Helping BK Häck-en It: Why Felicia Schröder Is A Swedish Rising Star – Scout Report

Whilst they might not be among the most successful sides in the Swedish women’s game, there is no doubting that BK Häcken Dam are a Damallsvenskan powerhouse, with them consistently competing at the top flight’s summit and being a near-permanent fixture in the Champions League.

What makes that level of consistency even more impressive is that it has come despite key assets departing whenever the transfer window opens.

This summer has been no different in that regard, with no less than four players opting to move on mid-season to pastures new (three of them to the WSL, with Sweden duo Anna Sandberg and Rosa Kafaji joining Manchester United Women and Arsenal Women, respectively, while Tanzania forward Aisha Masaka has linked up with Brighton and Hove Albion Women).

Häcken could be forgiven for feeling the effects of that disruption, but what prevents that from happening is their ability to keep plugging the gaps left open by those who move on.

New signings and those left behind combine to ensure that the team can keep playing with the same momentum as before.

One player who will be vital in that happening this time around is Felicia Schröder.

She might still be just 17 years old but is already a regular fixture in the first team, with her arguably being the first name on their teamsheet at this moment in time.

With nine league goals to her name so far this year (and two assists), her quality is there for all to see, and this tactical analysis will take a closer look at why Häcken value her so highly and why she has all the makings of being a star of the future.

Felicia Schröder Style of Play  Fitting Into The BK Häcken Dam Model

What is immediately noticeable when watching Häcken play is that there is a style that runs through everything they do, with a clear strategic blueprint that every player or coach who joins the team needs to adhere to.

When watching Felicia Schröder style of play, there is no doubt that she matches a lot of those tactical demands, which is why it is likely that she will become an even more important player for them as the campaign goes on.

The first thing to highlight within that is the reliance on wide threats whenever they move into the final third, and it has been seen in matches during the tenures of both current head coach Mak Lind and that of his predecessor Robert Vilahamn (who left a year ago to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur Women) that the lead striker can at times act as a pivot whilst two others either side make runs off them to create passing options between and behind the opposing defensive line.

It has not been so common to see under Lind, with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation not allowing it as easily as Vilahamn’s inside forward structure, but there have been times when it has proven its use and has enabled them to test their opponents’ resolve.

The ma