Kim Kallstrom, Championship Manager and Arsenal legend, is set to announce his retirement from football according to reports in the Swedish media.
The former Lyon man, currently in his second spell with Djurgardens, joined the Gunners on loan in January 2014, in what was one of the strangest transfers ever to go down at the club.
During the medical it was discovered that he had a significant back injury which would require weeks of treatment before he could play, but Arsene Wenger pushed the deal through all the same.
He made the first of his four Arsenal appearances at the end of March in a 2-2 draw with Swansea, but he’ll be remembered fondly by Gooners for his part in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out against Wigan.
Having equalised through Per Mertesacker with just eight minutes remaining, spot kicks decided the game and the Swede coolly dispatched his as Lukasz Fabianski made the saves that sent us through to the final.
It was a small, but valuable contribution, to ending what was then a nine year trophy drought. Arsenal went on to beat Hull City 3-2 in the final.
Kallstrom later produced a radio piece about that game, calling it ‘the greatest 15 minutes of my life’.
If you didn’t catch the translation of it first time around, it’s definitely worth a read (and even if you did it stands up to revisiting).
Happy retirement to him.
Well there goes my hopes for the January window…..
He used to wear Xhaka’s number. Coincidence? I think not.
At least it opens the door for a possible unveiling of the next statue outside the Emirates.
I say retire his jersey number, build him a statue and name a stand after him. Absolute legend and Arsenal through and through!
I like everybody who played for Arsenal with the exception of Robin Van Persie.. I don’t like that cunt
I could name a few more cunts that played for us…
Adebayor, Gallas, Cashley…
Yep…. Top Munks!
😉
I recall some discussion here a while back in which someone may have mentioned that Nasri is a cunt.
Lol, so difficult to rank the cunts into a top 5. I’m torn between RVP and Adebayor for top spot.
Bentley is another one (not yet mentioned)
Adebayor is definitely the biggest cunt, what a classless twat. I’d even put Nasri ahead of the Dutch Cunt, then Ca$hl€y then Gallas.
I’m with SizC on this one.
As much as I hated Adebayor, but Munk Persie is not in a better category. He showed to Wenger where to stick his loyalty for putting up with Munk Persie for 8/9 long injuries seasons.
No mate. At least Nasri weren’t long enough at the club, compared to the Duch Munk
Gallas is a legend… that shit he gave Mou qualifies him except you are a Chelski on this forum
I hate cesc the most. The team was literally built around him and he acted like a little bitch.
I get it, the joke objectively definitely IS funny, but I can’t laugh. Given the state our club has been in for the past few years (and now seemingly going downwards), it’s just sad.
He wasn’t a bad player though. We should have used him more.
Maybe you’re taking football too seriously.
Boo Red Wing, boo ?
That was one cool penalty kick
The one and only 4 Game Arsenal Legend!
It’s Djurgården if you don’t include the IF (initials for Idrottsförening, roughly translates to Athletic Club or Sports Club). Swedish names includes an additional ”s” to show where something belongs but we don’t use the ’ after the name.
Keep at it, we’ll all get it right eventually.
Really enjoyed watching him in those few games! Thought he was pretty dam good on the ball..
Hey maybe he might be available in January?
Saw the headline….first thought “Santi has had enough”
Sanogo is a bigger legend and i’m not even joking. The guy is unlike anything i have ever seen. He is the tall Drogba minus the finishing. He just annoys the opposition. Will never forget Yaya Sanogo.
This is why I actually quite enjoy this era of Arsenal, what other club would bring in Kallstrom or start Sanogo against Dortmund.
Being confusing is kind of being annoying, I suppose.
Brokeback is hanging up his boots.
That description of the greatest 15 minutes of his life makes him a legend.
If only it was narrated by Morgan Freeman
One of my favourite people to play for Arsenal: http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/excellent-story-picture-kim-kallstrom-consoles-frightened-autistic-boy-before-sweden-v-germany/
I’m glad he has that small but important piece of Arsenal history.
That penalty from Kim damn well struck =P
He tried his best.
You cannot ask anymore of anyone than to give their best.
Best of luck to him..
Former Lyon man huh?
Maybe Laca can convince him to change his mind and join us in January??
One can always dream…
Can’t wait for the statue to be announced
He actually was a pretty good player; in his prime certainly Premier League quality (a regular for mid-table club; occasional starter and good squad player for a Champions League level club).
So, I just re-read Kallstrom’s description of his time at Arsenal and the penalty. Just brilliant, one of the best pieces of this kind I have ever read.
Only one Kim Kallstrom. Best of luck to him in his endeavors of the future.
If we sign him for a loan when he is injured, we should buy him when he is retired.
Love this 🙂
Are Frey or Samba still available? Cheeky bid for Salomon Kalou?
I actually really liked him as a player. He seemed to be a model professional with a lot of respect for Arsenal, and made a significant contribution. I genuinely would have liked him to stay.
What date is the testimonial?
AW has said that he was NOT glad to see the back of him.
Broke back Kallstrom
Kallstrom > Bergkamp
Anybody see the interview with Isaac hyden in the guardian. Not a great comparison between Wenger and Benitz. Doesn’t say a lot about the arsenal medical twam either
Blogs, are you Martin Samuel in disguise?
This man and Sanogo were part of the squad that ended a decade long wait for a trophy.
The banter era will never be over in our hearts