Mikael Almebäck aka Iron Mike has signed for FC Brugge. Until he becomes a statue on the old square in a year or two, look out for a huge blond man that can run really really fast the next time you are enjoying a little canal trip or horse cart ride in the pitoresque town. Brugge is not small, it has a spectacular city centre but it is very much a Disneyland of "cute old continental European city". As Ray says in the excellent film in Bruges: "maybe that's what hell is: the entire rest of eternity spent in fuckin' Bruges". I would recommend Mikael to jog down to Damme and the fantastic canal crossing on the way to Knokke when he gets sick of the fat tourists.
The rumour about the deal is EUR 550,000, possibly with a resale percentage for ÖSK.
Great deal for Brugge. They get a young defender with enormous potential. He be fast as the wind and hard as a rock that boy (the latter is actually proven). Despite still making a few bad defending decisions, he has been crucial for the development of Örebro. Together with a more static central defender Almebäck makes a perfect pair with his speed, his physique and his (by Swedish central defender measurement) decent feet.
A good deal for Almebäck. Belgium may become the new Holland for Swedish and allvenskan players (Safari in Anderlecht, Roni Porokara in Germinal Beerschoot, other under way) which means the national team coaches will not forget him. And a good transit step on a fast career ladder. Remember that this man was signed in the 2009 pre-season for nothing, more or less ruled out as a footballer due to health and injury trouble. Since he joined Örebro he played nearly every game.
An ok deal for Örebro. We do not know the exact terms, and I would have hoped for more money, about 1 million euros or so. But it was inevitable that Mikael should go this summer, and it was important that Örebro showed the world that we are a good step on the career ladder: we develop players, we make them shine and if someone pays up we will not stand in the way when it's time to go. Of course it is hard to believe how any player would like to leave Örebro, but that seems to be the reality we live in.
If we qualify for the third round of the Europa League it's not impossible that we will face Brugge, and that Almebäck and Alejandro Bedoya will face us on the other side. That would be weird.
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