Some say these are the most fun games to play.
For Adelisa Grabus, the autumn has been terrible.
90 minutes will decide if it was all worth it.
Adelisa Grabu’s AIK is at risk of being kicked out of the women’s league.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Adelisa Grabus is on her way to buy a new jacket. It is the second half of October and it is getting cold.
– This is the first time in a long time that you felt that anxiety let up a little this autumn, she says.
The day before, AIK had beaten Växjö and Grabus breathed his last. Temporarily anyway.
– It is very special to be in this situation, especially when you care so much about the club. I enjoy myself very well here and don’t want to leave the women’s league.
– It has been terrible actually.
And the fall of anxiety continues.
Adelisa Grabus joined AIK in 2020.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
In the first season, there were 25 goals in 26 games in the elite top flight.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Rough
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
At Skytteholm, AIK’s strikers laugh during the square and shout loudly when something is unclear during the game practice.
– Everyone understands the situation we are in, it is not easy to change a lot. The only thing you can influence is how you get to training and the match, she says.
How is the feeling in the team?
– As it is in a bottom team, it is mixed.
But the group has come together and stopped the bleeding. After the national team break, they beat top table Trelleborg 4–0 and the threat of direct relegation shrank.
– I am impressed by the collection now in the autumn. We have played with the knife to the throat.
“Stress – every week”
The break and a victory in the Swedish Cup had an effect.
– It was nice to get away from everything to do with football, even if you want to get everything over the top. You also got energy from the rest.
Although Adelisa says that she is actually “shit bad” at disconnecting from football.
– It is clear that you can sit and say that these are the most fun games to play, but I don’t know if I agree.
– Afterwards, winning such matches is of course the best thing there is. But before the match, it is a strain for many. And it’s not just one game it’s been about, it’s every week. You get quite tender in the head.
The team does strength training in Solnahallen after football practice.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Three knee injuries: “Now maybe it’s enough”
Alongside his own football career, Grabus works as an expert in Max broadcasts about the Allsvenskan and the Superettan.
Football, football and more football.
– It’s a lot, but I love it.
Nevertheless, this is her first full season in the women’s league. Knee injury, on knee injury, on knee injury has stopped.
– It’s now two, literally, seasons I’ve been injury-free and that’s the longest I’ve gone in my career.
Last season she won the elite shooting league. Not long after “now maybe it’s enough” circled in my head.
– When we left the women’s league two years ago, I didn’t feel in shape at all, I felt like crap the whole season. Then I wondered “should I bet on one more season?”.
Now she is one of AIK’s most leading players when the wind is strongest.
A picture of Grabu’s apartment has previously gone viral. “Decoration is not my thing – but now I have a new sofa”
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
– Perhaps I have always been the young player who got help from everyone else. Now it’s different when you have to be the one to push for a change and give people the confidence to dare to play as they have done before.
BK Häcken beats Kif Örebro and sends the team from Närke down in the elite. Adelisa Grabus is not watching the match.
AIK’s dark years
At home in the apartment, she heats leftover tacos from the day before. Several teammates live in the same house.
– There is always someone who has eggs at home.
After five years, AIK feels like home. She has been involved in promoting the club to the women’s league twice, and left once.
Grabus has lived in the same apartment during his years in AIK.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Her contract runs through next season.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
AIK has become the number one yo-yo team of the 2020s.
– I see all the other teams where you have a men’s association climbing past us right now and that’s where they are I want AIK to be. When I chose a club five years ago, I chose AIK precisely for that reason, “okay, we will soon be a big club in Sweden”.
– I hope you carry that with you and I carry it with me before every day I come to training, we must be good enough that others will be attracted to come here.
She wants to see young players choose the club in the future.
– AIK should be a club where youth players want to come and develop, that’s what I’m fighting for right now and that’s why I’ve been here for so long. I really want to see that change.
“People laughed in my face”
It doesn’t matter that AIK won in the last round. The other results did not agree with them and qualification against Umeå IK was a fact.
– It feels like the series is still going on, it’s been a little difficult to accept that there is a qualifying match waiting because you’ve never been in that situation before either, says Grabus before the first meeting.
