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The 35-year-old MFF defender had to choose how his career would end. Play from the beginning or take a leap? Behrang Safari chose the latter and in the 61st minute he was substituted in the insignificant home game against Östersund.
– It was difficult. It was a lot of emotions, but also fun playing soccer. I only enjoyed the last few minutes that I had left as a footballer, says Safari after the 4-0 victory in the Allsvenskan final.
He lifted the Lennart Johansson trophy after his last match in his career and received his fourth gold at the Swedish Championship. After the award ceremony, a long Safari tribute was held on the field in front of empty stands.
Federer: “It improved my life”
Former coaches, leaders, and teammates had recorded tribute videos. For example, former Argentine national team player Walter Samuel, with whom Safari played for a couple of seasons in Basel.
– It was very special. See that you have touched people on and off the field. That means a lot. Throughout my career I have tried to spread as much joy and love as possible, and it is probably a small receipt that I have given you.
He was very surprised that his wife Ivana had made a movie, but for outsiders, the biggest surprise was probably the tribute film of Swiss tennis star Roger Federer.
“I want to thank you for making my life better,” the great Basel fan told Safari.
– We talk once a week, Safari jokes.
– No, but he’s a great Basel fan and was in many of our matches. I was able to meet him a few times. He’s a great personality. An amazing man and an even better athlete. It was nice to see that it could also convey some love.
I missed the audience
This year’s Swedish Championship gold was already secured by MFF on November 8 at home against Sirius. For Safari, it was the number four gold in his career, the first he obtained as early as 2004. In the summer of 2008 he became a foreign professional and during his years in Basel and Anderlecht, there were a total of seven league golds, five in Switzerland and two in Belgium.
– It was a long and beautiful race that I really appreciated. It had to end with a Swedish Championship gold, I really can’t ask for more, says Safari, who returned to MFF in the summer of 2016.
Had he been given more playing time this season, it probably would have been another year in the MFF jersey, Safari says. What bothered him the most was the opposite that he had to finish in front of empty stands.
– The biggest disappointment this year has been not hearing the cheers from the audience, says Behrang Safari.
CLIP: Highlights of Malmö FF – Östersund:
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