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‘Sweden is a really easy country to settle into. I’d recommend it to anyone’

How does a professional footballer end up stranded on a quiet little island off the Gothenburg coast, hunting frantically for somewhere to sleep?

Published: 24 April 2017 06:59 CEST
'Sweden is a really easy country to settle into. I'd recommend it to anyone'
English footballer Laurie Bell, who is currently plying his trade in Sweden. Photo: Laurie Bell

By diving into the Swedish experience head first, as Laurie Bell has since he moved to the Nordic country.

“Last year on my 24th birthday I had a couple of days off. So the day before it I got a train by myself from Örebro down to Gothenburg, then a tram and a ferry out to the archipelago,” he tells The Local.

“I had a quality day exploring the beautiful islands, on and off ferries. I didn't have any food with me. It was late summer so a lot of places were shut and I was literally eating wild apples off the trees. I went swimming, for a hike… then at the end of the day, I had found a great spot, and was enjoying myself so much I missed the last ferry.”

It gets better. He continues:

“I decided to stay on the island, but the B&B was shut. So I went next door to what I thought was a B&B. I ended up speaking to this old couple, and asked 'can I have a room?'. I eventually realized they had no idea why this English guy was in their living room.”

After leaving them in peace, he unsuccessfully hunted for another B&B and even considered sneaking a night's sleep in one of the boats moored on the island. But eventually the Englishman decided to swallow his pride and go back to the poor couple he had confused before.

“I thought 'god, what am I going to do?'. I went back to them, and they called their daughter and granddaughter who had a spare room. The daughter picked me up, took me back to their house and put me in their little guest house. When I woke up the next morning they had made me a birthday breakfast and said happy birthday to me!”


Bell in his Karlsunds gear. Photo: Laurie Bell

If you haven't noticed already, Bell isn't the average British footballer. Players from the UK are notoriously travel shy, rarely opting to test themselves on foreign shores. But at the age of 24, this midfielder's career has already taken him to the US, where he earned a scholarship and a first professional contract, then on to Örebro in central Sweden.

“I went to uni on a football scholarship in the US and signed my first pro contract at a club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After that I only got a short term work visa in America – it's very competitive. So once it expired at the end of the first season I had to get out of the country before I was kicked out,” he explains.

“I moved back to England, applied myself to getting back to America as lots of my life was based there, but it was proving very difficult. Then one of my old coaches in the US, an English guy, sent me a message on Facebook one day saying there's a Division 2 team in Sweden who need a central midfielder urgently. 'If you can get to Karlslunds in Örebro in less than a week, you have a contract'.”

Though he knew very little about Swedish football, and less still about Örebro, it was an easy decision to make.

“I just went for it. I had run into a brick wall and was at a loose end. I was really excited by the prospect of Sweden, it seemed like a new adventure.”

From the minute he landed in Sweden the country proved to be a pleasant surprise.

“The first drive from Arlanda to Örebro, through the countryside, passing the lakes, typical Scandinavian red houses… I just thought 'Wow. All right, I'll be ok here'.”

His new home city also quickly left an impression:

“Örebro is gorgeous. I was so impressed. The first thing I noticed is it's absolutely spotless, like all Swedish cities compared to Britain. There's a beautiful castle castle with a river and moat, leading out to one of the enormous Swedish lakes.”

Those lakes are the location of another of his travel mishaps however. This time involving a well-travelled paddle board, and a possible puncture.

“I got an inflatable paddle board for my 21st, took it to the US for three years, left it at my girlfriend's house there, then went back to get it at the end of last year. I brought it back to Manchester, then Sweden this year. So on the first nice day of spring a couple of weeks ago I took it out and tried to pump it up… then realized it either has a hole in it or the pump doesn't work anymore.”


The paddle board in happier times. Photo: Laurie Bell

“So I spent probably the best part of a grand (£1,000) carting it around the world only for it not to blow up. But there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors here – I just need some updated equipment to do so,” he laughs.

Paddle board or not, Bell has found the Swedish outdoors and Örebro are an easy sell for some of his friends back home, who have also fallen in love with the country.

“One of my mates came to visit who is a coach in English football and he's so sold on it he's looking at coaching opportunities in Sweden. I've absolutely endorsed it, I've been trying to get friends out, my parents have been, my sister, my brother in law, they're all impressed. I'm really happy here.”

Importantly, his day job is also a satisfying experience. The former Manchester City academy player admits he didn't know much about Swedish football, and experiencing it first hand has been an eye opener.

“I was surprised by the passion, and the level is good. I've been to quite a few Allsvenskan games and it's a really high level. At my level too there's a lot of good players who I’m sure could make it in the UK. I expected to come over and for it to be quite a difference in class and attitude towards football, but it actually felt pretty similar to back home.”

Which is why he constantly implores British pros to try their luck abroad, especially in a country like Sweden where the leap isn't too daunting.

“There's so much less to worry about if you move with football than if you just do it by yourself, trying to find a job. You're immediately in an environment with 25 teammates who are inevitably ready-made friends. Staff who can smooth the transition. You'd do well to mess it up. That's why I don't really see the risk in recommending to people that they come abroad. There's so many people who want to make it work for you,” he notes.

