Åtvidabergs Fotbollförening, also known simply as Åtvidabergs FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Åtvidaberg. The club are affiliated to Östergötlands Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Kopparvallen. [1] The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are blue and white. Formed on 1 July 1907 as Åtvidabergs IF, the club have won two national championship titles and two national cup titles. The club are currently playing in Allsvenskan, where the season lasts from April to October. The club first won Allsvenskan in 1972.[2]
[edit] History
The club was at its best in the 1970s when it won two Swedish titles with the likes of Ralf Edström in the team. It played 15 seasons, last in 1982, in top of the Swedish League. The club changed to the present name before the 1935–1936 season.
They cooperate with former Swedish champions Djurgårdens IF. In the autumn of 2005, a senior Djurgården official caused a stir in Åtvidaberg by suggesting that the only way ÅFF could generate enough income to become an elite team again was by moving to nearby Linköping. Linköping is the biggest city in Östergötland and lacks a premier football team.
In late 2005, Åtvidabergs FF reached the Swedish Cup final. Because the other team in the final, Djurgårdens IF, already were Swedish champions, Åtvidabergs FF got the qualifying spot for the 2006/07 season UEFA Cup, even though they lost the final 2-0. In the last qualifying round, they beat Brann from Norway. In the first round of current UEFA Cup season, they faced Grasshoppers from Switzerland. Grasshoppers beat Åtvidaberg with a total of 8 goals in two games (0-3, 5-0), thus eliminating Åtvidaberg from the cup.
In the 2009 Superettan season, they gained promotion to Allsvenskan 2010 by finishing as number two behind Mjällby after 28 years absence. They finished 15th in 2010 and were relegated to Superettan again.
[edit] Current squad
As of 1 January 2012 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
For season transfers, see transfers winter 2011–2012.
[edit] Achievements
[edit] League
- Allsvenskan:
- Winners (2): 1972, 1973
- Runners-up (2): 1970, 1971
- Superettan:
- Winners (1): 2011
- Runners-up (1): 2009
- Svenska Cupen:
- Winners (2): 1969–1970, 1970–1971
- Runners-up (4): 1946, 1972–1973, 1978–1979, 2005
[edit] Managers
- A. ^ The title of "Swedish Champions" has been awarded to the winner of four different competitions over the years. Between 1896 and 1925 the title was awarded to the winner of Svenska Mästerskapet, a stand-alone cup tournament. No club were given the title between 1926 and 1930 even though the first-tier league Allsvenskan was played. In 1931 the title was reinstated and awarded to the winner of Allsvenskan. Between 1982 and 1990 a play-off in cup format was held at the end of the league season to decide the champions. After the play-off format in 1991 and 1992 the title was decided by the winner of Mästerskapsserien, an additional league after the end of Allsvenskan. Since the 1993 season the title has once again been awarded to the winner of Allsvenskan.[2]
[edit] External links
Kálmán Konrád (1942-47)
Erik Almgren (1948)
George Raynor (1952-54)
Karl Durspekt (1956-57)
Antonio Durán (1960-63)
