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Episode 23 Part 1: Superliga vs. Allsvenskan w/ Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati
383 Plays1 year ago
In an epic two part episode I decided to delve into the topic of Danish football vs. Swedish football. What are the key differences, why is one ahead of the other in European competitions, which players have moved between the countries and what’s it like on the pitch. In part 1 I enlisted the help of IFK Noorköping #10 Vito Hammershøy-Mistrati, former captain of Randers, to talk about his first impressions of Sweden and Allsvenskan having arrived in February.
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Transcript
Episode Introduction: Danish vs Swedish Football
00:00:16
Speaker
Welcome to Danish Dynamike episode 23. I hope it finds you well. Usually we kick things off with a review of the weekend's action, but today's show is going to be a little different. The Swedish Ulsvensken recently got underway and I thought it'd be interesting to take a look at how football in Sweden compares to football in Denmark.
00:00:32
Speaker
what's similar, what's different, and the relative health of the two footballing ecosystems. So to do that, I've enlisted the help of two people who can help me discover
Vito's Transfer Experience: Rana's to IFK Norrköping
00:00:40
Speaker
more. The first is a returning guest, former Rana's captain and current IFK Norka Ping number 10, Vito Hamashoy Mistrati. Vito, welcome back, it's great to speak to you. Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here. We spoke last season while you were at Rana's and you're now at IFK Norka Ping.
00:00:58
Speaker
Tell us a bit about your journey over the past year, both as a player and as a person, and how you found yourself in Sweden.
Life in Sweden: Initial Impressions
00:01:05
Speaker
Yeah, I made a long-awaited transfer from Uranus when it was in the summer last year. I really wanted to make a move away from Uranus, not because I wasn't happy, but because I would like to try and play in another country.
00:01:26
Speaker
I ended up in Romania in a club named Cefere Cluj. Quite a big club, actually. Been a lot of times in Europe, both Champions League and Europe League. And at the moment, last year, we were in conference league. So quite a big club. But there was also a lot of challenges. And after eight months, I decided to move to Sweden.
00:01:55
Speaker
to play for IFK, more shipping.
Early Success at IFK Norrköping
00:02:00
Speaker
Great. And what's been your first impression of Sweden and Norköping as a place? Yeah, it's mostly the same as in Denmark and that's what I wanted and that's what I needed after being in a really heavy environment in Romania.
00:02:17
Speaker
I needed to get back to a little bit everyday life like I know it. And I was thinking that Sweden might be the place to find that. And it showed me now I've been here since the beginning of February and I've been loving every second of it. Brilliant. Yeah, I mean, one goal, three assists already in your first five
Language Barriers and Football Culture
00:02:44
Speaker
league games. It looks like you've really hit the ground running there.
00:02:46
Speaker
Yeah, I did I have now but like I said, I made the transfer back in in February and the league starts in April so The first the first two months was really tough because I didn't play a lot the last eight months in Romania I didn't play so I had to to use the the preseason to get into shape because I was I was really bad and when I when I arrived in Sweden and
00:03:16
Speaker
I wanted to show what I can do, but it was not possible because I was out of shape and in a bad state. So the preseason I used for getting back to find myself and now the payoff is here. What's the language barrier like between Sweden and Denmark? I can obviously hear a difference in the way that people speak, but can someone speaking Danish understand someone speaking Swedish or is there a middle ground?
00:03:46
Speaker
I would say it depends from person to person. When I came, I understood nothing, really. If the guys talked to me like I was five years old, yeah, then maybe I could understand a little bit. But for me, it was really difficult. And a lot of the words are more or less the same. And if you read it, you can understand anything. But the pronunciation is very different. And that's where the big challenge is. But now I have
00:04:14
Speaker
managed to understand almost everything and my vocabulary is also all right. But I'm still working on it and me and two other Danish guys, we go to a Swedish teacher to learn the language.
00:04:29
Speaker
Great. I know lots of teams in Denmark will speak English as the sort of dressing room language because there's such a diverse mix of nationalities. I can see the Nordic squad has almost every Nordic country in there. Do you speak English or is there a common sort of Nordic language? Yeah, I mean, you are absolutely right in the clubs I've been in.
00:04:55
Speaker
from when you meet in in the morning to you to leave in the afternoon, you speak almost only English unless you speak with like one of your close friends. So honestly it was like that and in Romania it was like that. But in Sweden they kind of want you to speak Swedish. So a lot of the times I end up
00:05:23
Speaker
trying to speak Swedish because I feel like the expectation is that you speak Swedish. But of course, sometimes when I don't know the words, I'll go into English. But yeah, they are very, they take pride in the language.
Comparing Football Styles: Sweden vs Denmark
00:05:40
Speaker
And yeah, to be honest, when I was in Aranas and we spoke English all the time, it was perfectly fine for me because I like to include everybody.
