Alexandersson recalled an encouraging start, including a pre-season in which he scored five times and struck twice early in a testimonial against Manchester City. Yet the momentum did not last.
His first two seasons were, by his own assessment, merely reasonable. The final 18 months became disappointing as injuries restricted his influence and left him finishing his Everton spell below the standard he expected of himself.
That regret is familiar in football: a player can arrive with the right profile, settle quickly and still find his career redirected by fitness problems. For Alexandersson, the gap between his Sheffield Wednesday form and his Everton output remains the defining frustration.
His international career tells a more satisfying story. After waiting almost a decade from his Sweden debut to reach the World Cup, Alexandersson finally appeared at the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.
He scored Sweden’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw with England, cutting inside from the right before finishing with his left foot. The moment carried extra significance: it was his World Cup debut, he played for an English club and the opposing manager was Sven-Göran Eriksson, another Swede.
Four years later, Alexandersson faced England again, this time as a right-back, in a 2-2 draw at the 2006 World Cup. He also represented Sweden at Euro 2008, including a match against Greece.
Alexandersson still wants to see Everton return to the stature associated with the club’s great 1980s sides, while recognising the financial challenge posed by modern football.
His story remains a reminder of both opportunity and unfinished business. The next Everton generation will be judged on whether promising beginnings can finally become lasting success.