Norrköping defy the odds to lift Swedish title
Saturday, October 31, 2015
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"It's unreal," said coach Jan Andersson as Norrköping beat defending champions Malmö 2-0 on the final day of the season to clinch their first Swedish championship since 1989.
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Norrköping defied pre-season expectations to capture the Allsvenskan title with a 2-0 win at last term's champions Malmö on the final day of the season.
Goals from Emir Kujovic and Arnor Ingvi Traustason clinched victory and with it the club's 13th championship but first since 1989. They ended three points clear of IFK Göteborg.
"It's unreal. What a bunch of guys!" said Jan Andersson after the final whistle. Remarkably, the coach only kept the side in the top flight on the penultimate day of the season in 2014.
Four rounds into this season the club – who spent 2003 to 2009 in the second tier – had just four points after suffering comprehensive defeats by Elfsborg and Helsingborgs. However, they only endured two more losses in the remaining 26 rounds.
In a team built on a combination of local talent and low-key recruits, Kujovic shone particularly brightly with a league-leading 21 goals. "The way we've surprised everyone is amazing," said the Montenegrin-born former Halmstads and Kayserispor forward.
As champions, Norrköping are likely to enter next season's second qualifying round stage of the UEFA Champions League, subject to final confirmation from UEFA.
