Sweden. Well, IFK Goteborg’s time. Nothing really significant otherwise. Clubs like
Degerfors IF and
more illustrious Djurgardens played in the second level, but failed to win. Still, former first division members ended on top:
Trelleborgs FF and
Mjalby AIF. They got promoted to the first division.
The First Division had unusual for Europe format at that time – after standard season the top 8 clubs moved to direct eliminations to determine the champion. Theoretically, the 8th placed team could win the title, although it was unlikely to happen. The last 4 teams ended the season after the first stage – the bottom two were relegated. This year they were Gefle IF, 12th and IF Elfsborg, 11th. Osters IF, 10th and Orgryte IS, 9th were safe.
The top 8 went to the play-offs.
Malmo FF, 3rg in the first stage, lost to IK Brage, 6th, 0-1 and 2-2.
AIK, which came as strong 2nd, losing top spot only by single point in the regular stage, was eliminated by IFK Norrkoping, 5th, on away-goal rule: AIK lost the first leg 0-1, then won the second 2-1, but IFK Norrkoping went ahead.
Kalmar FF, 7th, lost to Hammarby IF, 4th, 3-2 and 0-3.
Halmstads BK, 8th, played brave ¼ final against the winners of the regular season IFK Goteborg, but were unable to create a sensation: 0-0 and 1-2.
In the semi-finals
Hammarby IF was unlucky – they were deadlocked with old rivals IFK Norrkoping 0-0 and 0-0, and the winner was decided by penalty shoot-out – Hammarby missed one and IFK Norrkoping prevailed 5-4.
The season ended for IK Brage at this stage too. All was decided in the first leg, where the visitors were vastly superior and won 5-1. The second leg was mere protocol and at home IFK Goteborg only played the motions and the match ended 2-2.
The final was also decided in the opening leg – IFK Norrkoping was mercilessly destroyed 5-1 in Goteborg. And for good measure IFK Goteborg won the second leg as well – 2-0.
Wonderful season for IFK Goteborg, in which they led from start to finish. The more they played, the stronger they were and at the final left no doubt who was the best Swedish team. No wonder – this IFK Goteborg vintage was at its peak. Standing from left: Thomas Wernerson, Kjell Pettersson, Björn Westerberg, Håkan Sandberg, Ruben Svensson, Stephan Kullberg, Johnny Ekström, Dennis Schiller, Tommy Holmgren, Ove Tobiasson
Sitting: Tord Holmgren, Stig Fredriksson, Glenn Schiller, Mats Gren, Peter Larsson, Roland Nilsson, Steve Gardner, Torbjörn Lundblad, Jerry Carlsson, Peter Andersson.
The Cup final, played in Helsingborg in front of 7800 crowd, opposed Malmo FF to second-division Landskrona BoIS. No doubt who the favourite was, but the the underdog put a good fight. Malmo FF won, but only 1-0.
Landskrona BoIS came close to a miracle, but class prevailed. Too bad.
Malmo FF, although not at its best, was still the most consistent Swedish club. Rather weak championship, but they compensated by winning the Cup, still finishing the year with a trophy.