Allsvenskan Season Guide – team-by-team previews

Here is our team-by-team 2024 Allsvenskan Season Guide, your ultimate guide for the top level of Swedish football. This is a historic year for the Allsvenskan as the coming campaign will be the hundredth season of Swedish top-flight football. 

We have covered this league for the past 14 years in close detail and below we give you a detailed look at each of the 16 teams. Let’s begin our 2024 Allsvenskan season guide with the champions from last season. 

Malmo season guide

Malmo stole the title under the nose of Elfsborg last season. The Sky Blues did that on the final day of the campaign when edging their main rivals all season on goal difference. This brought Malmo their 26th Allsvenskan title and a place in the Champions League play-offs next summer. 

The most successful team in Sweden is gearing up for another strong campaign in 2024 and here is all you need to know. 

Malmo’s key players and outlook

Malmo has one of the deepest squads in the entire Allsvenskan. The combination of vast experience rock-solid back line and vibrant youth talent makes the defending champions the favourites yet again.

Second-year manager Henrik Rydström likes aggressive football and he uses both flanks a lot. More of the same can be expected from Malmo in 2024.

Among the most influential players in the team are centre-back Pontus Jansson, playmaker Sergio Pena, winger Sebastian Nanasi and the team’s top goalscorer both in 2022 and 2023 Isaac Thelin.

Malmo: Notable incoming players

Malmo added three important players to their ranks this off-season. Goalkeeper Ricardo Friedrich will serve as a backup for the main goalie Johan Dahlin. Friedrich has been a regular starter in Allsvenskan for Kalmar for many years though and he is a great second choice to have.

Full-back Jens Larsen is now 33 years old but he still has tons of potential and joins a backline that is already full of experienced players.

The other main incoming transfer is that of striker Erik Botheim. He is seen as a great backup for the team’s main centre forward Issac Thelin.

Malmo: Notable departures

None of the regular starters from last season left Malmo this winter.

Malmo 2024 season: Our prediction

We value Malmo’s depth and competition for places greatly so we back them to defend their title in 2024.

Elfsborg season guide

Our next team on the Allsvenskan season guide are Yellow and Blacks. Elfsborg had an excruciatingly painful experience in 2023. They needed to win on the final day to be crowned champions but instead were held to a draw and had to settle for second place in the final standings, beaten only on goal difference by Malmo in the end. 

Elfsborg’s key players and outlook

After the painful last season Elfsborg will be playing with a chip on their shoulders in 2024.

Coach Jimmy Thelin, in charge since January 2018, refused to take the reigns of the Scottish side Aberdeen earlier this year and he committed himself to another year at the helm.

Thelin likes to see his team use mainly 4-2-3-1 formation and this is set to continue in 2024. Elfsborg will once again rely on their very strong home form for wins, with a title challenge possible only if they can do relatively well on the road where they had been vulnerable.

The team’s back four Larsson-Holmen-Buhari-Hult will be crucial in determining how good the coming season will be. Playmaker Michael Baidoo and versatile striker Simon Hedlund are also expected to play key roles.

Elfsborg: Notable incoming players

The most notable change this off-season was on goal. Elfsborg parted ways with their first two goalies and had to replace them. That’s why the most notable signings this winter were of goalkeepers Isak Pettersson from Eliteserien’s side Stabaek and Marcus Bundgaard Sörensen from the Danish team Vendyssel. We think the former will be the new number one.

Elfsborg: Notable departures

Parted ways with some important players this winter. The impressive goalkeeper Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson moved to the English Premier League with Brentford. Star winger Jeppe Okkels joined Utrecht. The other key players to leave were Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel) and Emmanuel Boateng (Konyaspor).

Elfsborg 2024 season: Our prediction

We don’t think Elfsborg will be able to mount another title challenge in 2024. We don’t expect them to win medals even. Our prediction for them is a 4-6 finish.

