COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - After an effective performance in the Colorado Rapids’ season opening 0-0 road draw against the Philadelphia Union, Rapids rookie center back Axel SjÓ§berg is beginning to make a name for himself in MLS.
His teammates call him, “mountain man,” and it’s an homage not only to the Rocky Mountain views at the training fields of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, but also to SjÓ§berg's towering 6-foot-7 frame.
“You’re going to get some nicknames here and there,” laughed SjÓ§berg, who is tied with Columbus Crew SC’s Adam Bedell as the tallest players in league history. “I love the mountains, and I’m not going to complain.”
Selected 14th overall in this year’s MLS SuperDraft, SjÓ§berg offered the Rapids a more refined pedigree than most collegiate players. Before beginning his four-year career at Marquette University, he played professionally in his native Sweden, playing for Sollentuna FF (now in the second division) after spending his youth in the academy system for first-division Djurgårdens IF.
“It’s a very important part of who [SjÓ§berg] is.” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni told MLSSoccer.com. “When you play in those leagues over there, they’re very professional. They’re teaching kids at a really young age all the fundamentals that are really important. It’s no surprise that he finds himself playing professional football here in the States.”
In three games at the 2015 adidas MLS Player Combine, Mastroeni and the Rapids staff witnessed those fundamentals first-hand and were impressed.
“At the combine, I saw a lot of little things that other people might not understand.” Mastroeni said. “It wasn’t necessarily that he was having great games, but he had the same tendencies. His defending fundamentals were very strong. His tactical positioning is very good and very sharp. He communicates very well, and he’s very good in the air.”
Time in Sweden laid the groundwork for SjÓ§berg, but he credits the collegiate game for preparing him for the rigors of MLS.
“It would have been a really hard step for me to come straight to MLS from Europe.” He explained. “When you go to college, the game is more physical and puts other demands on you. College was really useful for me, because it helped me adjust to the American way of playing soccer.”
SjÓ§berg was certainly comfortable with the physical game in the opener against Philadelphia, picking up a first-half yellow card and three fouls but ultimately helping the Rapids post a shutout and 0-0 tie despite a red card to initial center-back partner Bobby Burling.
With his American professional debut out of the way, SjÓ§berg is shifting his focus to the March 21 home opener against New York City FC. Like a true “mountain man,” the 24-year-old has set lofty goals for himself.
“I’m looking forward to playing against David Villa more than anything,” SjÓ§berg said. “Hopefully we’ll have a great fight and I can keep a shutout against him as well.”