00:05:51
Speaker
But here, if you don't understand, you're out. So you have to learn it quickly. Interesting. Well, I'm glad that I found one difference already. That's helpful. But I've wondered what differences have you noticed, whether it's in training, whether it's on the pitch, whether it's the atmospheres or the stadiums, because you obviously played in Denmark at a number of clubs for a while. I wondered, did anything immediately jump out to you as, oh, this is a different approach? I mean, we have a Danish coach
00:06:22
Speaker
So he likes to do it his ways and of course his ways, the Danish way. So in that sense, it's quite a lot of the same as you would find in Denmark. I would say the artificial grass is a big challenge for me. I know a lot of all the teams in Denmark, they make training on artificial, but
00:06:48
Speaker
When it's summer, you still play on artificial and that you certainly don't do in Denmark unless you are playing in North China or Singapore. How many teams play on artificial? I'm not quite sure, but I would say we are 16 teams and I would say maybe eight, 10 teams. Wow. Yeah. So half or more than half.
00:07:14
Speaker
Yeah, I can imagine that stuff. Wow, okay.
00:07:19
Speaker
Another big difference is obviously the size of the country and I had a look what the longest trip you could make in Danish football was and I believe in the Super League it's Copenhagen to Alborg which is about four and a half hours whereas in Sweden serious to Malmo seven and a half hours. Does the length of travel between games is that something you've noticed? It is actually
00:07:45
Speaker
Because in Romania there was a lot of trouble and I was sick and tired of it. And I remember when I talked to the coach before I made the move, I was asking how often do we go to the hotel before Awakings? And he said, not a lot, not a lot. But I've been a little bit surprised because we have been quite a lot to the hotel before the games.
00:08:11
Speaker
So there's a lot of travel. I am very surprised by that because I know Sweden is a big country, but a lot of the cities is only in the southern part of Sweden. So I didn't think it would be that much traveling.
00:08:32
Speaker
But yeah, from Sirius to Malmö, it's quite a trip. And we are two hours south of Stockholm, so we also have a long trip, minimum four hours when we go into the clubs near Denmark. Wow, yeah. At least you're earning lots of Hilton points. Yeah, I wish.
00:08:57
Speaker
Does the fact that Sweden is a summer league, so the fact that you're only just sort of getting started with the season now while teams in Denmark, elsewhere around Europe are finishing up, does that feel strange to you? It is really strange, but you know what, I really appreciate it actually.
00:09:16
Speaker
And now, when I'm playing in Sweden, looking at Denmark, I feel like Denmark is doing the wrong thing. I mean, I understand that you have to adapt to the European way if you want to succeed in Europe. But in Denmark, we have f***ing weather like we do in Sweden. And it makes no sense that you don't play in those two months where you have the best weather of the year. And here in Sweden, we do.
00:09:46
Speaker
I think we have 10 days off in the middle of June and then we just keep playing.
Adapting to New Teams: Challenges and Experiences
00:09:52
Speaker
So the season goes from April until I think it's November, which is great because then you get to play a lot of matches in good weather, whereas in Denmark you play in December, you play in
00:10:06
Speaker
February, March, where it's really so bad. And also for the fans, it's the s*** to come on the stadium when you're freezing your asshole. So I really appreciate that we play the calendar year. You definitely won't know this, but on Twitter a few weeks back, after a discussion on a previous podcast with Christian Volney, I said, I think that Denmark should switch to a summer league system. And here's the reasons why. And oh, I got a lot of angry responses saying I was wrong. So I'm glad I've got you on my side here.
00:10:36
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, you do, but at the same time, I think that's why Denmark is, the league is on a higher level than Sweden is because it follows the big European leagues. And do you think that's helpful for a particular, like, is that helpful for preparing for the European Games or is it just the fact that it's like a perception thing? I don't know. I don't know. But it's really weird that Hicken won the championship in November.
00:11:06
Speaker
And now they're going for the Champions League qualification in June. So it's seven months later and a lot can happen in those seven months. And that's really strange, to be honest. But the weather aspect is also a big thing. So I think
00:11:31
Speaker
I think that's, yeah, really nice. And as a footballer, moving to new places and having to make new friends is kind of part of the job. What's it like walking into a new club where you don't know anyone and you have to create all of the relationships from scratch? Is it something you enjoy or is it like, oh, I've got to do this again? No. Yeah. I think you can compare it to like a normal job where you walk into an office and you don't know anybody and it's just, it's stressful and, uh,
00:12:01
Speaker
Of course, people, they're always nice, and they will always be nice to you. But I don't have the energy to get to know everybody. And it's just, yeah, I hate it, to be honest. But it's necessary. And now it's not a problem. But the first two weeks, you have to be so polite. And yeah, it's just the worst, really. But it's part of the game.
00:12:30
Speaker
quickly, quickly over, I would say. I appreciate the honesty. Anyway, that's, that's interesting. What's something you miss from Denmark that you can't get in Sweden? Uh, this one. Amazing.