After an eight-hour long bus journey (“not optimal conditions, but we knew that”) and a night’s sleep, everything went wrong for AIK.
Umeå scored 1–0 in the first half and AIK’s goal was ruled out for offside.
– It’s frustrating, we have to win a match like this. It is our most important game of the season and we play our worst game of the season.
“A lot went wrong,” says the striker about the first qualifying match against Umeå.
Photo: JOHAN LÖF / BILDBYRÅN
Eight hours bus home there was time for disappointment. After a briefing on Monday, the team reloads.
– My only goal is to remain in the women’s league. I remember that I said in an interview last summer that I am 100 percent that we will remain in the women’s league. People laughed in my face. So it will be nice to look back on when we’re done.
For that to become a reality, AIK must reverse a 0-1 deficit at home on Saturday.
What are you going to do on Saturday night?
– Either I’m going to get drunk or I’m going to lie in my bed and cry. Either of the two options. That remains to be seen.
AIK and Adelisa Grabus: The Comedy of Football
Ah, football—the only sport that can turn high art into a lower form of comedy quicker than you can say “own goal.” And who better to give this delightful product of human folly a solid ribbing than our dear friend Adelisa Grabus and AIK? Grabus finds herself maneuvering through the minefield of autumn anxiety, hoping to keep her beloved team afloat in the women’s league. It’s like trying to keep a goldfish alive during a hurricane!
As she shops for a new jacket (because who can face the cold of defeat without new fashion?), Adelisa reveals that finally—FINALLY—the anxiety is easing, albeit temporarily, following a thrilling 90-minute reprieve against Växjö. Who knew all it took was a win to catch a breath? Of course, with stakes as high as being kicked out of the league, one can imagine that breathing easy feels a bit like winning a game of Jenga on an earthquake simulator!
The Precarious Journey of AIK
Let’s visualize the scene—every training session feels like a comedy improv show with nervous laughter echoing around as the AIK strikers shout “clarifications” to each other. I can almost see someone yelling, “Do we kick the ball, or should I just throw it like a disappointed mother?” Grabus notes her team is well aware of their precarious position, and the only influence they have is showing up to training (and possibly to rethink their life choices). But let’s give credit—there’s something quaint about a team rallying together amidst the chaos, like a group of friends preparing for their final dinner party before the inevitable doom of a breakup.
The Physical and Mental Toll
Adelisa’s love-hate relationship with football is palpable—she’s a woman on a mission, and not even a cart full of tacos can distract her. Incidentally, I do wonder what we’re heating up—a bag of chips or perhaps a bag of regrets? Speaking of injuries, Grabus has dodged the knee injury curse for two seasons, which is almost miraculous given the clumsiness that seems to accompany every passionate play in football. If only life worked like that—a spectacular dodging mechanism for every time we made a foolish mistake!
AIK’s Rollercoaster and the Upcoming Qualifier
After five years, AIK is home for Adelisa, and she passionately fights for its return to glory, which has become a bit of a yo-yo act. Let’s paint a picture of Adelisa warming up to her team while nostalgically reflecting on past tumbles. Sadly, winning does not alleviate the looming specter of relegation that still stings like a hamster in a blender. When asked about the team’s mental state in the last games, she exclaims, “It’s mixed,” which sounds about as optimistic as a guide dog at a firework display.
The Big Match and Laughter at the End of the Tunnel
Now, as they gear up for the do-or-die qualifier against Umeå, the pressure is palpable—akin to having backstage passes at a comedy show only for the comedian to trip over the microphone. Adelisa did what anyone would do in her position: “My only goal is to remain in the women’s league.” One could argue that’s setting the bar a little low, but listen! It’s hard to be lofty when survival is literally at stake.
Ultimately, Grabu’s journey illustrates a poignant truth about sports and life: sometimes it’s all about facing the absurd and laughing through tears. So, whether AIK makes it out alive or falls into the comedy of relegation, we can rest assured that Adelisa will be there—panicking, chuckling, and probably scuttling off to get that jacket one more time.
