Alexander Isak’s former youth coach: I didn’t know if he would make it, until he turned 14 | OneFootball

Alexander Isak’s former youth team coach has recalled the huge change he saw in Liverpool’s new record signing when he turned 14.

Elias Mineirji first remembers meeting Isak when he was five or six years old while he was working as academy director at AIK in Sweden, and later became his coach between the ages of 12 and 15.

Isak is in line to make his Liverpool debut when they take on Burnley on Sunday but Mineirji admits it was not always obvious he would make it as a professional footballer, given the strength of the youth team he played in.

Several members of Isak’s youth side went on to make it professionally, including defender Isak Hien who plays for Serie A side Atalanta.

“I don’t think he was one of the best,” Mineirji admits when asked if his potential was always clear.

“He was really good, but maybe not one of the best because we had other players who were really, really good too.

“But you could see his skills, the technical skills and the knowledge of the game, he was really good in that.

“When he was 12 or 13, we didn’t know if he would be a professional player in the future. Sometimes you can see that directly, but in Isak’s case you couldn’t see that directly.

Mineirji says he saw a significant change in Isak when he was 14 that convinced him he could achieve big things, however.

“I saw a big difference,” he said. “It was a lot about the mentality.

“It was like, ‘OK, I want to be a soccer player, I want to work hard, I want this thing, because now I think other players are really good too, and they want it a lot’.

“I think he was like ‘OK, I want to be something’. Because he knew if he didn’t do it, other players would be better and succeed.”

“He was always playing with a smile.

“He was a really, really great team-mate and good for the coaches. I think, up to 14, he was like a kid, of course. He liked to have fun and play with the guys and friends and so on. But I think when he became 14, 14 and a half, 15, he was the same person but more serious about his football.

“He was always focused when he should be focused, and when he should be happy and relaxed, he is relaxed. I think that’s his biggest strength.

“His family were really great and always helping him in a good way. They always told him, listen to your coach and listen to your teachers and be a good guy and you will succeed. And he really did it.”