Max Svensson scored his first goal of the year when HIF 4-2 won the pre-season opener against Eskilsminne. In addition, he provided a “second assist” for another goal.
The left forward hopes and believes in a better 2026 than 2025, under the guidance of manager Stevie Grieves.
A position closer to the center of the action on the field should have an effect.
Coach Grieve himself is clear – he has great confidence in 27-year-old Svensson’s competence.
– He is one of our best players, so we need to find ways to get him into the final third and to get opportunities to create chances, says the Scotsman.
Max Svensson came home to HIF before last season, after three and a half years in other clubs (three years in Willem II and a half in Kalmar FF).
It was not an immediate success. Svensson scored two goals in 30 games in the Superettan and started on the bench in eleven of them.
After a good start to the 2026 pre-season, “Super-Max” says:
– I know that I am basically a good soccer player. For me, it’s about finding that feeling again and today (read last Saturday) I thought it was a good step forward. That you felt that “if it’s fun, it will be fun to play football”. You ended up in a lot of funny situations compared to last year, where you felt that you weren’t put in such good positions.
Last spring, Max Svensson got an attacking role at the far end of the edge when HIF in the offensive had a line with five players, where the other edge fullback Benjamin Örn was high up.
This year, Stevie Grieve moves up both full-backs, both Örn and the left winger Simon Bengtsson. Then Svensson comes into the plan a bit.
– We need to get him into inner positions and central positions more often, to utilize his qualities, says the HIF manager.
– We try to give him confidence, because we know he is good and today he was one of our best. This was the first game of the pre-season – we need to build on this.
Max Svensson, how does your role this year differ from last year?
– Quite a lot. Last year we were quite wide, at least on my side. Now it will be a slightly more inverted role – but at the same time not a locked role. I have the freedom to end up on the right sometimes and overload there. I feel like it will be very much up to me how I handle that role. I just want to feel free and play the way I can.
You mentioned that you find yourself in more “funny situations” now?
– Favorable locations. It’s about putting yourself in good situations to be the footballer you are.
You were further out on the edge last year?
– There was generally more distance between each other and I am a player who likes to combine with others. Now there will be quite a few players in the center, plus a full-back on the outside who you have as an option.
– On our first goal, there was a good ball up to me between the lines, where you could find a joint on “one touch” and then you got it back straight away and could turn the corner. It will be a little shorter distance and easier to combine.
Max Svensson on individual training:
Max Svensson continuously trains extra together with the former Högaborg, IFK Gothenburg, Hammarby and Jönköping player Junes Barny, who works as an individual trainer for football players.
– I have been practicing extra football with Junes Barny to keep the ball going, simply. I usually train a lot extra in the gym, but it’s nice to be outdoors too, says Svensson.
The individual training gives the opportunity to grind and repeat, for example, endings many more times.
– Just when you run exits yourself, there are incredibly many more exits, compared to if there are ten others who also have to do it, he explains.
Photo: Mauri Forsblom
Stevie Grieve won his first match as HIF coach: “Really good”