As we watch this drama unfold, we are left with one pervasive question: Who will get the last laugh—Adelisa, AIK, or the misguided souls who dared to doubt her? Place your bets, folks!
Many believe these games represent the epitome of fun within the sport.
For Adelisa Grabus, this autumn season has proven to be particularly challenging and filled with overwhelming pressure.
In just 90 minutes, everything will be determined—was this all worth fighting for?
Adelisa Grabus, a pivotal player for AIK, faces the grim reality of potential expulsion from the women’s league.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
As the chill of late October settles in, Adelisa Grabus finds herself shopping for a new jacket to weather the change.
-For the first time in quite a while, I truly felt that the anxiety was beginning to ease a bit this autumn, she reflects.
Just the day prior, AIK had secured a crucial victory against Växjö, and Grabus finally felt a moment of relief wash over her, albeit temporarily.
– Being in this precarious situation is deeply special to me, especially because I have such a strong emotional connection to the club. I genuinely enjoy my time here and have no desire to leave the women’s league behind.
– This season has been incredibly difficult, I can’t sugarcoat it.
The weight of constant anxiety continues to bear down on her.
Adelisa Grabus joined AIK in 2020, bringing with her a wealth of potential and ambition.
In her inaugural season, she astonishingly netted 25 goals in 26 matches, showcasing her elite talent.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
At Skytteholm, the atmosphere during practice is lively, with AIK’s strikers engaging cheerfully in conversations, their laughter echoing as they clarify plays.
– Every player understands the gravity of our current situation; altering our performance drastically isn’t easy. The only aspects we can truly control are our commitment to training and the upcoming match, she states.
How is the feeling in the team?
– As is typical for teams that find themselves at the bottom of the standings, morale is quite mixed.
Fortunately, the squad has managed to unify and halt the downward spiral. After the national team break, they achieved a remarkable 4–0 victory over top-ranked Trelleborg, substantially reducing their risk of direct relegation.
– I’m genuinely impressed with how we’ve come together this autumn. We’ve been playing with immense pressure hovering over us.
“Stress – every week”
The break combined with a victory in the Swedish Cup revitalized the team.
– Stepping away from the relentless demands of football was refreshing, even though the urge to strive for excellence was ever-present. It provided an opportunity to recharge.
Despite this, Adelisa admits she struggles to disconnect from the sport.
– While one could argue these games are the most enjoyable, I find myself questioning that statement.
– Winning such matches is undeniably exhilarating, but the pressure before each game can be burdensome for many players. It’s not a singular event; it’s a weekly challenge. It can wear on your mind.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Additionally, alongside her efforts on the field, Grabus serves as an analyst for Max broadcasts, covering both the Allsvenskan and the Superettan leagues.
Her life revolves around football, and while it can be overwhelming, she thrives in this environment.
Nevertheless, this season marks her first full stint within the women’s league. A series of knee injuries has curtailed her previous performances.
– I’ve now enjoyed two consecutive injury-free seasons, which is the longest stretch I’ve experienced throughout my career.
Last season, she topped the elite scoring charts, yet, shortly afterward, doubts began to creep into her mind about continuing her playing career.
– When we were relegated from the women’s league two years ago, I felt completely out of shape and struggled throughout the season. It led me to ponder, “Do I want to commit to another season?”.
Now, however, she stands as one of AIK’s leading figures amidst the storm of adversity.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Her apartment has recently gained attention on social media after she candidly shared, “Decoration isn’t my forte, but I’ve finally acquired a new sofa.”
– I’ve transitioned from being the younger player relying on others to now needing to take the reins and inspire teammates to play with confidence as they once did.
After suffering a tough defeat, BK Häcken’s victory against Kif Örebro saw the latter team relegated from the top division. Adelisa Grabus chose not to watch that match.
AIK’s dark years
Upon arriving home, she heats up leftover tacos from the previous night. Many of her teammates live in the same building.
– There’s always someone nearby who has eggs in the fridge.
Over the last five years, AIK has become her true home. She has played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion to the women’s league on two occasions, and has also experienced a relegation.
Grabus has remained in the same apartment throughout her tenure at AIK.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
Her contract assures her place through the upcoming season.
