Goitom can continue on the pitch: "Those thoughts go off course"

In November, the club announced that Goitom and AIK had agreed on a new three-year contract - one year as a player, two years as an assistant coach. But it also emerged that the coach part would be postponed if Goitom continued to play.

Since then, the 34-year-old, who turns 35 on the same day as a derby against Hammarby, has shown that he is still vital to AIK on the inside lines.

- I didn't think, to be completely honest, that Henok would take such a momentum as he did here when we came in January, February, March. Then it did not look like he would reach what he is today, in terms of quality, says Norling.

Will you try to persuade him to continue?

- Good question ... Hard to answer it. On the one hand, it is linked to my own future, the other is if Henok feels it would be right, I have full respect for it. And the third is that he is damned good and important for this team, says Norling and then continues:

- At the same time, it is probably a question addressed to Björn (Wesström, sports manager) in that it is he who is responsible for the squad formation.

Said and done - here is Björn Wesström's words about Goitom's future.

- We shall see. We sit down with everyone who has an outgoing agreement after we have competed clearly, so we can see what the future looks like for each individual. Henok is and will be a significant person and function for AIK over time, whether he is a player or not.

Wesström is not surprised by the quality that a 35-year-old Goitom exhibits.

- He's so good, that's why it's hard to be surprised by that. He takes care of his body and knows what he needs to do to be a top class all-Swedish player and that will not change just because he has grown older, says Wesström.

The AIK captain points out that it's just not up to him - "It's not just myself who can say I want three years, we have to agree" - but will announce his intention with the future soon.

- When you play football during the year you feel "should you play next year too?", Those thoughts go without saying. But there has been more focus on the here and now, he says and continues:

- Next national team break you have a little more time to think about it. Hopefully, there will be a response in October.

The feeling is that AIK is still very dependent on you - are you surprised by this and how things have gone this year?

- Depending on me, I don't think. Just check out the Celtic match. It was incredible speed and fan, he says, explaining his own success:

- After the first 2-3 rounds of all Swedes, I felt that I needed to do a little more, a little more and a little different things. Then I started with dynamic stretching, among other things, and have really taken care of the body much more than before, it has really helped.