With three rounds to go, the village club from a town of about 1,000 people and a municipality of about 15,000 inhabitants (in the southern Swedish province of Blekinge) has become inaccessible to larger clubs such as AIK Stockholm, IFK Göteborg, which was defeated 0-2 at home, Hammarby, GAIS and Malmö.
Trainer Mjällby was struck by leukemia
It is an unprecedented football fairytale, which is extra special when you consider that coach Anders Torstensson, who is originally a school director, was struck by chronic lymphocytic leukemia last year. Nevertheless, he continued his work, with the sensational Swedish title as his crowning achievement.
For Mjällby AIF this is the first national title in the club’s 86-year history. The club plays its home games in the also small neighboring municipality of Hällevik.
Swedish champion Mjällby has no investors or big stars
The club has no wealthy investors behind it and no big stars in the selection. Team cohesion, smart scouting and sensible management are the key to success, according to the club.
Malmö FF has won the Swedish league title eight times in the last twelve years. IFK Norrköping, AIK, Djurgårdens IF and BK Häcken are the other champions in that period.