Bertil Johansson passed away on Wednesday, 86 years old.

He was honored at Ullevi before kick-off in Saturday's match between IFK Gothenburg and Häcken.

At one corner flag stood his framed portrait under a hanging wreath.

The corn sun hesitated.

- "Baby", you are with us forever.

In memory.

In the stories.

In the songs.

We thank you for everything you have done for IFK Gothenburg and the many people you have touched.

For Swedish Championship gold, victories and goals.

For the laughter, the joy and not least for the generosity.

This is how it sounded in the speakers when the speaker read out the club's memoir, which continued:

- Our thoughts go to "Bebben's" wife Solveig, their children and grandchildren who are with us here at Ullevi today.

Marcus Modéer, 37, is IFK Gothenburg's media and information manager.

For him, Bertil Johansson was not primarily the club icon "Bebben".

- He was a friend.

We got to know each other on Hönö where I grew up.

Bertil and Solveig lived a short walk from my parents' home.

For most people who met Bertil off the football field, he was a joker and a generous narrator.

But what has often struck me is that he was a fantastic listener who asked questions with interest.

"Did not need a ticket"

Marcus Modéer tells about how as a child he had to accompany Bertil and Solveig several times to Blåvitt's Allsvenskan matches at Gamla Ullevi during the 1990s.

- It was fun, cool and exciting to walk past the long queues at the entrance.

The "baby" did not need a ticket.

When the gatekeeper saw him, a side entrance was imperceptibly opened.

Bertil nodded to the guard and so we went inside.

It often took a good while to walk the short way down the stands to the place above one of the replacement booths where "Bebben" stood and watched the matches.

- He stopped to sign an autograph, just exchange a few words or listen to someone who wanted to talk about a previous meeting or tell about an acquaintance who had met him in some context.

I experienced that Bertil usually seemed to remember the people.

He always had a good memory.

Shooter king and champion

For 14 years Bertil Johansson played for IFK Gothenburg.

He made 461 appearances and scored 292 goals.

He won Swedish Championship gold with Blåvitt as player in 1958, as coach in 1969 and became Allsvenskan shooting king twice.

The last words in the memorial speech before kick-off in Saturday's Gothenburg derby:

- We now call on all blue and whites and more to join us in a tribute to the greatest of them all.

Bertil "Bebben" Johansson, this is for you.

His closest relatives stood in the stands.

They joined everyone else at Ullevi in ​​a long and warm applause.