Lucas Bergvall has become the talk of the town among Premier League fans for playing a key role in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. The Swedish youngster had a controversial outing against the Reds and was fortunate not to get sent off before scoring the winning goal.
Bergvall definitely ruffled the feathers of Liverpool players and supporters with his aggressive approach, which ultimately ended up working. The 18-year-old stuck to his instincts and made it clear that he wouldn’t dial down his proactive, ruthless approach irrespective of the occasion or opponent.
The teenage midfielder has come a long way in his life to the point of scoring winning goals in a Carabao Cup semi-final. Lucas was fortunate to have been born into a football-crazy family on 2 February, 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden. He also grew up in the beautiful Swedish city and was blessed to have extremely supportive parents who pushed him towards football.
His father Andreas and his mother Malin both loved the game. Andreas used to play football at the semi-professional level in Sweden, while his mother played for Swedish top-flight side Djurgardens IF’s female side for three years. Even Lucas’ grandmother Lilemor, was a football fanatic who played until she was 48!
Andreas Bergvall is an IT specialist who describes himself as a ‘A dedicated, loyal, competitive and social person that been navigating through IT the last 22 years!’ He started working in IT in 2000, and has been working for Nordic IT Services company Tietoevry since 2003. He’s currently a team leader and lead solution consultant for USX Professional Services at Tietoevry.
Malin Bergvall, on the other hand, had a job in a Swedish bank and both worked hard to ensure the best upbringing for Lucas and his two brothers, Theo and Rasmus. Theo Bergvall is a full-back who plyas for Swedish top division side IF Brommapojkarna, while Rasmus is also learning his trade in the youth football scene in Sweden.
Lucas also came through IF Brommapojkarna’s youth academy, which also elevated the talents of his teammate Dejan Kulusevski.
He was always a determined individual growing up and a sore loser in football, as his brother Andreas told The Athletic: “He was always, not in love, but very attached to football, so it’s been natural for him from the start. Other families go skiing or on vacation, we just played football for fun. There’s a pitch next to where Malin’s parents live in the countryside.
“We played there and Lucas always cried when he didn’t win. We put him on this little hill and called it ‘the crying hill’. When he calmed down, he could come back. He likes to compete and he likes to win, but it’s not just football. When we play board games or cards, he always finds some explanation if he doesn’t win.”
Andreas has admitted that he realized Lucas Bergvall was a special talent when he won the Player of the Tournament at a Madrid Cup edition for Brommapojkarna’s under-13 side. They defeated Atletico Madrid in the finale, with Bergvall captaining them to a stunning win.
Thanks to his heroics at the youth level in Sweden, multiple prominent clubs gave trials to Bergvall when he was a teenager. He spent some time training with Feyenoord’s youth side but went somewhat viral in 2022 when pictured wearing a Manchester United kit.
He had a short trial with the club’s youth scene, but they couldn’t offer him a professional contract because of Brexit rules forbidding Premier League clubs from signing foreign players before they turn 18.
Bergvall was even reported to be a Manchester United fan and was eager for a move that never transpired.
Bergvall opted to join Djurgarden in 2022, one year after making his professional debut at the age of 16 for Brommapojkarna. He scored nine goals in under 50 professional appearances for Djurgarden, with his brilliant performances catching the attention of Europe’s best clubs.
In early 2024, however, Bergvall made the bold decision to reject advances from FC Barcelona to join Tottenham Hotspur instead. It’s been a topsy-turvy ride for him in the North London club, but the 18-year-old has won over Ange Postecoglou’s confidence and his stunning winner against Liverpool is only a sign of big things to come from the fiery Swedish midfielder.