“Sweden's a really easy country to settle into. There's a clear football pyramid and if you do well you'll get an opportunity to advance. It's a beautiful country to explore too. I'd recommend it to anyone.”

But that doesn't mean it’s a free ride. The Karlsunds IF player has noticed Swedes don't take kindly to foreign players who come with an entitled attitude.

“With Swedes you have to show you want to be there, respect the local culture and show you're not just another international player out for themselves. If you're a good teammate the local guys will be brilliant to you. You have to show willingness. I always think it's on the foreign guy to convince the locals he's a good asset,” he emphasizes.


Swedish buildings left a quick impression. Photo: Laurie Bell

One thing the Englishman has been willing to do, but which hasn’t been particularly easy, is learning the Swedish language. While his knowledge of Swedish football vocabulary is solid, getting on a Swedish For Immigrants (SFI) course has been difficult due to his location.

“I'm still waiting to begin SFI, it's taking far too long. I've got a German mate and we're both desperate to learn but it has been a nightmare getting on that course. We've had a few meetings, but trying to pull together enough people for a course for people with a previous higher education is hard. There aren't enough of us in the city at the moment, so it's a matter of waiting.”

“I basically know football words and how to order food. Those are the two fields I nailed early on,” he chuckles.

With no Swedish classes to keep him busy, one way Bell has managed to fill his time is by writing. Along with football, writing is a life-long passion, and one that has led to getting articles published in prestigious outlets like the Guardian and quality football site In Bed With Maradona.

“When I was a kid I wanted to be a footballer and a sports journalist. I've always thought that even a top level pro gives a maximum of five hours a day to football, you inevitably have time to fill. One of my last projects studying in the US was a long form piece about my journey across the world to sign my first professional contract. It got published on In Bed With Maradona, then the Guardian picked it up. I was absolutely bouncing.”


A more reliable method of transport. Photo: Laurie Bell

Inspired, he kept pitching, and editors kept saying yes. The Guardian has published further pieces, and a mini-series has also been commissioned for a sport website. Sometime in the future he wants to write a book, too.

Writing has also somewhat changed his perspective on the lack of Brits playing abroad. Could it be that more want to take the leap, but most just don't know how to?

“Since I've been writing my inbox is full of British lads saying they'd love to try it out. Maybe the avenues aren't really there, it's not a particularly well-trodden path, there aren't a lot of role models,” he muses.

“Sweden is an easier culture to stumble into as they speak such good English,” he adds, going on to praise English football's most successful export to the Nordic nation of recent years, Östersund coach Graham Potter. The manager has taken the side from the lower leagues to to the Allsvenskan for the first time in their history – not to mention booking them in their first ever cup final.

“He has done incredibly well. He's a sensation. They're the inspiration for teams at my level. He has proven himself and I'm sure he'd be more than capable of getting a shot in England, but I'm not sure he's celebrated there as much as he could be. Publish those nice words and maybe he'll bring me with him to Östersund!” he jokes.

Looking to the future, the 24-year-old admits that he is torn between furthering his travels at some point and staying in the adopted home he enjoys so much.

“My goal is to play in one of the top two divisions in Sweden, but it really depends on opportunities. You never know how long your career is going to be. Me and my girlfriend have plans to stay in Sweden and I'll try to get her out here in the next year or so. I'm definitely considering Sweden for the longer term, but a footballer's life is unpredictable. Especially at this level where everyone has one year contracts,” he reveals.


Exploring Sweden with friends. Photo: Laurie Bell

As for that bizarre but wonderful spell on an island near Gothenburg, the chance encounter has left a permanent impact, and since flourished into a friendship.

“I took all of my roommates back there, four of us went out, and the same family came into the city, picked us up, and took us on a boat to the island for a tour,” he recalls.

“I now have friends on Gothenburg's islands! I love that place. I think when you decide to go abroad, you're so much more likely to explore the country than you would if you stayed at home. I still need to explore more of Sweden to make a fair assessment, but I was pretty won over by Gothenburg,” he concludes. 

For members

READER INSIGHTS

How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who’ve been there, done that

The Swedish job market poses unique challenges for newcomers. The Local's readers share their best tips for cracking the career code.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:32 CEST
Updated: 13 April 2024 15:50 CEST
How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who've been there, done that

Network, network, network!

A statistic that often gets tossed around is that seven out of ten jobs in Sweden are obtained through personal connections, and there’s no doubt that a good network is crucial to your job hunt, making the labour market extra challenging for newcomers to the country.

In fact, networking was the main tip mentioned by The Local’s readers.

“The job market is quite hot in Sweden, and talent is in short supply. People hiring do not have a lot of time to find the right talent, and tips from friends, colleagues and former colleagues are the way to first, find out organisations are hiring, and secondly, get your CV on the short list,” said Kyle, a Canadian reader who works in innovation management in Gothenburg.

“If you are going for a major employer like Volvo, network gets you in the door, as HR does not have much to do with hiring… the hiring managers do all of it and have no time, due to the insane number of consensus meetings. If you are looking for smaller organisations, they have even less time to find people, and networking is their primary way to find talent,” he added.

