FORMER Arsenal midfielder Kristoffer Olsson is set to take up boxing – just a year after a BRAIN CONDITION derailed his football career.
Olsson, 30, made one senior appearance – scoring a penalty in a League Cup shoot-out win over West Brom in 2013.
Olsson left for Danes Midtjylland in 2014, and has since played for clubs in Sweden, Russia and Belgium.
He rejoined Midtjylland in 2022, but collapsed at home in February 2024. Doctors found his brain had several blood clots and an inflammation.
The 47-cap international lost his motor control and ability to speak. He was put in a medically-induced coma, and spent months in hospital.
Olsson has since recovered sufficiently to rejoin his boyhood club IK Sleipner, based in Norrkoping.
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But the 30-year-old has now taken the bold decision to climb into the boxing ring.
He will fight his Sleipner clubmate Maic Sema, 36, in an exhibition bout at Klockaretorpet near Norrkoping on Saturday.
Powerfully-built striker Sema is the brother of ex-Watford midfielder Ken Sema, 31
Olsson insisted: “I haven’t thought about getting blows to the head. It is the same as football, when you can head the ball.
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“I am not afraid. I think we will be friendly with each other.
“We have joked about who will take a big punch. I might get knocked out, but I don’t think I will die from it.
“It is more fun. Me and Maic are team-mates, and I don’t think we will try to hurt each other too much.”
Olsson won Sweden’s Allsvenskan title with Stockholm club AIK in 2018.
He also helped Midtjylland become Danish champions in 2015 and 2024.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
