Gustav Björk Explained

Gustav Björk
Fullname:	Gustav William Björk
Birth Date:	10 July 1900
Birth Place:	Stockholm, Sweden
Death Place:	Stockholm, Sweden
Position:	Forward
Years1:	1916–1925
Clubs1:	Hammarby IF
Caps1:	150
Goals1:	88
Totalcaps:	150
Totalgoals:	88
Nationalyears1:	1921
Nationalteam1:	Sweden
Nationalcaps1:	2
Nationalgoals1:	0

Gustav "Måsen" Björk (10 July 1900 – 12 May 1928) was a Swedish football player, best known for being a prolific goalscorer for Hammarby IF. In 1921, he won two caps for the Sweden men's national football team.^[1]

Athletic career

Football

In 1916, at age 16, Björk was promoted to the senior squad of Hammarby IF.^{[2] [3] [4]} Björk soon became known as a prolific goalscorer and established himself as one of Hammarby's key players, together with goalkeeper Victor Olsson and defender Gösta Wihlborg.^{[5] [4] [6]}

In 1920, Hammarby debuted in the Svenska Serien, by then the highest league in Swedish football. The club finished third in the table, three points behind winners Örgryte.^[7] The same year, Björk won two caps for the Sweden men's national football team, featuring in two 0–3 losses against Norway and Finland^{[8] [6]}

In 1922, Hammarby had an other strong showing where they went to the finals of Svenska Mästerskapet, a cup by then held to decide the Swedish champion, losing 1–3 to GAIS in a game where Björk scored the consolidation goal.^{[9] [4]}

In 1924, Hammarby IF was one of the founding members of Allsvenskan, a new league that was established to determine the Swedish champion.^[10] He was forced to retire from football in 1925 due to suffering from diabetes.^[11]

Other sports

Like many footballers at the time, Björk also played bandy with Hammarby IF between 1918 and 1925.^{[12] [10] [6]}

In 1921, the club founded their ice hockey department, and on 7 March the same year, Björk became the very first goalscorer for Hammarby IF in a 7–5 win against IF Linnéa.^[7] He was part of their roster for two seasons in total.^[13]

Personal life

Björk died on 12 May 1928, aged 27, due to appendicitis.^{[14] [6]}

Works cited

• Book: Persson, Gunnar. Hammarby IF: En klubbhistoria 1897–1997 . Strömbergs Bokförlag . 1996 . sv . 91-7151-097-4.

Notes and References

1. Web site: National football team player Gustav Björk. EU-Fotball.info. en. 2 February 2021.
2. Persson, p. 60-62
3. Web site: 1917. HIF Historia. 2 February 2021. Swedish.
4. Web site: Julkalendern lucka 3: SM-spel med silver. Swedish. Hammarby Fotboll. 3 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141209005718/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/Article.aspx?id=b2ae7963-54e9-4113-bb67-8080505e35d0. 9 December 2014.
5. Web site: Oövervinnerliga GAIS imponerade ej igår. Idrottsbladet. 2 February 2021. Swedish.
6. Web site: Gustav Björk. HIF Historia. sv. 2 February 2021.
7. Web site: 1921. HIF Historia. 2 February 2021. Swedish.
8. Web site: Sveriges landslagsmän 1908-2017. Swedish Football Association. sv. 2 February 2021.
9. Web site: 1922. HIF Historia. sv. 2 February 2021.
10. Web site: 1925. HIF Historia. sv. 2 February 2021.
11. Web site: 1926. HIF Historia. sv. 2 February 2021.
12. Web site: 1917. HIF Historia. 2 February 2021. Swedish.
13. Web site: Gustaf Björk. Eliteprospects. en. 2 February 2021.
14. Web site: 1928. HIF Historia. sv. 2 February 2021.