Hacken season guide

Champions in 2022 Hacken never found the same consistency last season and had to settle for third place in the final standings. Had by far the best attack in the league – 69 goals scored in 30 rounds. Also, finished with the best home record W14 D0 L1. Yet, poor form and bad defending on the road led to too many points being dropped. 

Hacken’s key players and outlook

Hacken are known for selling their top talents. They did that last summer midway through the season and also in the winter. This was one of the reasons the title-winning manager quoted when he resigned.

Paco Johansen has been appointed in charge now and he hopes his main stars in midfield Amane Romeo and Simon Gustaffson will stay healthy. A lot is expected from the 18-year-old attacking midfielder Pontus Dahbo too. In attack, Srdjan Hrstic will have to show his worth.

Hacken: Notable incoming players

The two main winter signings were in midfield. Julius Lindberg arrived from the city rivals GAIS, while winger Zeidane Inoussa was signed from Brommapojkarna. Experienced goalkeeper Andreas Linde is also a good addition to the squad.

Hacken: Notable departures

The 2023 “Young Player of the Year” Momodou Sonko was sold for a large sum in the off-season. He was Hacken’s top goalscorer in 2023 and his departure will be felt. The only consistent defender Tomas Totland and the important anchor man Samuel Gustaffson also left this winter.

Hacken 2024 season: Our prediction

We expect Hacken to struggle even more in 2024. With other teams getting better we think a 4-6 finish is the most likely outcome for Yellow and Blacks.

Djurgarden season guide

Djurgarden had a solid but not exciting 2023. In our Allsvenskan season guide for the new season, we feel much better about the team though. Last season Djurgarden finished fourth, only a point outside the medals, but they addressed their weaknesses in attack this winter and this makes them serious contenders again. 

Djurgarden’s key players and outlook

Djurgaren had only the seventh-best attack in the league in 2023 (41 goals in 30 rounds). They still generated enough wins but adding depth and new ideas in attack this winter was a must.

Djurgarden did that while keeping most of their stars in the squad too. This means that ahead of the start of the season Djuragrden are the second odds-on favourite to win the title.

The midfield duo Rasmus Schüller-Albin Ekdal should give Djurgarden great stability in this area of the pitch. Up front Azeri striker Musa Gurbanli and new winger Tokmac Nguen are likely to determine if Djurgarden can win the title this year.

Djurgarden: Notable incoming players

It was an impressive off-season for Djurgarden. Easily, five of their nine quality winter signings could become regulars in 2024. Miro Tenho is a great addition to the defence. Albin Ekdal is bound to play a crucial role in midfield. Finally, to boost the attack wingers Peter Therkildsen, Tokmac Nguen and Tobias Gulliksen, plus centre forward Deniz Hümmet are now part of the team.

Djurgarden: Notable departures

In terms of players that left Hampus Findell was the only one that started often in 2023 and is no longer part of the squad. Ekdal’s arrival means that this has been addressed already.

Djurgarden 2024 season: Our prediction

Djurgarden has all the weapons to challenge for the title. We certainly expect them to win medals, but maybe they will have to settle for second place after all.

Varnamo season guide

Varnamo had a historic 2023. Promoted for the first time in their history to the Allsvenskan only a year earlier Varnamo finished 5th in their second season at the top flight last year. 

The team’s ability to secure narrow wins makes them a dangerous team. It has been a winter of changes though and many worry that Varnamo’s fairy tale might be coming to an end. 

Varnamo’s key players and outlook

After four years of overachieving Varnamo parted ways with their their historic head coach this winter. For the start of the 2024 season, the inexperienced ex-assistant Anes Mravac will be given the reigns. He is only 34-years-old and despite knowing the club well this will be his first head coach job.

Varnamo will continue to rely on their star goalkeeper Jonathan Rasheed and solid defenders Victor Larsson and Emin Grozdanic for clean sheets. Wenderson remains the creative engine in midfield. Up front, Ajdin Zeljkovic and Gustav Engvall will need to be as effective as they were in 2023.

