Division 2 (Swedish football) explained

Swedish Division 2
Country:Sweden
Divisions:6
Teams:84
Promotion:Ettan
Levels:4
Domest Cup:Svenska Cupen
Champions:Bodens BK (Norrland)
IFK Stocksund (Norra Svealand)
United Nordic IK (Södra Svealand)
Ahlafors IF (Norra Götaland)
Ariana FC (Östra Götaland)
Eskilsminne IF (Västra Götaland)
Current:2024 Division 2

Division 2 is the fourth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 84 Swedish football teams. Division 2 had status as the official second level from 1928 to 1986 but was replaced by Division 1 in 1987. It then had status as the official third level until 2005 but was replaced once again by the recreated Division 1 in 2006.

Overview

In the Division, there are 84 clubs which are divided in six groups of 14 teams each representing a geographical area.[1] During the course of a season (starting in April and ending in October) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 26 games. At the end of each season the two lowest placed teams of each group are relegated to Division 3 and the twelve winning teams from the twelve Division 3 leagues are promoted in their place while the third lowest placed teams in the Division 2 leagues plays promotion/relegation play-offs against the twelve second placed teams in Division 3. The top team in each Division 2 group is promoted to Division 1 and the three lowest placed teams from each Division 1 league are relegated in their place.[2]

Administration

The Swedish Football Association (Swedish: Svenska Fotbollförbundet; SvFF) is responsible for the administration of Division 2.

Historical context

Division 2 is the fourth-highest division in Swedish Football. It currently comprises six regional leagues which may show some small changes to their titles year on year reflecting the changing geographical distribution of clubs. The six sections for the 2014 season cover Norrland, Norra Svealand, Södra Svealand, Norra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Östra Götaland.[3]

The name of Division 2 has been around since 1924/25 season when there were 5 sections titled Uppsvenskan, Mellansvenskan, Östsvenskan, Västsvenskan and Sydsvenskan which were run on an unofficial basis. Division 2 became official in 1928/29 as the second tier of Swedish football with 2 sections being created - Norra and Södra - with a total of 20 teams.[4]

In 1932/33 Division 2 was expanded into 4 sections covering Norra, Östra, Västra and Södra. This format continued until the end of the 1946/47 season. For the 1947/48 season a 2 section structure was restored comprising the Nordöstra and Sydvästra sections. In 1953/54 a section representing the northern clubs in Sweden was introduced for the first time known as Norrland. The other two sections were titled Svealand and Götaland. In 1955/56 it was decided that Götaland should have 2 sections. This provided Division 2 with 4 sections covering Norrland, Svealand, Östra Götaland and Västra Götaland.

In 1972 the structure reverted to 3 sections titled Norra, Mellersta and Södra. This was short-lived and in 1974 two sections covering Norra and Södra were consolidated. This system continued until the end of the 1986 season when the competition became Division 1.

From 1987 onwards Division 2 became the third highest league in Swedish football and this continued until 2005. The new division initially had 4 sections titled Norra, Mellersta, Östra and Västra. In 1993 it was divided into 6 sections titled Norrland, Östra Svealand, Västra Svealand, Östra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Södra Götaland.

In 2006 Division 2 became Sweden's fourth highest division with the introduction of Division 1 below the Superettan.

Current clubs

2022 season.

Division 2 Norrland

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77296

Division 2 Norra Svealand

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77296

Division 2 Södra Svealand

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77298

Division 2 Norra Götaland

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77299

Division 2 Västra Götaland

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77301

Division 2 Södra Götaland

https://2.svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=table&ftid=77300

Seasons – league tables

1920s:1924/251925/261926/271928/29
1930s:1929/301930/311931/321932/331933/341934/351935/361936/371937/38
1940s:1939/401940/411941/421942/431943/441944/451945/461946/471947/481948/49
1950s:1949/501950/511951/521952/531953/541954/551955/561956/571957/581959
1960s:1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
1970s:1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980s:1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
1990s:1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
2000s:2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
2010s:2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
2020s:2020202120222023