NETWORKING IN SWEDEN:

Some of the networking tips readers mentioned were going to job fairs, getting an internship to help you establish connections in your preferred field, joining clubs (this could be anything from your local gardening association to meetups for coders, but focus on clubs that may be popular among people working in your chosen field), and drawing on your organic network of friends, neighbours and others.

Don’t neglect the groundwork

The saying “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” is getting worn out (and people may look at you funny if you turn up to interviews in a Batman suit), but there’s truth to the notion of making sure you know what you want – and preparing for it.

In other words, don’t wait for a job ad to appear before you start to customise your CV and figure out what skill set you need. Create your CV now so that you’re ready to tweak it to your dream job – you could even have a general look at job ads in your field to see what requirements are needed. And don’t forget to spruce up your LinkedIn profile so that it fits with your career goals.

“I believe that several factors contribute to successfully landing a desirable job in Sweden. It’s essential to prepare to meet the requirements beyond just having a university degree. Many individuals realise these requirements only after completing their studies when they start searching for a job, which can be too late,” said Adnan Aslam from Pakistan, who works as a food inspector.

“I recommend identifying the job advertisements for positions you aspire to hold in the future and then preparing for those requirements during your studies. For me, acquiring a basic level of proficiency in the Swedish language and obtaining a Swedish driving licence were crucial. I pursued these goals during my studies and was able to secure a desirable job before graduating,” he added.

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Felipe Cabral even has a GPT assistant trained on his own CVs and old cover letters, and said the set-up only takes ten minutes if you already have your documents. “With that in place, you can give instructions like: Read this job description and create a tailored version of my CV and letter for it. (…) Remember to always review and ask it not to create data aside from your documents.”

Be flexible and ready to adapt

Moving to a new place inevitably means having to learn not just the practicalities such as how to write a CV or which websites to use to look for job openings, but also learning how to navigate a new culture with all its unspoken expectations.

Swedish workplaces are generally less hierarchical than many other countries, but that doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want without anyone raising an eyebrow. Swedes are usually direct, but be careful of being too abrasive or boastful: raising your voice, even during a spirited argument, or banging your own drum to show off your skills may not go down well.

“Talk, deliberate, complain like a Swede and you’ll come across like you know what the job entails, so your trustworthiness increases,” said an Indian data analyst who preferred to remain anonymous.

“Office politics are just as strong in Sweden as anywhere else. The flat hierarchy is deceiving as social hierarchy is enforced quite a bit in that lack of formal hierarchy. Take your time in learning these dynamics wherever you work before revealing your talent and capabilities. Expect those internal politics to happen, and they won’t hurt so much when they do,” said Kyle, the Canadian reader in Gothenburg.

This article about Swedish office politics may be useful.

Stay true to yourself

Adapting to your surroundings is one thing. Completely changing who you are is another.

For one thing, your happiness is as important as your career progression, and for another, your foreignness need not be an impediment: it’s also a skill that sets you apart from the rest. It means you have unique experience, and also, in the right setting, provides an opportunity to sometimes violate those social rules we mentioned above, because people assume you will, anyway.

“Trust is key. Build trust in your network, work with integrity. It’s OK to violate jantelagen if you are maintaining integrity. Sometimes your outsider and more honest/open opinion will burn bridges, especially those that may feel threatened by talent. But it will build trust with other colleagues who see it as brave and more trustworthy to work with,” said Kyle from Canada.

Hunker down for the long haul

We don’t want to scare you, because there are plenty of examples of people who quickly find their dream job in Sweden and settle into their new workplace, enjoying perks such as long summer holidays, generous parental leave and the famous work-life balance.

But if you do find it tougher than you expected: know that you’re not alone.

Several readers who responded to the survey said they were still trying to find a job in Sweden.

“I found jobs all over Europe but not here. They say they have a lack of experienced senior engineers but the don’t seem to be doing much to solve this,” said a Brazilian in Gothenburg.

A reader from Bangladesh said she was “at a loss” as to how to make a career change from her current AI role in Stockholm, despite many years of experience as an IT project manager.

“Over the past 18 months, I’ve submitted over 600 applications to various organisations. Unfortunately, despite being overqualified for some positions, I’ve faced rejections at every turn, from both large and small companies. The job market here, especially for foreign-born women, feels overwhelmingly challenging,” she said, adding that the struggle had impacted her mental health.

The Local has on several occasions reported on foreign residents’ struggle to get a foot on the Swedish job ladder, with many facing hurdles such as employers’ unfamiliarity with international degrees, discrimination, or a lack of network that can provide paths into a company.

So during the job hunt, don’t forget to care for yourself. Share your concerns with fellow job-seekers, ask for help and join networking groups – this is good not just for creating new contacts, but also in terms of your social well-being and meeting people who are in a similar situation.

And finally, as one British reader in Stockholm advised, keep looking: “Be open-minded with the opportunities that present themselves. It isn’t an easy market to enter and doesn’t feel inclusive.” But he added, “don’t give up”.

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