Jacob Widell Zetterström Siblings: Meet Jelena and Gabriel Zetterström

Jacob Mikael Widell Zetterström is a Swedish professional goalkeeper currently playing for Derby County in the English Football League Championship and representing the Swedish national team. He was born on 11th July 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden, and is 1.97 metres tall. Widell Zetterström has a notable family, including at least two siblings.

His older brother, Gabriel Zetterström, is a culture writer and critic, while his younger sister is named Jelena. Their mother, also named Jelena Zetterström, is a journalist and author. Jacob's maternal grandmother, Jelena Rennerová, has a unique historical background; she fled Communist-era Czechoslovakia through a marriage of convenience to the future Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, who later became Jacob's mother's godfather.

Widell Zetterström began his football journey at Djurgårdens IF before moving to IFK Lidingö. He began his senior career at Lidingö in the lower Swedish divisions. In 2019, he returned to Djurgårdens IF, initially on dual registration to play for Lidingö on loan. His early career was marked by setbacks, including two concussions that kept him out of action for a considerable time, which led him to pursue medical studies.

However, he ultimately returned to football, making his Allsvenskan debut for Djurgården in 2021, where he kept a clean sheet against IFK Göteborg. He has since become the club's first-choice goalkeeper, participating in UEFA Europa Conference League matches and contributing to both domestic and European success.

In August 2024, Widell Zetterström transferred to Derby County on a three-year contract. He quickly became the club's primary goalkeeper, making his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Watford and regularly featuring in the Championship. Widell Zetterström has also represented Sweden at the senior international level, making his debut in a friendly against Iceland in January 2023.

He was part of the Swedish squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started in matches against Japan and France, earning high praise from coaches, teammates, and observers for his performances. Internationally, Widell Zetterström has been recognized with numerous awards, including the club's Save of the Season and PFA Community Champion for the 2024/25 season.