Player of the year awards

Ever since 2003 the online bookmaker Unibet have given out awards at the end of the season to the best players in Division 2. The recipients are decided by a jury of sportsjournalists, coaches and football experts.[6]

2003

PositionPlayerClub
GK Jonnie FedelHöllvikens GIF
DF Erik SkördåkerJönköpings Södra IF
MF Tom JumaFriska Viljor FC
FW Jimmy RajalaIK Brage

2004

PositionPlayerClub
GK Sebastian KarlssonDegerfors IF
DF Markus SenftenMjällby AIF
MF Magnus HenryssonUmeå FC
FW Andreas TegströmHusqvarna FF

2005

PositionPlayerClub
GK Rickard ClaessonSandareds IF
DF Björn BjersingUmeå FC
MF Aram IbrahimJönköpings Södra IF
FW Johan PetterssonIK Sirius

2006

PositionPlayerClub
GK Gerhard AnderssonIK Brage
DF André GrimIFK Timrå
MF Mikael AnderssonIK Sleipner
FW Mathias RanégieLärje-Angereds IF

2007

PositionPlayerClub
GK Ambjörn LennartssonMyresjö IF
DF Lars-Henrik EneredEskilstuna City
MF Johan BlombergLunds BK
FW Abiola DaudaSölvesborgs GoIF

2008

PositionPlayerClub
GK Martin SundströmBrynäs IF
DF Haisem IsmailSkiljebo SK
MF Carlos Gaete MoggiaHammarby TFF
FW Robin ArestavMariehem SK

2009

PositionPlayerClub
GK Johannes HopfHammarby TFF
DF Haris DevicBodens BK
MF Joakim PerssonLunds BK
FW Nedim HalilovićDalkurd FF

2010

PositionPlayerClub
GK Modou JawoIK Frej
DF Ibrahim KoromaMotala AIF
MF Goran ZdravkovSkellefteå FF
FW Andreas GrahmVMA IK

2011

PositionPlayerClub
GK Besarion KodalaevÖstersunds FK
DF Pontus JakobssonÖrebro SK Ungdom
MF Armin PasagicIFK Klagshamn
FW Sonny KarlssonUtsiktens BK

2012

PositionPlayerClub
GK Jonas KäckIS Halmia
DF Pontus NordenbergNyköpings BIS
MF Pontus SilfverHudiksvalls FF
FW Ahmad KhreisSelånger FK

2013

PositionPlayerClub
GK Fredrik EnbergSkellefteå FF
DF Sebastian StarkenbergMotala AIF
MF Imer BeqiriIFK Uddevalla
FW Mathias StrinäsNorrby IF

2014

PositionPlayerClub
GK Simon LundgrenAkropolis IF
DF William OlaussonPiteå IF
MF Muktar AhmedFK Karlskrona
FW Fredrik NoticeSödertälje FK

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Division 2 – svenskfotboll.se . League Composition . Svenskfotboll . 28 February 2014.
  2. Web site: Bilaga till Årsplan herrar 2014 - gällande förbundsserierna div 2-3, herrar och kval till dessa serier . Svenskfotboll . 28 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Division 2 – svenskfotboll.se . League Composition & Map. Svenskfotboll . 28 February 2014.
  4. Web site: Sweden Final Tables - Clas Glenning . Archive . 2010-12-03 . 2010-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101102191251/http://home.swipnet.se/clasglenning/Sweden/1stpage.htm . dead .
  5. Web site: 12 April 2022 . Ang beslut i Tävlingsärende 1506/2021–2022 (Akropolis IF) vid Svenska Fotbollförbundets Tävlingskommitté . svenskfotboll.se . SvFF . Swedish . 12 April 2022.
  6. Web site: Sveriges bästa division 2-spelare utsedda . 2015-01-03.