david in sweden Posted 1 November, 2009 Share Posted 1 November, 2009 (edited) Stockholm side AIK who beat Gothenburg (A) in the seasons last match. For weeks it had been a 2 horse race but at last AIK won 2-1 in 85th min. Anders Svensson's Elfsborg finished 3rd and last years champs Kalmar 4th. Meanwhile, Stockholm side Hammarby and Marcus Allbäcks' Örgryte were relegated - whilst former top Stockholm side Djurgården will have to play-off to see if they can stay in Allsvenskan next year. After Sweden's World Cup exit, half a dozen " older players " incl. Anders Svensson (33) announced their retirement, along with 38 year old Henrik Larsson who played his last match for Helsingborg midweek, with tears in his eyes. Swedens national coach Lars Lagerbäck quit after the WC exit and the Swedish FA are desperate to find a replacement after Sven-Göran Eriksson refused and will stay as DOF at Notts County. 2010 will be an interesting year in Swedish football (!). Edited 10 November, 2009 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmonton Saint Posted 1 November, 2009 Share Posted 1 November, 2009 Has Anders Svensson just retired from international football, or has he retired from football all together? Who else has retired, I find it very hard to find decent Swedish football new so thanks for the update David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 2 November, 2009 Share Posted 2 November, 2009 Was in Sweden this weekend and was shocked to see Hammarby at the foot of the table when watching the sports news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 2 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 2 November, 2009 Has Anders Svensson just retired from international football, or has he retired from football all together? Who else has retired, I find it very hard to find decent Swedish football new so thanks for the update David. I certainly don't expect to hear that he's quitting Elfsborg. They have a great midfield with Anders calling the shots. He's 33 now by the next World cup he'd be 37..even if he played another couple of years he'd have nothing to play for except the record for most caps.(he's got 102) but for that he'd need another 40 to beat ex-goalie Ravelli's record. Freddie Lundberg quit (internationals) last season, probably winger Wilhelmson through injury (though he's not so old). Henke Larsson (now 38) has (apparantly) quit ALL football. He played his last league game for his (old) first club Helsingborg on Wednesday last. He did play the last few internationals to try and get Sweden qual'd - but having lost (twice) to Denmark they were never up for it. There are a number of other (not-so-well-known over 30's who've quit too) and with a new national coach on the horizon they'll not get a look-in as he'll have to work with the youngsters. Younger players likely to rise in status; goalie Isaksson, Kim Källström, The Elm bothers, Marcus Berg and Johan Elmander (Bolton) and Fredrik Stoor (Fulham). One time " bad-boy " Zlatan Ibramhimovic is now the toast of Barcelona, captain of Sweden and likely to stay on top-if he doesn't transgress anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 2 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 2 November, 2009 (edited) Was in Sweden this weekend and was shocked to see Hammarby at the foot of the table when watching the sports news. I have a neighbour (near our country cottage in the forest) whose likely got his Hammarby flag at half-mast and not yet awakened from a drunken coma. In the last 20-odd years, Hammarby have played " third fiddle" to Djurgården and AIK in Stockholm. They did get a " shock" title win a few years back but never recovered that form and have been really shocking this year. Not worth their place (tbh). Won only 6 of 30 games and GD 22-44 (says it all). Djurgården were scarcely better but won a vital last home game but will have to play-off against a good Assyriska side (3rd in Div2). Marcus Allbäcks Örgryte side (from Gothenberg area) made a brave recovery after losing their first 7 games (!) but weren't quite good enough at the finish and go down. Last years promoted Brommapojkarna side (the legendary Academy-like team) survived thanks to a late revival and ended a safe 5 points above Djurgården. AIK won the title again 11 years after their last, when managed by Stuart Baxter they put on a good show in Champions League and gave Arsenal a couple of tough games. They lost manager and good form several years later and were relegated to div.2 before their revival three years ago. Now they are a top side again.Two star players are Englishman, Kenny Pavey (former "somewhere" junior) and Bojan Djordjic (who had a teenage spell at Man.Utd, (where it is rumoured) he told Alex Ferguson HOW he wanted to play, and was later surprised when Ferguson loaned him out to several clubs (incl. Plymouth) never to return to Old Trafford. He returned to Sweden and hasn't looked back. Looks a trifle "arrogant " but really makes sense when on TV football progs. A future international ..maybe ? Edited 2 November, 2009 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 2 November, 2009 Share Posted 2 November, 2009 Kim Christensen - the IFK goalie - was an 'above average' keeper in the Danish league, but by all reports he has upped his game since coming to Sweden. Has he really been that outstanding this season as the Danish media reports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swesaint Posted 2 November, 2009 Share Posted 2 November, 2009 Djordjic is average at best and will never play for Sweden. He´s a leader on the pitch though. AIK are worthy champions although runners up IFK Göteborg probably played more exciting football. Hammarby struggled all season both on and off the pitch and will find it difficult to win promotion next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 3 November, 2009 Djordjic is average at best and will never play for Sweden. He´s a leader on the pitch though. AIK are worthy champions although runners up IFK Göteborg probably played more exciting football. Hammarby struggled all season both on and off the pitch and will find it difficult to win promotion next year. Djordjic doesn't look like international class at the moment but he is tough and has a little of that " Zlatan arrogance " about him. With half the national side going into retirement, we may well see him get a few outings from the new manager (whoever that is). Bojan may well surprise everyone, some players raise their game at a higher level (wait for AIK's Euro qual.matches and we'll see) he's certainly been well worth his place in the AIK side this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Nelson Posted 5 November, 2009 Share Posted 5 November, 2009 Was in Sweden this weekend and was shocked to see Hammarby at the foot of the table when watching the sports news. So is Baj cribbed from Hammarbaj or Bajen as they say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niemster Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Whens Djurgardens play off? They are the team i try to follow and with their squad im a little suprised their down there Sjolund, Kuivasto, Touray, Dahlberg and Rajalakso all seemed quite good, perhaps not! Keep me updated please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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