Varnamo: Notable incoming players

Varnamo has not made any major new signings this winter. All the players that joined the team are seen merely as backup options.

Varnamo: Notable departures

The team’s best defender Victor Eriksson joined the MLS (Minnesota United). Also, the long-serving captain and Varnamo’s main chance creator for the past three years Oscar Johansson joined Hammarby this winter. The third crucial player to leave was winger Albion Ademi, who moved to China (TJ Jinmen Tiger).

Varnamo 2024 season: Our prediction

After back-to-back years of calm, we worry for Varnamo this season. We expect the team to be battling for survival. Should have enough in themselves to at least avoid direct relegation.

Kalmar season guide

Kalmar played solid football all of last year and they finished in sixth place. This was better than anticipated after their coach left before the campaign to lead Malmo to the title. His replacement Henrik Jensen did a great job in his first year in charge to make Kalmar very tough to beat at home. 

Kalmar’s key players and outlook

Kalmar had the fourth-best home record in 2023 and we expect them to once again focus their main efforts in these matches this season.

Coach Jensen had to get busy on the transfer market in the winter as he was forced to rebuild the squad. Directly responsible for the recruitment too Jensen showed a great touch and all of Kalmar’s new signings have the potential to play key roles.

Captain Simon Skrabb, star centre-back Lars Saetra and the returning winter Jonathan Ring are expected to play crucial roles all season.

Kalmar: Notable incoming players

Kalmar signed only five new players this winter but they all could be among the starters often. All of Samuel Brolin (GK), Alex Gersbach (LB), Abdussalam Magashy (AM), Jonathan Ring (RW) and Dino Islamovic (CF) are seen as quality new additions.

Kalmar: Notable departures

Kalmar parted ways with four of their starters from last season in the winter though. The long-serving goalie Ricardo Friedrich, important defender Davíd Ólafsson, playmaker Nahom Netabay and striker Deniz Hümmet are no longer in the squad.

Kalmar 2024 season: Our prediction

Yet another mid-table finish is our choice for Kalmar in this Allsvenskan season guide. Any placement 6-12 is possible in our opinion.

Hammarby season guide

Hammarby had a disappointing last season to their standards. Still, it was a year of small margins that prevented the team from being involved in the race for the medals. Hammarby had the third-fewest defeats in 2023 but by far the most draws and those missed opportunities hurt them. 

Hammarby’s key players and outlook

Our Allsvenskan season guide focused on Hammarby must start with the update that the Bajen opted to change managers this off-season. Cifuentes was released and Kim Hellberg is now in charge. He’s an experienced coach at Allsvenskan level.

Hammarby’s main goal in 2024 will be to turn as many of those 11 draws from last year into wins and this should see them enjoying a much better campaign.

Keeping the star players healthy will be another challenge for Hellberg. He can rely on a great starting 11 if everyone is fit but Hammarby continue to lack depth, so they can’t afford serious injuries to key players.

Captain Nahir Besara and last season’s top goalscorer Viktor Djukanovic (11 goals) will once again be indispensable for Hammarby. Edvin Kurtulus is one of the best centre-backs in Allsvenskan when fit. Keeping him fit and available has been the main challenge though.

Hammarby: Notable incoming players

The team had a very quiet winter. Only two new players joined the squad and from them, only Oscar Johansson has the potential to become a regular starter as the season progresses.

Hammarby: Notable departures

Defender Nathaniel Adjei and striker Bubacarr Trawally are the main starters who left the team. Adi Nalic will also be missed in midfield. He could still be resigned though as he remains a free agent.

Hammarby 2024 season: Our prediction

This is one of the hardest predictions for us in the Allsvenskan season guide. If the starters stay fit Hammarby can easily finish second or third. As this is a big if, we think it’s more likely for them to be placed 4-6.

