Håkanson has started the club season in his Spanish club team Bilbao brilliantly.

The team has won all their matches in the Champions league and in the league there were three initial victories against top teams.

It is a Swedish basketball star with a brilliant mood and great self-confidence who is fine-tuning the last details at the national team camp in Täljehallen before the important World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel.

- I have gained a lot of trust in Bilbao and we started the season very well.

Unfortunately, we have lost a few games now at the end, but the confidence is at its peak, says Håkanson.

Sweden's biggest star

Ludde, as he is called, is Sweden's biggest basketball star on the men's side right now.

This shows not least the fact that Bilbao built the team around the Swedish point guard.

- It is incredibly rare that a Swedish player is in the position at such a high level that Ludde plays.

He has the role that it is a team building created just for him in Bilbao, says national coach Miiko Riipinen.

With that status as a leader comes great responsibility, on many levels, and Mikko Riipinen believes that it is a quality that Håkanson really possesses.

- He has reached a stage in his career where everything has fallen into place.

He has worked incredibly hard and tactically over the years with everything from diet and fitness to strength, where both the physical and mental strength are world class, says Riipinen.

Can be better

Ludde Håkansson is 26 years old.

Most experts agree that a point guard is usually at its best around the age of 30, and Mikko Riipinen agrees.

- Ludde has been around for a long time, but he is still young.

He is incredibly good at reading the game and has a shot at a very high level.

He has found out what kind of player he is and he can do more.

We have not yet seen his maximum, says Riipinen.

World Cup Qualification

Sweden will play two matches in the autumn WC window.

Away against Estonia on Friday and then at home in Norrköping on Monday against Israel.

- Two tough matches, both teams played in the EC last summer.

I don't know much about Estonia, but they have a point guard, Kullamae, who I met last year.

They have a four, Sander Veene, who played in Spain last year and is really good, says Håkanson.

The road to the World Cup is difficult, almost impossible, but for there to be a chance, victory against both Estonia and Israel is required.

- We have beaten better opposition before and I think we have a good chance for two victories, says Ludde Håkansson.