"There were incredible scenes in the Swedish top flight on Monday as Mjällby AIF, plucky upstarts and heroes of the Allsvenskan season, beat heavyweights IFK Göteborg to clinch the most unlikely of league titles. The vital 2-0 victory sparked jubilant celebrations on the pitch, as the result cementing an unassailable 11-point lead for Mjällby at the top of the table with three fixtures of the campaign remaining."
"Mjällby's story is made all the more incredible by the fact that they have been guided to glory by Anders Torstensson, a school principal-turned-head coach who had never coached professional football at senior level until 2023. Having almost been wiped out of existence whilst playing in the Swedish third tier in 2016 due to financial issues, the club have also operated on a meagre budget which they have bolstered by nurturing youth talent and moving them on to bigger clubs around Europe."
"Mjällby managed to find their feet and return to the Allsvenskan in 2020, establishing themselves as a midtable outfit. They finished fifth last season, 15 points behind champions Malmö, but an outstanding run of form and results through the 2025 campaign has seen them power to the first top-tier honor in the club's 86-year history."
Mjällby AIF secured the Allsvenskan title after a 2-0 victory over IFK Göteborg, creating an unassailable 11-point lead with three matches remaining. The victory triggers qualification for the UEFA Champions League in 2026-27 for the club from Hällevik (population 800). Anders Torstensson, a school principal-turned-head coach who had not coached senior professional football before 2023, led the team. The club overcame near-extinction in 2016, operating on a meagre budget while developing youth talent for transfer revenue. Mjällby returned to the top flight in 2020, improved from midtable to champions with an outstanding 2025 run, claiming their first top-tier honor in 86 years.
Read at ESPN.com
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