s league team about a month before the premiere.
– We looked for other options, but it was the same situation as last summer. Then I actively looked for a new team in a new league, but IFK Mariehamn has felt right in Finland. Life outside of football works here. If this becomes my final destination in my career, so be it.
Granlund is studying accounting in Turku and works a few hours each week to support his studies and get a foot into working life. He admits that the life puzzle of league football, a partner who will play football in Värnamo this year and a son is a bit of a challenge.
Finding interesting club addresses at this stage of the football career is a different kind of challenge.
– Even nationality matters. Many agents say it affects. It is clear that age also affects. I feel as strong and good as before, so it feels sad if people have that perception around age. At the same time, I can only accept the situation and be here and now. It feels good to play in IFK.
