Charlie Pavey, who signed an A-team contract with AIK at the beginning of 2025, was demoted to the U19 team months later but has since regained his place in the A-team and is now considered one of the club's most shining talents. According to Sportbladet, Pavey described the demotion as a difficult period, saying he mostly felt sorry for himself but acknowledged it should have motivated him to push harder. He has been classified as a major talent throughout his career and worked with mental coach Louise Rodgers Holte to cope with the setback, which he told Sportbladet was instructive and made him stronger.
Pavey earned a spot in the starting lineup during the preseason, and according to Fotbollskanalen, he described feeling he came in with good energy, took more for himself, and gained confidence, wanting to improve even more. The demotion occurred under former coach Mikkjal Thomassen, who did not prioritize Pavey for the A-team, while the current coaching staff, led by José Riveiro, gives young players like Pavey significant attention and feedback for development. AIK will play away against Brommapojkarna in the second round of Allsvenskan on Monday.
It was difficult for me to take in then.
According to Sportbladet, Pavey described his debut as really fun, noting everyone dreams of playing at the national arena in front of 40,000 people, and he told Fotbollskanalen he doesn't feel anywhere near finished, emphasizing humility as key, as advised by his father, AIK icon Kenny Pavey.
I mostly felt sorry for myself then, but it should have been the opposite, that I should have thought 'okay, now I'm going to push harder'.
It was a tough period (in U19) but it was instructive and good to take that with me. It made me stronger.
One might have been a little influenced by others getting to play. I thought a little 'what am I doing wrong?'. But we have our mental coach and sitting and talking with her helped a lot. It's about not stressing anything. I'm still young and there's a lot to learn.
It has felt like I came in with good energy and took even more for myself. It has helped me with confidence and I've had a good time lately and I just want to improve even more.
It was really fun. I think everyone dreams of playing at the national arena in front of 40,000 people.
I just try to keep myself grounded. As my dad (AIK icon Kenny Pavey) says, the three most important parts are to be hungry, humble, and positive. So for me, it's important to be humble.
I don't feel anywhere near finished.
I thought about it the other day, that it was quite big. But I don't feel anywhere near finished.
That's how I've felt since the preseason. I came in with good energy and then I've taken even more for myself. It has given me confidence. I've had a good time now. I just want to improve even more.
Yes, that's 100 percent. That a dip came that I maybe hadn't experienced before was maybe a little difficult for me to take in then. I guess I mostly felt sorry for myself. I should have said: 'Okay, now I'm going to push even harder'.
It was a tough period. It was instructive. It's good for me to take that with me too, it made me stronger mentally. When a new coach came in, it was about proving things. Then he gave me the chance.
One might have been a little influenced by others getting to play. Then I thought: 'What am I doing wrong?'. But we have Louise (Rodgers Holte), our mental coach, and sitting with her has helped me incredibly much. She deserves a lot of credit.
It's about not stressing. We are young and we have a lot to learn.