Simon Kjær wins Italian Football Hall of Fame award
Interview: FIGC · Photo: Stockphoto
Yet another award for Simon Kjær on 12 April 2022, the Italian Football Hall of Fame award. It's an award dedicated to Davide Astori, the great Italian footballer who passed away in 2018 at the age of 31 after a cardiac arrest. Read the interview with Simon Kjær about the award.
Simon Kjær interview about winning the FIGC award named after Davide Astori
Simon Kjær: "I remember very well Davide on the pitch and of course I also remember his tragic end well. Both Pioli and my teammates have talked to me about him, I know that his death was shocking for all of Italy and for the whole world of football. It is a tragedy that still makes you sad, and that will do so forever. Receiving the award dedicated to Davide means a lot, it makes me happy and proud; for me it is an opportunity to honor his name."
Simon Kjær about Christian Eriksen
Simon Kjær about his support to Christian Eriksen during EURO 2020: "Some things and some moments of that day will stay with me forever. The main thing, however, is that now Christian is fine. That he is back with his family and on the pitch, and that he has resumed doing the thing he loves most, which is playing football. In those terrible moments we behaved like a real team, each of us did our best to help a teammate and a friend of ours. I must admit, however, that I have closed that chapter, and not even too much desire to talk about it again."
Simon Kjær:
"When I was running towards Christian I had no idea, just like any of my
companions, that he had had an arrest cardiac. The only thing I thought about was to
reach him as quickly as possible and help him. I have learned that this is the most important
thing. If you see something strange you have to act, and you have to do it quickly. In first aid,
speed is crucial. Do what you can do, and do it fast, and then let a professional do it as soon as possible.
That day we were lucky, because doctors and paramedics were really close."
Simon Kjær about playing in Serie A an Italy in general
Simon Kjær:
"In Serie A I feel at home. I enjoyed playing in 'La Liga' with Sevilla, but when I had the chance to return to Italy I didn't think twice.
And now, I say it with my heart, I am very happy to be at Milan. Sometimes dreams come true: I remember that many years ago,
when I was still playing in Palermo, I told my agent that I would have loved to do it in Milan. And now here I am. I like Serie A, as well as many
other things in Italy, which for me is now a second home. Food, culture, nature, people, and of course football as well. The Italian philosophy has always been
close to miney, which is that of team play. We are all individuals,
but we all work together as a group. Teamwork
represents the tactical DNA of Serie A, we saw it last summer at the European Championship."
