It's almost five years since the former national team captain Janne Andersson called up the teenager to the national team gathering on Cyprus.
That autumn – 2019 – he broke through with a bang in Serie A and excelled in the U21 national team.
In the final European Championship qualifying match against the Faroe Islands, Kulusevski made his national team debut. Since then, he has been a given name in the national team squad and has steadily grown into a player who takes responsibility and helps others.
"Has a bit more responsibility"
I'm willing to sacrifice everything to win. That's a good start. I've clearly seen that it's also needed to help others and make them better. That's something I've developed over the past few years, he says.
He has been inspired by players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, team captains he has played with.
As a team captain, you have a bit more responsibility. It's not just about me doing my thing, but about making sure everyone feels good on and off the pitch, taking responsibility, giving energy. Reading what's needed, says Kulusevski.
Regular team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf is missing due to injury, and Emil Forsberg was not in playing condition to join the trip to Baku for the Nations League opener.
Additionally, Robin Olsen and Emil Krafth are also missing, two other experienced players and candidates to wear the captain's armband.
"He's a driver"
National team coach Dahl Tomasson's choice fell on Kulusevski. Seniority or rank is of secondary importance to the Dane. In 24-year-old Kulusevski, he sees a leader – not least after the talk in the dressing room against Albania.
Left-back Ludwig Augustinsson, 30, agrees.
He has natural leadership qualities. He's a driver. He wants to move forward, he takes initiative. He drives the team on the pitch and more and more in the dressing room, says Augustinsson.
He's much more open and outgoing than before. He's growing more and more into a leader, and he has a lot of experience from the highest level. It feels natural that he's the one taking the captain's armband.
Augustinsson recently got the assignment as team captain in his club team Anderlecht. Would you have wanted it in the national team as well?
It's not something I think about, and it's Jon's decision. It would be fun to have the armband, but Dejan is a perfect choice.
Born: April 25, 2000, in Stockholm.
Height: 186 cm.
Club: Tottenham.
Contract: Until the summer of 2028.
Previous clubs: Brommapojkarna, Atalanta, Parma (loan), Juventus.
National team appearances/goals: 39/3.
National team debut: Against the Faroe Islands (3–0) in the European Championship qualifying match in Solna on October 18, 2019.
Championships: European Championship 2021.
Other: Winner of the Golden Ball 2022.
Current: Leads the national team as captain in the Nations League premiere against Azerbaijan in Baku.
