Footballer Kevin Walker wins Swedish Idol
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Swedish footballer Kevin Walker won Swedish Idol talent competition on Friday night and clinched a Universal Music recording contract in the process.
The 24-year-old heartthrob has been the runaway success story of this year's music talent show on Swedish television.
His progression to the final of the show gained global media attention after TV4, the makers of Idol who coincidentally also broadcast Swedish second division football, switched a match involving Walker's club GIF Sundsvall so it didn't clash with the show.
While some critics said he was receiving special treatment, fans continued to vote for him week after week to keep him in the competition.
And Walker picked up more votes to beat Elin Bergman in the final on Friday night at a packed Ericsson Globe in Stockholm.
"This is totally amazing. I just feel pure joy," Walker said after his triumph.
His whole Idol adventure began after a video of him jamming with a teammate at a club function caught the attention of the programme's producers.
For three months, Walker balanced his Idol commitments with Sundsvall's promotion push, scoring three times before his side eventually lost out to Halmstad in the promotion play-off last month.
Sundsvall returns for pre-season training on 6 January, but Walker, who is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, may have an album to promote on the side.
Asked whether he would now be retiring from football to concentrate on his singing career, Walker said: "We'll see, we'll see. Tonight I'm just going to enjoy the party."
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| Can Kevin Walker balance pop superstardom with the rigours of professional football? Photo: Instagram/kevinwalker89 |
The 24-year-old heartthrob has been the runaway success story of this year's music talent show on Swedish television.
His progression to the final of the show gained global media attention after TV4, the makers of Idol who coincidentally also broadcast Swedish second division football, switched a match involving Walker's club GIF Sundsvall so it didn't clash with the show.
While some critics said he was receiving special treatment, fans continued to vote for him week after week to keep him in the competition.
And Walker picked up more votes to beat Elin Bergman in the final on Friday night at a packed Ericsson Globe in Stockholm.
"This is totally amazing. I just feel pure joy," Walker said after his triumph.
His whole Idol adventure began after a video of him jamming with a teammate at a club function caught the attention of the programme's producers.
For three months, Walker balanced his Idol commitments with Sundsvall's promotion push, scoring three times before his side eventually lost out to Halmstad in the promotion play-off last month.
Sundsvall returns for pre-season training on 6 January, but Walker, who is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, may have an album to promote on the side.
Asked whether he would now be retiring from football to concentrate on his singing career, Walker said: "We'll see, we'll see. Tonight I'm just going to enjoy the party."
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