RSL Legends: Wilhelmsson, the wandering winger who found a home at Al Hilal | OneFootball

Of the plethora of clubs he represented during a renowned-but-roving professional career, Christian Wilhelmsson spent his longest period at Al Hilal.

He arrived in Saudi Arabia having featured already for seven teams in Europe, his footballing wanderlust carrying him from his native Sweden to nearby Norway, then onto Belgium and France. From there, he plied his trade in the continent’s lead leagues: Italy, England and Spain.

Yet, in 2008, Wilhelmsson made the bold decision to move to the Middle East. By then an established Sweden international, the winger concluded a two-year spell at Nantes – during that time, he was loaned to Serie A’s AS Roma, English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers and Deportivo La Coruna, at the time of Spain’s La Liga – to join Al Hilal.

It was an unexpected move, coming not long after Wilhelmsson competed for his country at the 2008 European Championship, but one he cites as transformative, for both his professional and personal life.

Unlike today’s increasingly appealing Roshn Saudi League, back then few Europeans spent their prime years in Saudi Arabia; Wilhelmsson, however, was something of an anomaly.

He certainly stood out. And not only because of his obvious ability - the turn of pace and skilful dribbling, the eye for goal – but his shock of blond hair made him instantly recognisable to the Al Hilal faithful. He would soon be roundly revered as well.

In his debut season, Wilhelmsson netted four times in 18 league matches, helping Al Hilal to a runners-up berth as they finished five points short of champions Al Ittihad.

His second campaign, though, was far more gratifying. Wilhelmsson was pivotal in Al Hilal’s league and Saudi Crown Prince Cup double, scoring nine goals and laying on 10 assists in the 2009-10 top flight alone. The outlay prompted him to be named the league’s Player of the Season.

The next season, while not quite as productive personally, Wilhelmsson was once more a key cog in Al Hilal retaining both the league trophy - he notched six goals in the 2010-11 competition - and the cup they captured the previous year. For the second time, he netted in the final, a fine breakaway goal finished with a flourish.

The double-stepover past the goalkeeper to round off a 4-1 win against Al Wehda spoke to Wilhelmsson's flair - and faith in his own ability. Remarkably, and after spending the first half of the 2011-12 campaign on loan at Qatar’s Al Ahli, he would return in time to strike for a third successive time in the Saudi Crown Prince Cup showpiece.

At Al Hilal, Wilhelmsson integrated well and complemented fellow imports Thiago Neves and Mirel Radoi, and also the considerable local talent, such as Yasser Al Qahtani, Mohammed Al Shalhoub, Osama Hawsawi and Mohammed Al Deayea.

The vital ingredient, Wilhelmsson often said, was the togetherness of the team.

Through it all, he embraced life in the Kingdom. That affinity has sustained; he has been a regular visitor to Al Hilal since leaving in 2012 for the USA and LA Galaxy. Wilhelmsson resides now in nearby Dubai and thus could frequently be seen at King Fahd International Stadium or Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, taking in Al Hilal’s current crop of stars.

Some remain from his time in the capital: Al Dawsari now captains the side, while a predecessor in Al Shalhoub serves as part of Jorge Jesus’ coaching staff.

Wilhelmsson can point to the role he played when the likes of Al Dawsari and Salman Al Faraj, the long-standing Al Hilal skipper who last season led them to a record-breaking RSL title before departing, were promoted to the senior team during the Swede's time there.

Al Faraj is, objectively, an RSL legend; no player has won the championship more (eight). Al Dawsari, meanwhile, is well on his way to be acknowledged as such; a six-time league winner, in 2022 he was named Asian Player of the Year.

It feels fitting that, like Wilhelmsson, Al Dawsari has claimed his accolades at Al Hilal traditionally from a position out on the wing. He shares the capacity to beat a man, or finish with aplomb.

Perhaps Al Dawsari picked up a tidbit or two from the once-wandering Wilhelmsson, who put down roots in the Kingdom to leave an indelible mark on Saudi football.