No, it's not that Möller – one of two midfielders in Sweden's World Championship team – wants to criticize Sweden's new national team captain.
On the contrary.
But after four years together at Sävehof, 2020–2024, Felix Möller knows more than most about Michael Apelgren's leadership style.
He has an eye for the small tactical details. A small step to the left, a small step to the right, catching the ball in this way… It's those things he sees and that make him one of the world's best coaches in my opinion, says Möller.
But there's a downside.
When we played every third day and had met the same team five times in a season and you had to sit and listen to the same things... Then you could get tired of what he said and just tune out sometimes. So yes, I was probably a bit tired of it after the fourth year – sitting in those video meetings. But it's also those things that made us win the Swedish Championship gold.
"Hunting for margins"
Apelgren himself laughs when he hears Möller's review.
I think it's very fun to compete, and therefore I also think it's fun to try to hunt for margins. I like standing there and feeling that I have something that can make the difference, he says.
Felix Möller wonders if there's anyone else who watches as many handball clips as Apelgren. The 40-year-old national team captain doesn't disagree.
But it's about taking breaks from the nerdiness in front of the screen, that's maybe what can drive you the most crazy.
Is it easy to do that then?
Haha, no. It's an active decision, kind of like not eating candy. It's not easy.
One of the gang
Felix Möller describes the Stockholm native's leadership style as being "one of the gang", not an authoritarian coach who dictates and controls.
Partly, it's probably how I am as a person, then I also became a coach when I was only 30. I was younger than many of my own players, I got most of my respect through handball knowledge. I didn't feel like I needed to shout or assert myself through behavior, that's probably lived on a bit, says Apelgren.
At the same time, he's had to adjust his style in the top club Pick Szeged, where he's been the head coach since this season, alongside his national team duties.
In Hungary, it's more about expectations: "ok, say how the hell we're going to do it then". So I point a bit more with my whole hand, because that's the leadership style they're used to. I don't want to work like that here in Sweden, here I want to be inclusive and adopt the culture we have.
Born: August 20, 1984.
Coaching career: In Elverum 2014–2020, when the club won the Norwegian championship title six years in a row. During four years at Sävehof, 2020–2024, it was two Swedish Championship golds. Now he combines the national team captain job with the role as head coach in the Hungarian top club Pick Szeged.
In the national team: Assistant national team captain alongside Glenn Solberg from 2022. Took over the main responsibility when the Norwegian unexpectedly quit.
As a player: Midfielder who played five international matches in 2007. Won a total of five Swedish Championship golds with Hammarby and Sävehof and was a professional abroad in both Spain and Norway.
+ Starts against Japan in Oslo on Thursday evening.
+ Also meets Chile and Spain in the first group stage.
+ In the World Championship rehearsal against Iceland, it was a draw in the first match and a Swedish victory in the second.
+ Max Darj got injured then and misses the World Championship. Previously, Felix Claar and Oscar Bergendahl were on the injury list.
