Tottenham ace Dejan Kulusevski has proved his leadership qualities in recent months, having worn the captain’s armband on Sweden duty.
Tottenham ace Dejan Kulusevski has had a rough start to the season so far. Unquestionably the club’s top performer in the first ten games of the 2024/25 season, the 24-year-old is also impressing on the international scene for his native Sweden.
Kulusevski is currently setting a good example for both his club and his country, having worn the captain’s armband throughout the past two international breaks. With regular captain Victor Lindelof missing in September, Kulusevski was named Jon Dahl Tomasson’s captain, and he held the armband for October’s international games, coming off the bench against Slovakia.
Kulusevski’s impact on the pitch for Tottenham has been palpable, which he attributes to increased maturity and responsibility. Not only is he “taking more responsibility” on the pitch, but the birth of his daughter, Leonie, has had a significant impact on both his life and his game.
Speaking on The Review Show after Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United, in which Kulusevski toyed with the Red Devils, the Swede said that his daughter is his “biggest motivation” and that everything has gotten “100 times better,” with football becoming “even more fun.” Tottenham and Sweden are both benefiting from a vital phase in the attacker’s life, which may even result in Ange Postecoglou.
Following the Australian’s appointment as head coach in the summer of 2023, Postecoglou designated Son Heung-min as Tottenham’s new captain, with Cristian Romero and James Maddison serving as vice captains. Guglielmo Vicario, who football.london reported in September was recruited to Tottenham’s leadership group by Postecoglou in the summer, is another important voice in the Spurs dressing room.
Kulusevski’s rising maturity and leadership, both on the game and in assisting his teammates, will only benefit Tottenham in the future. At a time when Postecoglou is aiming to bring success to the football club, having another leader among the ranks can only be a good thing.
It is probably unsurprising that Kulusevski’s leadership abilities have developed to the point where he has taken over the Sweden armband in Lindelof’s absence. After all, he played under a number of excellent captains in his early career who certainly had an impact on him.
“To convey energy and read the room through words and movements. “I’ve learned a lot from many good ones I’ve played with,” he stated in September, according to Fotboll Skanalen. “I played alongside Bruno Alves at Parma, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Gigi] Buffon, [Giorgio] Chiellini at Juventus, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “I have learned a lot from these players.”
He went on to say, “Every day, I am inspired by something new. I will not replicate anything; it is entirely Dejan’s. I’ve always had the ability to be a leader. I enjoy gambling and have a poor habit of losing money.
“I am willing to make significant sacrifices to win. I’ll also focus about improving my colleagues, which is something I’ve learned in recent years.”
Following their UEFA Nations League matches in September, Sweden teammate Ludwig Augustinsson shared his thoughts on Kulusevski, the captain.
“He possesses innate leadership characteristics. “He is a pusher,” the former Aston Villa loanee said TV4 (via Sport Witness). “He wants to move forward, so he takes initiative. He leads the team on the field and more and more
He went on to say, “Every day, I am inspired by something new. I will not replicate anything; it is entirely Dejan’s. I’ve always had the ability to be a leader. I enjoy gambling and have a poor habit of losing money.
“I am willing to make significant sacrifices to win. I’ll also focus about improving my colleagues, which is something I’ve learned in recent years.”
Following their UEFA Nations League matches in September, Sweden teammate Ludwig Augustinsson shared his thoughts on Kulusevski, the captain.
“He possesses innate leadership characteristics. “He is a pusher,” the former Aston Villa loanee said TV4 (via Sport Witness). “He wants to move forward, so he takes initiative. He leads the team on the field and more and more
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