Molded in Sweden and hardened in Germany - Viktor Gyökeres has arrived

The eyes of the planet have been firmly focused on the World Cup in recent weeks but in another footballing galaxy, a young Swede has been tearing up the chaotic world of the English Championship.

Viktor Gyökeres is a championship goalscoring marvel, he is at the vanguard of the rise of the Sky Blues and will be a regular in transfer columns in the weeks to come.

Coventry City’s young striker is in sensational form, the hotshot bagged four goals in November, helping City to four wins from four.

His form brought the accolade of Sky Bet Championship November Player of the Month and the Club’s Goal of the Month award.

Gyökeres displaying his nonchalant majestic finishing skills

The 24-year-old is starting to realise the potential that convinced Premier League shrewd boys Brighton to take him to the Amex.

Molded in Sweden, hardened in Germany and sharpened in the Championship, Gyökeres is a prodigy that is discombobulating opposition defenses on a weekly basis.

With the transfer window looming on the horizon and a global shortage of goal-getters, the predator of the West Midlands will be subject to much interest and on the radar of clubs across the footballing pyramid.

His recent ferocious scoring rate and swashbuckling displays have been met with malevolent glee and praise in recent weeks.

Brighton Swedish Revolution

Gyökeres started his career at Stockholm-based side IF Brommapojkarna, scoring 20 goals in 58 games, before moving to Brighton in 2018 at the slender age of 18.

When Graham Potter and his trusted lieutenant Björn Hamberg arrived from Swedish football to take the baton from Chris Hughton and co, the stars seemed to be aligning for Gyökeres.

Potter’s magic transformed Östersunds FK from a Division 2 club to a Swedish footballing powerhouse.

It appeared a marriage made in Sweden, was about to mature between Potter and Gyökeres but alas like all love stories, there were plenty of bends in the road.

Opportunities were scarce on the ground for the young starlet and despite showing promise in rare domestic cup appearances as a wing-forward, he found himself sent out to pastures new via the loan market.

German Secondment

In the summer of 2019, Gyökeres continued his footballing education in German football, and it did not take the youngster much time to acclimatise to his new environment in Hamburg.

FC St.Pauli of the Bundesliga 2, snapped up the burgeoning talent and he quickly formed a telepathic connection with new teammate Hank Veerman.

Gyökeres provided plenty of assists for Veerman who was the fulcrum of the German side’s attack, in hindsight, the Veerman partnership anointed the Swedish upstart with a fabled footballing tutelage.

The starlet banged seven goals from 1777 minutes of action (28 appearances), no mean feat for an errant youngster finding his way in the game.

Championship Calling

After growing and dovetailing deliciously with Veerman in German football another loan spell beckoned for the scandic of Hungary heritage.

UK shores summoned him in the autumn of 2020, but this spell was to be one of frustration rather than fruitful embrace.

Gyökeres endured a difficult loan spell with Swansea

The Swede struggled to establish himself at the Welsh outfit, just months and 15 appearances later, transfer rumours were again abounding regarding the goal-shy attacker.

First-team opportunities were limited for the young hitman at the Liberty Stadium, he made just three starts and a further nine appearances from the bench, he graced the team from South Wales with just the solitary goal which came in a FA Cup third round win against Stevenage.

Legia Warsaw and Malmo were mooted suitors, but Gyökeres wisely decided to give English football another crack.

In January 2021, he elected to join Coventry City on loan, the Sky Blues were embroiled in a relegation battle following their promotion from League One.

Ordinarily, a young striker short of confidence still learning his trade may have wilted under the pressure of a Championship relegation battle but Gyökeres proved with separation comes opportunity.

Coventry manager Mark Robins slowly coaxed the talent out of him, and his faith was repaid as the goals started to flow and safety was secured.

Towards the tail-end of the season the Swedish international put in some eye-catching performances and scored crucial goals.

The Sky Blues were suitably impressed and at the end of the season they secured the hot prospect on a permanent deal.

Stability and Coventry City have been crucial in Gyökeres's development

Settled and finally bestowed with some stability, goals and electric performances started to flow, last season he bagged 17 league goals.

Gyökeres is a star of the present and a potential superstar of the future, this season his goal-scoring exploits have continued.

The Sky Blues top-scorer has helped himself to ten championship goals already this season, he thrives in the chaos conjured from counter attacks.

With a prospective new owner primed to bestow Coventry with a cash injection, would be suitors may well face a struggle to wrench the hotshot away in the approaching January transfer window.

Coventry City fans will be hoping the youngster repays the club with a display of loyalty in the coming weeks, the West Midlands club has been a cornerstone of his development.

By Liam Scahill