Sirius season guide

Sirius was one of the pleasant surprises of 2023 with their top-half finish. Blue and Blacks had the fourth-best attack in Allsvenskan last season and this was why they did better than expected. 

However, as our Allsvenskan Season Guide reveals below repeating this scoring record might be hard. 

Sirius’s key players and outlook

Sirius failed to defend last season and only thanks to their great scoring record they stayed out of trouble. Unfortunately, this attracted attention and the two best forwards of the team are no longer at the club.

The front line had to be rebuilt from scratch this winter. This worries many about how effective Sirius will be.

Palestinian striker Yousef Salech and his partner up front Noel Milleskog, both just age 22, must be effective or Sirius will struggle. Captain Daniel Stensson and the injury-prone centre-back Tobias Carlsson also have to play well for any success to be possible.

Sirius: Notable incoming players

The main new signings were strikers Yousef Salech and Noel Milleskog. Inner midfielders Leo Watta and Michael Martin are also seen as interesting new additions.

Sirius: Notable departures

The two big departures were those of star striker and top goalscorer in 2023 Wessam Abou Ali and the team’s leader and main assist provider Tashreeq Matthews.

Sirius 2024 season: Our prediction

We can see trouble on the horizon for Sirius. Finishing in the bottom three seems likely to us. Can they avoid direct relegation though?

Norrkoping season guide

Norrkoping never lived up to their expectations in 2023. They struggled for wins, goals and consistency. In the end, the team finished closer to the relegation zone than the top 3 and this says it all. 

Norrkoping’s key players and outlook

It wasn’t much of a surprise that coach Glen Riddersholm was sacked at the end of last season. Norrkoping changed two managers in 2023 but they believe their new head coach Andreas Alm will get them back to the top places.

Alm quickly started addressing the main issues – lack of depth and not enough forward players – so Norrkoping looks much better prepared for the start of the 2024 season.

Midfielders Vito Hammershöy-Mistrati and Arnór Traustason will need to be fit and available. When they play Norrkoping does well. The same is valid for the team captain and main centre forward Christoffer Nyman.

Norrkoping: Notable incoming players

Adding strikers Tim Prica and Carl Björk to the ranks was much needed. These moves bring confidence that the results could be better even if Nyman is unavailable.

Norrkoping: Notable departures

Lost starting centre-back Marco Lund and the exciting winger Victor Lind this off-season.

Norrkoping 2024 season: Our prediction

Another season in mid-table seems likely. Place 5-10 is our prediction for Norrkoping in this Allsvenskan season guide.

Mjallby season guide

It was another year of very little drama or tension for Mjallby in 2023. Yet again, Yellow and Blacks existed in mid-table comfort all season and without making too much noise they easily secured a top 10 finish. 

Mjallby’s key players and outlook

Mjallby had problems scoring goals last season. The season-ending injury for the 2022 top goalscorer Silas Nwankwo had something to do with that for sure. The vibrant striker is now fully fit and in last summer’s signing of Jacob Bergström, he now has an exciting partner up front. The two feeding off each other should improve Mjallby’s scoring record this year.

We expect another season of very solid defending too. All the main players at the back are still there and Mjallby had been a tough team to score against for several years now.

Mjallby: Notable incoming players

It has been a very quiet winter with none of the only two new signings expected to play much.

Mjallby: Notable departures

Much of the same can be said about the departures. Yes, Noah Ellie in defence and Leo Watta in midfield started often but they were only on loan at the club and Mjallby decided to let them go.

Mjallby 2024 season: Our prediction

Mjallby has specialised in existing in mid-table. We think they will have enough to stay out of the trouble. Not likely to finish in the top half though – 8-12 is our pick for them.

AIK season guide

AIK had a very difficult season in 2023. They spent more than half of the campaign inside the relegation zone and only a late surge in the autumn helped them to avoid disaster. The managerial change midway through last season brought better displays and AIK will hope for progression on that positive development in 2024. 

