'He had a look..'- former teammate reveals Alexander Isak's rise from a 'nuclear bunker'

Newcastle United’s star striker Alexander Isak began his long journey as a footballer in a Cold War nuclear bunker in Sweden. Isak is set to lead the Magpies in the Carabao Cup finals against Liverpool today. 

Since joining the Magpies in 2022 from Real Sociedad, Isak has established himself as one of the Premier League's top strikers. His remarkable performances over the past three seasons have garnered attention from several prestigious European clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United

Isak's rise from Nuclear Bunker 

The striker's journey as a footballer started at AIK's youth setup located at Rasunda Idrottsplats, a district in Solna, Sweden. Interestingly, the academy operated from a former Cold War nuclear bunker.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Peter Wennberg, the technical director of AIK’s academy, reflected on his observations of a young Isak in the youth teams, noting that there was a distinct determination and spark in his eyes that set him apart.

"He had a look in his eye. Alex had noticed their goalkeeper too far from his line. Boom! It showed his belief, intelligence, and ability. His courage. We all turned to each other, 'Oh my God!'" Wennberg said.

"He was not our best player. Then, at 16, something happened. It was like his body hit the right dimensions and all of the extra training he had done came out. It just clicked, like a switch, an explosion. I have never seen that happen to anyone, as a player or coach. It is usually gradual. He went through the roof. At 15, I remember Peter and the other coaches speaking to him. He needed to step it up. He listened and kept going. Then, we realised. I was a centre-back, so I knew before most," he added.

Alexander Isak left his youth football club and joined Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in 2017. In 2019, Isak joined Real Sociedad, where he scored 33 goals in 104 appearances. Having joined Newcastle United in 2022, Isak has become their most valued player, scoring 50 goals in just 77 appearances.