Niklas Busch Thor, 30, is a third year material design student at KTH, married and a father of one. Besides family and studies, he is the team captain of IK Sirius football team from Uppsala. This autumn, the midfielder took his team to promotion for Allsvenskan, the highest league in Sweden. We were able to get a word with him!

First of all, congratulations! How have you celebrated?  

- Thank you! Well there have been a lot of celebrations this fall, but to sum it up I’ve celebrated with teammates, family and other members of the club. The team just had a weekend together in Copenhagen, which was a lot of fun!

Why did IK Sirius end the league on top of the table?

- We believe in development and progress both as a team as for individuals. We have been working together towards this goal for three years now. We’re really pleased with the season, but we are never satisfied. 

Being an elite football player takes a lot of time and energy. How common is it on your level that players study, and how come you began studying at KTH?

- I’ve noticed from my previous years in lower divisions that the higher up you get, the more uncommon it gets. Three years ago almost 50 percent of the team were studying but now I would say only about 20 percent. When I had a job in sales and played football on the side, I started to think that it would be a good idea to get a technical education to better understand some of the things and people I was working with. KTH always interested me as maybe the best engineering school in Sweden and as I live in the area it was a possibility for me to continue playing football and pursuing my dream in sports.

How do you balance school, family and elite football? Are you participating the elite programme at KTH?

- It’s not easy! When we had a baby I actually had to pause studying for a while just to be able to spend time with family meanwhile playing fotball. Also, we wanted my wife to be able to work as soon as possible so I take care of the little guy as much as I can. We are also very fortunate with parents living close and helping us babysit him when I’m at training and away on games. Now I’m trying to pick it up again as he is about to start kindergarten, and hopefully I can manage to do that in a way that serves both football and family.

- Actually, I contacted the elite programme three years ago but I guess by then I wasn’t ”elite enough”, haha. To be part of the elite programme you need to be, or have potential to be, at national team level, which is a bit problematic. You could still be elite without being on national level.

What is it you like about KTH, and what do you think could be better?

- I love the environment, just being here among likeminded, ambitious people! Just spending time in the facilities that I think has improved a lot just during my time here. I though think it should be a lot easier or at least a good option for anyone who wants to be able to combine studying at KTH with a separate working or sports career on the side.

-Also, the atmosphere in some areas could be a little more sympathetic, both among teachers and students. If people are being more open-minded, great things will happen. 

At last, how will Sirius do in Allsvenskan 2017?

- Top 8!

We thank Niklas for taking his time and wishing him a successful 2017, both in school, at home and on the pitch!