AIK’s key players and outlook

AIK have much better players in their ranks than the eleventh-place finish last season suggests. Making things work and being effective is something coach Henning Berg, appointed last July, hopes to achieve this season.

The squad has plenty of talent and depth so AIK should be doing much better this season.

Among the team’s most important players in the current roster are centre-back Alexander Milosevic, creative midfielders Anton Salétros and Bersant Celina, winger Rui Modesto and the main striker Ioannis Pittas.

AIK: Notable incoming players

Goalkeeper Ismael Diawara arrives from champions Malmo. Also, inner midfielder Ismaila Coulibaly comes on loan from the English Premier League.

AIK: Notable departures

Despite the hard 2023 not many important players left the ranks. Eric Otieno is probably the only nailed-on starter who is no longer in the team.

AIK 2024 season: Our prediction

We can see AIK enjoying a solid season. Not a great one though and we place them 6-10 for 2024.

Halmstads season guide

Halmstads enjoyed a solid return to the top flight in 2023. All-season White and Blues stayed out of trouble, they never dropped into the relegation zone even once, and their consistency saw them securing safety with three games to spare. 

Halmstads’s key players and outlook

Led by their 42-year-old captain Andreas Johansson Halmstads looked very solid on the pitch last season. More of the same can be expected in 2024 with the team revamped a bit but managing to keep the same style of play and intensity as the few Swedish Cup games in February-March showed.

We can see the manager using the same 4-4-2 formation that served him so well last year extensively. Also, despite his age, Johansson is bound to remain a key figure in defence. Playmaker Amir Al-Ammarin and striker Viktor Granath also should be key figures all season.

Halmstads: Notable incoming players

Tim Rönning arrives to be the team’s new number-one goalkeeper. Striker Rasmus Wiedesheim-Paul is a gamble, but if he fulfils the potential predicted for him three years ago he could be the biggest bargain of the winter.

Halmstads: Notable departures

The team’s starting goalie in 2023 Malkolm Säfqvist, as well as playmaker Erik Ahlstrand, are the two main departures of the winter.

Halmstads 2024 season: Our prediction

After all we said already about AIK in this Allsvenskan season guide we have to back them with our prediction too. We see a much better campaign for Yellow and Blacks and a top 8 finish.

Göteborg season guide

It was another year of major struggle for the financially challenged ex-giants Göteborg. The financial strains on the team and the very small squad saw Göteborg narrowly escaping relegation in 2023. 

Göteborg’s key players and outlook

There has been no change on the financial front for Göteborg this off-season. Still, unable to keep players on high wages or offer any transfer fees Blue and Whites continue to rely on veterans and free agents just to have some decent numbers in their squad.

Coach Askou has to cross his fingers that the many ageing players will stay fit, otherwise, Göteborg will be in serious trouble yet again in 2024.

Sebastian Hausner is by far the most important player in the squad right now according to us. This is simply because he is the only typical centre-back on the books. Winger Arbnor Mucolli also will have to play his best football if Goteborg wants to stay out of trouble.

Göteborg: Notable incoming players

Striker Laurs Skjellerup, plus wingers Oscar Pettersson and Paulos Abraham are probably the most important new signings for this winter.

Göteborg: Notable departures

The team’s best defender in 2023 Johan Bångsbo expectedly left and he will be missed badly. The loss of centre-forward Astrit Selmani will also hit the team hard.

Göteborg 2024 season: Our prediction

Can the fallen giants stay in the Allsvenskan? Well, we give them only a 50-50 chance to do that. The squad is small, the health is a problem so our prediction is 11-15 finish.

Brommapojkarna season guide

On their return to the top flight, Brommapojkarna experienced highs and lows. They started the season very well but after the summer break, the form abandoned the team from Stockholm. In the end, they finished the relegation play-off spot and had to defeat Utsiktens over two legs to stay in the top flight for a second year. 

