MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Openly gay Swedish footballer Anton Hysén has signed to play with the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, according to a press release from the team, a member of the National Premier Soccer League.
Hysén, who was born in England, will begin playing with the team in its 2014 season, following his previous affiliation with Swedish football club Utsiktens BK and the Swedish national U-17 team.
“I am excited to be joining the Mutiny this season,” Hysén in the release. “This is a great opportunity for me on a personal and professional level. I hope I can help take the team to the top of the NPSL.”
The team is excited to bring the international star on.
“The Mutiny are very excited to have Anton joining us this year,” Pat Piscitelli, sporting director for the Mutiny, said in the release. “A player of his caliber, with his international experience, will bring a positive change to the Mutiny. The Myrtle Beach area is in for a real treat with this team and will have the opportunity to see professional soccer played at a very high level.”
Hysén’s sexual orientation seems to be of no concern to Mutiny head coach Jack Vandum, who mentioned only his “relatively young” age in the release. Hysén is 23.
“I am absolutely delighted to have Anton joining us this summer,” said Vandum. “Although he is still relatively young in age he will bring great experience to the team having played his soccer at a good professional level in Sweden.
Hysén is the son of former Liverpool defender and Swedish international Glenn Hysén, and was born in Liverpool, England. His football career includes time with the Swedish U-17 National Team and Utsiktens BK and a training contract with BK Häcken of the Swedish top division. He was previously a member of Torslanda IK. His older brothers, Tobias Hysén and Alexander Hysén, are also soccer players .
Fan site Gay4Soccer says the Mutiny is in “the fourth division of the American soccer pyramid, on par with the USL Premier Development League, and eligible for US Open Cup competition.”
— Compiled from release