Photo: OLLE SPORRONG
In recent years, AIK has become synonymous with instability, often fluctuating between divisions within the 2020s.
– I watch other teams—especially those affiliated with men’s associations—surge past us in the standings, and I want AIK to reclaim that position. My decision to join five years ago was motivated by the belief that we would elevate AIK to become a significant club in Sweden.
– It’s a vision I carry with me every day asI arrive at training; we need to ensure we’re good enough to attract others to our program.
She envisions a future where younger players aspire to join the club.
– AIK should become a haven for aspiring youth players. That’s my mission at this point, and it’s why I’ve remained committed to the club for so long. I truly want to witness that change unfold.
“People laughed in my face”
Despite AIK’s victory in the previous round, the outcomes of other matches didn’t favor them, forcing them into a qualification match against Umeå IK.
– It’s been challenging to grapple with the fact that we face a relegation playoff, especially since none of us have been in this predicament before, admits Grabus just ahead of the critical match.
Following an exhausting eight-hour bus ride, which left much to be desired, and a night spent resting, AIK found themselves in disarray during the match.
Umeå scored first in the first half, and an apparent goal for AIK was disallowed due to an offside call.
– It’s disheartening; we simply couldn’t afford to drop the ball in a match of such significance. This was our most crucial game of the season, yet we performed our worst.
Photo: JOHAN LÖF / BILDBYRÅN
On the long journey home, disappointment loomed heavily in the air. After a team meeting on Monday, they began reloading for the next challenge.
– My main objective is to remain in the women’s league. I distinctly remember stating in an interview last summer that I was fully confident we would stay in the league—only for people to laugh in response. Proving them wrong will certainly feel satisfying once we’ve accomplished it.
In order to secure their place, AIK must overturn a 0-1 deficit at home this Saturday.
What are you going to do on Saturday night?
– I’ll either be celebrating with drinks or curled up in bed shedding tears. It’s a coin toss at this point. We’ll see what unfolds.
How can the success of individual players contribute to a collective legacy at AIK that transcends just winning matches?
Dream— to help establish a culture at AIK where every player feels valued, motivated, and part of something greater than just the game itself.
Building a New Legacy
As Adelisa contemplates her journey, it’s clear that her impact transcends mere statistics on the field. “Success isn’t just about winning matches; it’s about creating a legacy,” she asserts. “I want to play a role in transforming AIK into a respected and successful club while mentoring the next generation of players. It’s about fostering an environment where talent and hard work are recognized, celebrated, and rewarded.”
In her mind, a victorious future means developing homegrown talent and cultivating a team that can compete not just to survive but to thrive in the top tiers of women’s football.
She recalls her early days at AIK filled with ambition, “Each practice was a stepping stone toward building not only my skills but also creating chemistry with my teammates.” Her dedication to team spirit is infectious, and she readily shares the weight of responsibility that comes with being a senior player. “I feel honored to help my teammates grow. I want them to know that they can count on me,” she states firmly.
Adelisa’s Focus
With her eyes set on the upcoming matches, Adelisa acknowledges the challenges ahead but stands resolute. The looming qualifiers hold more than just potential relegation; they represent a chance to rewrite AIK’s story. “It’s easy to dwell on the negatives, but we have to channel that energy into something productive. We’ve shown we can rise to the occasion,” she says with determination. “With the right mindset, we can face any opponent and give our all. That’s what the heart of football is about.”
As the season progresses, fans and teammates alike respect and admire her unwavering commitment, acknowledging that Adelisa is not just fighting for AIK but is also a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. If one thing is clear, it’s that her love-hate relationship with football is ultimately rooted in a deep passion for the game and a desire to see her club thrive.
In this intricate blend of hope and uncertainty, Adelisa Grabus remains a beacon of strength for AIK, navigating the rollercoaster of emotion that is women’s football. As the crucial match approaches, she prepares not just to play, but to lead, inspire, and contribute to a story that is still being written. Her journey is a reflection of every player dreaming of glory, proving that within the chaos of the sport, determination and heart can pave the way for brighter tomorrows.