Brommapojkarna’s key players and outlook

On paper, Brommapojkarna had a much better squad than what their finish of last season suggested. Coach Olof Mellberg knows he was lucky to stay on the job all season last year and he needs a strong start to the 2024 Allsvenskan to avoid being the first sacked manager of the new season.

Brommapojkarna showed last season that on a good day, they could beat anyone. Making these good days more often occurrence is the main challenge ahead.

The young Swedish prodigy Wilmer Odefalk and the winger Alex Timossi Andersson, who grew up in the Bayern Munich academy, are according to us the two most important players for Brommapojkarna.

Brommapojkarna: Notable incoming players

The arrivals of centre-back Eric Björkander and aggressive midfielder Rasmus Örqvist are great pieces of business in our opinion. Both those players should be nailed on starters in 2024.

Brommapojkarna: Notable departures

Lost five important players this off-season, two centre-backs (Sögaard and Löfgren), a key playmaker (Holm) and the two main wide midfielders (Inoussa and Pettersson).

Brommapojkarna 2024 season: Our prediction

We predict another tough season for Brommapojkarna. Any finish 12-16 is possible.

GAIS season guide

GAIS are one of the newly promoted teams in our Allsvenskan season guide. They gained promotion directly after finishing second in the Superettan last year. GAIS lacked conviction on their travels but at home, they were unmatched for efficiency and after 12 years of absence they are now back in Allsvenskan. 

GAIS’s key players and outlook

GAIS are the third team from Göteborg in this year’s Allsvenskan. As they spent the last 12 seasons playing their trade in lower leagues they will naturally be lacking confidence.

That said GAIS have some players in their ranks who have lots of personal experience at the Allsvenskan level and the fourth-year manager Fredrik Holmberg is expected to lean heavily on them as the season unfolds.

We think the likes of Mergim Krasniqi (GK), Axel Norén (CB), August Wängberg (RB) and Mervan Çelik (AM) will have vital roles for GAIS this season.

GAIS: Notable incoming players

Winger Edvin Becirovic from fellow Allsvenskan outfit Varnamo and the loan deal for striker Cooper-Love from Elfsborg are the best winter moves GAIS made according to us.

GAIS: Notable departures

The only important player to leave the club this winter was star playmaker Julius Lindberg. He led the team for assists and big chances created in 2023 so he will be missed.

GAIS 2024 season: Our prediction

It will be a hard season. Can succeed in avoiding relegation but not likely to overachieve. Our prediction for GAIS is 11-16 place.

Vasteras season guide

The other newly promoted team in our 2024 Allsvenskan season guide are the 2023 Superettan champions Vasteras. The team’s last involvement in the top flight was way back in 1997, so for them, this is a big deal. The main focus last season was on the defensive side of the game, conceding just 24 goals in 30 rounds. Can Vasteras transport this efficiency to a higher level?

Vasteras’s key players and outlook

We expect to see Vasteras playing ultra-defensive football all season. For the team to survive they will have to be tough to beat. As other small clubs like Varnamo have shown in recent years achieving 9-10 clean sheets is vital for survival.

Coach Kalle Karlsson is working with a very young squad. Not many of the players have Allsvenskan experience and the fourth-year manager himself is not accustomed to this level.

The team’s three main centre-backs Frédéric Nsabiyumva, Alex Douglas and Herman Magnusson will have to be faultless for Vasteras to stand even a chance of survival. Also, striker Jabir Abdihakim Ali (top scorer for Vasteras in 2023) will have to show similar efficiency in Allsvenskan.

Vasteras: Notable incoming players

French playmaker Mattéo Ahlinvi and wide midfielder Henry Offia are probably the most important winter arrivals.

Vasteras: Notable departures

Lost their two main creative midfielders this winter, both Daniel Ask and Olle Edlund are no longer part of the squad.

Vasteras 2024 season: Our prediction

There is a reason why Vasteras stayed outside the top flight for the past 27 years. Unfortunately, we see them struggling this year and getting relegated again – 15-16 finish is our pick for them.