Arsenal fans remember Kim Kallström, the energetic midfielder who graced the Emirates on loan in 2014 after he recovered from a broken back?

He’s back in the headlines, but this time, he’s traded his boots for a leadership role. Kallström has been appointed as Sweden’s new Head of Football, tasked with reviving the nation’s declining football fortunes.

Both the Swedish men’s and women’s national teams recently missed out on major tournaments, amplifying the pressure on the shoulders of the 41-year-old. However, Kallström isn’t shying away from the challenge.

As he told Reuters, “Football is a lot about energy, and having that burning desire to try to develop and change and do things better, and always to be part of positive change.”

After hanging up his boots in 2017, Kallström embarked on a unique path, becoming a stay-at-home dad while his wife attended medical school. Despite this, football remained his passion. He completed the prestigious Masters for International Players program, equipping him with the necessary tools to step into this leadership role.

Kallström’s “toolbox” brims with experience. He donned the jerseys of clubs like Arsenal, Lyon, and Spartak Moscow, and gleaned valuable insights from legendary coaches like Arsène Wenger. He adds, “In the back of our minds we will always be players, so we’ve always held the best interests of the players in our minds.”

His immediate priority? Finding a new coach for the men’s team after Janne Andersson‘s departure. The recently departed Blackburn manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, seems set to land the job although the paperwork is expected to take a few weeks to complete.

But Kallström’s task doesn’t end there. “There are a lot of things to be done,” he acknowledges, “but I think we need to take our time. We need to analyse a little bit where we are, why we are there, where we want to go, how we can get there, and who the people are who are going to implement all that. So we have quite a large task in front of us, but you know, that’s the fun.”

Kallström at Arsenal

Speaking a few years ago, Kim Källström said he sees the Arsenal fans who joke about his time with the club online, but he still looks back on the whole situation fondly.

Speaking to the Arsenal website in 2020, Källström admitted he knows how the fans talk about his loan spell.

“I see the fans who joke on the internet about my time here, but I think it’s quite fun,” Källström said.

“There are a lot of players who have done a lot more for Arsenal than me but then at the same time, there are a lot of players who have done a lot less, in a lot more time! Here, I walked in, hit the penalty, we won a trophy and then I walked out again.

“It’s OK, I can laugh about it now! Because my time at Arsenal was very special for me and even though it was very short, I see it as a couple of months of great fun.

“It’s a time that really made my career a little better, a little funnier and it’s given me some great stories to tell. I met some great people, worked for a great coach and got to play for an incredible club.”

The story of Källström’s loan

Källström joined the club in January 2014, but a broken back prevented him from making an appearance in the squad until mid-March.

By that stage, Arsenal were already out of the title race. Heavy defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea – as well as dropped points against Manchester United and Stoke City – saw to that.

Källström made a solid debut substitute appearance against Swansea, but Mathieu Flamini scored an own goal to ensure it ended in another draw. Then came the loanee’s best week at the club.

Thrown into the FA Cup semi-final squad against Wigan as cover for injuries, Källström ended up making it onto the pitch for the final seven minutes of extra time. He scored in the penalty shootout and helped his team progress to the final.

After that, Källström earned his first Premier League start. He played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal won 3-1 against West Ham, allowing 2013/14 hero Aaron Ramsey a chance to rest.

Ramsey came back into the team after that, and Källström only got a further 27 minutes in the final month of the season. Those minutes came off the bench in another win over West Brom. The Swedish international ended his Arsenal career unbeaten.

So, not the most impactful spell ever. At the same time, if he hadn’t taken that penalty, and if he hadn’t allowed the hugely-influential-but-still-injury-prone Ramsey to rest three days later, maybe the season wouldn’t have ended with a trophy.