Dulee Johnson isn't the first AIK player to return to Sweden after only a brief stint abroad. Stefan Ishizaki and Wilton Figueiredo are two prime examples of former AIK stars that soon returned to Allsvenskan after less successful attempts in other countries. In those two previous cases, AIK didn't dish out enough cash to bring the players back to AIK. Ishizaki ended up becoming a key player in Elfsborg and Wilton found himself signing for Malmö. Thanks to some keen negotiating skills, Björn Wesström managed to bring Dulee Johnson back to AIK in what Wesström himself calls one of the best deals that the club has ever made.



The return of Dulee Johnson to AIK marks the return of a polarizing figure. His detractors focus on the the negative sides and the tabloid scandals that tell of drunk driving and criminal charges. His devoted supporters on the other hand view Dulee as a superstar. In his native country of Liberia, Dulee Johnson is a source of pride - an idol and a local boy done good. Dulee Johnson is currently one of the brightest soccer stars from Liberia, the small African country that also gave the world the superstriker and 1995 FIFA Footballer of the Year, George Weah.

But perceptions of Dulee as a hero or a villain really don't matter on the pitch. What matters to Dulee Johnson and to AIK is how well Dulee actually performs now that he has returned to Allsvenskan. Although he may not have had the best of times in Maccabi Tel-Aviv, there is plenty of reason to believe that he will come back to AIK as the kind of elegant and consistent top performer we all remember.

AIK manager Mikael Stahre describes Dulee Johnson as a supremely ambitious player who always strives to improve his own game. It's the combination of this ambition with an unmistakable skill that makes Dulee Johnson a special player.

It can certainly be argued that coming back to AIK from Maccabi Tel-Aviv is a backward step in the career of Dulee Johnson. Allsvenskan is after all ranked below the Israeli league where he spent the past season.

But this step back doesn't necessarily need to be seen as a failure and it could turn out to be an opportunity and a positive move in the long run. As Dulee has stated, Allsvenskan suits his style of play and he knows he can perform well in AIK. If Dulee is able to reach the same level of play as the last time around, he could very well become a hot commodity for bigger clubs. If a more mature and cautious Dulee also manages to stay out of trouble off the field, teams in far more prestigious leagues than the Israeli may begin to show interest in Johnson. Dulee will be given every chance to excel in AIK and he has the opportunity to push his own career in the right direction. Dulee's obvious goal is to move on to the next level in European soccer, but in order for the big clubs to notice him he will first have to pay his dues with another successful run in AIK.

For AIK, Dulee's return will offer another dimension to the attacking game and a more solid central midfield. If Dulee Johnson is in good form he'll add something that the team has lacked even on good days. Distinct passing and a more creative player at the center of things. Until now, AIK has had a style of play that focuses on winger runs and long balls on Ivan Obolo. AIK could certainly use the added depth of Dulee's pinpoint passes through the middle.

Bojan Djordjic can also manage a capable passing game, but with Djordjic on the pitch, defense usually suffers to some extent. Dulee Johnson has strengths in both the defensive and offensive game and is a far more diverse player than both Bojan Djordjic and Daniel Tjernström. Dulee Johnson also creates a more serious presence at the edge of the offensive penalty area, which is something that AIK has been unable to do in previous games. The only important weakness of Johnson is his shooting. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to improve this aspect of his game.

Pessimists will undoubtedly fear that Dulee's failure to deliver in Israel might mean that he has his best days behind him. The backward step to Allsvenskan might be the last thing he wants and this could possibly mean that AIK is stuck with a spiritless and lackluster player. I certainly don't see the point of this type of pessimism right now.

Few expected that Ivan Obolo would remain in AIK after this silly season and no one expected the surprise return of Dulee Johnson. What Björn Wesström has accomplished this summer silly season should be enough to make anyone believe in fairy tales, Santa Claus and AIK winning the double.

The fall season of Allsvenskan is still a few days away. The often harsh reality of actual results is in other words far off in the future. As AIK supporters we might as well enjoy this very positive moment in time that we now find ourselves in. We haven't been spoiled with good times in recent years, so let's make the most of this promising situation and allow ourselves to dream lofty dreams of a bright future. For our beloved AIK, for Dulee Johnson and for all the proud Liberian soccer fans.