00:12:47
Speaker
Yeah, I was just back actually and I bought a lot of those back to Sweden because you cannot get it. But on a more serious note, I mean, it's pretty much the same. I mean, you mean football wise or you mean in general? Anything really? Yeah, no, I don't miss anything. It's more or less the same and it's only five hours on the train away. So, yeah, it feels like I'm playing in
00:13:17
Speaker
and when I go back to Copenhagen, which is my home, it's more or less the same. Start selling some of the Faxi Conde and you could be a billionaire. For sure, because all the guys, all the Swedish guys, they know it and they love it too. I don't understand how you cannot buy it. I have no idea. You tried it? Yeah, yeah. You liked it? I love it. Yeah.
00:13:37
Speaker
Yeah, it's really good. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know what it was at first. Like when I first started watching Danish football, I'd see it advertised everywhere. And I was like, what is this? Because it's not obvious what it is from just from seeing the logo. No, no. When I went there, I was like, yeah, this is great. It's got a cult following. I remember last time we spoke, you said how much you'd grown to love the number 20 squad number. If you need someone to negotiate with your teammate, Daniel, just let me know. I know he's got it. Yeah,
Memorable Matches and Future Excitements
00:14:05
Speaker
he got it. He got it. And I wanted it.
00:14:07
Speaker
when I came to Sweden but I didn't want to to make a case about it and I mean the number 10 was available and I was just thinking okay let me take number 10 that's also fine you know but to be honest I would really like number 20 more than 10
00:14:27
Speaker
maybe you can organize a swap at the end of the end of the season yeah i i think he plays us right back maybe he would like number 10 you can't have 10 as a right back that's illegal yeah that's yeah it is the final question is i'm hoping you've watched the bridge otherwise this isn't going to make any sense but are you more saga or martin hord
00:14:48
Speaker
yeah i didn't watch it man i didn't watch it that's the perfect that's the perfect combination of Denmark and Sweden yeah yeah i know i know i know about it but i i never watched it so i'm i'm truly sorry i cannot answer you got a day off today you got no excuse start watching maybe yeah it's a good idea it's a good idea
00:15:13
Speaker
If I can say one last thing, because I'm guessing you're going to talk about which league is the strongest, or at least have a discussion about it. And I would say that the level is more or less the same, but the big difference is you have 16 teams in Sweden, which makes the league a little bit, or you have some teams where the level is not that high.
00:15:38
Speaker
And if you would increase the league to 12 teams like in Denmark, then you would have a really competitive league because there is a lot of good teams and they have quality stadiums.
00:15:51
Speaker
It is really a high level league if you cut off maybe four teams. The Super League hasn't been in 12 teams for long, right? It used to have more, so I think that reduction has helped. It really has, it really has. Now you maybe have two teams which you know in the beginning of the season, they will probably get in trouble where before you would have four, five teams. And this is the same in Sweden where you have those teams you know they're going to end up in the bottom.
00:16:20
Speaker
But everything can happen in the top. And is there a particular fixture you've got your eye on? Like a glamour game or a big derby? Or is there something that you're like, I can't wait for
Stadiums and League Predictions
00:16:31
Speaker
that game? I mean, we already played AIK, Stockholm. We played them away. And this was a really, really nice experience. We won 3-0.
00:16:42
Speaker
And the stadium is probably the best stadium I've ever been in. Top quality, really modern, and a lot of fans. And then we played Hamabu Home, which was also really nice. Hamabu is like a club in Sweden. They have fans from all over the country, which is kind of weird. But some people from my city, they support Hamabu for some reason.
00:17:12
Speaker
Yeah, so that was also a really nice game. But I was home, so I'm looking forward to play them away. And I guess, Melmu at home.
00:17:23
Speaker
I was injured when we played them away. So Melbourne Home is also a nice game. Brilliant. Yeah, that AIK stadium is bigger than any stadium in Denmark by some distance, I think. I think it's 55,000 or something like that, which is massive. Yeah, I don't know the exact number, but it's really, really huge and really modern. I mean, now I can really see that parking is getting old and you also see it with the fans, they cannot jump.
00:17:51
Speaker
It needs a soft hand. And before we wrap up, I just wanted to ask your opinion on who you think is going to win the league title in the Super League. Ever since I left, I've watched all the games I can, and especially Ranus. And I watch all the games almost. But I think Copenhagen will take it. I'm really forward to the game on Sunday. Luckily, I can watch it because we play Monday.
00:18:20
Speaker
I'm going to watch the game against Egev and I think it's going to be a crazy game with a lot of fans and a lot of drama on the pitch. There tend to be that when they with those two teams play each other. Absolutely. Yeah, there's definitely been some bad blood over the last few years with the whole yen stay and
00:18:39
Speaker
Peter Christiansen and stuff. So yeah, looking forward to that. Brilliant. Well, Vito, thank you so much for giving up some time on your day off. Really interesting. And yeah, look forward to seeing what the rest of the season brings for you in Sweden. Yeah, thank you. I'm looking forward to it as well. Fantastic. Thanks so much. Thank you.