MFF's Sports Manager: Competing with the Top Shouldn't Just Be to Participate

Malmö FF's comet-like journey through the football league system has Damallsvenskan as its final destination. Can Malmö FF challenge for the championship gold as early as next year? Competing with the absolute top should not be possible, says sports manager Daniel Andersson.

» Published: October 11 2024

MFF's Sports Manager: Competing with the Top Shouldn't Just Be to Participate
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Malmö FF restarted their women's team in 2020 in Division 4 and have since won four consecutive series championships. Now, in practice, a fifth consecutive promotion is secured – away against Örebro SK on Saturday, the Damallsvenskan spot can be secured in theory as well.

We've been very clear from the start that we want to go up as quickly as possible to Damallsvenskan, but then it has to be done, says MFF's sports manager Daniel Andersson.

Full-time employees next season

The turnover in the squad before each season has increased as the demands on the players have become higher. Previously, it has been possible to combine with work or studies on the side. Now, it's a mix of full-time and part-time employed players in the squad.

The goal if we now go up, which we will of course manage, is that we will have full-time employed players next year, says Daniel Andersson.

The club has received reinforcement this year from a player from the already crowned SM-winner Rosengård. The experienced midfielder Mia Persson joined last summer.

Malmö FF is the largest association in Sweden, and I know they want to invest seriously, and they have the ambition and prerequisites to become really, really good, says Persson.

Besides two previous SM-gold medals with Rosengård, she has also played Damallsvenskan seasons with Limhamn/Bunkeflo, which makes her able to talk about the differences between the divisions.

It's maybe not that big a difference at the top of Elitettan and the bottom of Damallsvenskan, but the upper half of Damallsvenskan compared to Elitettan is a pretty big difference, says the 34-year-old.

"Huge respect"

The work on strengthening the squad is already underway, says Daniel Andersson.

The long-term goal is, just like for the men's team, to be among the top teams in Europe and try to win. But we have huge respect for Damallsvenskan and know it's a step up.

Can you challenge for the SM-gold medal already next year?

It's clubs in Damallsvenskan that do incredibly well with incredibly good teams. To be able to compete with the absolute top in one year shouldn't be possible. But to establish ourselves and be able to be among the top teams, that's what we hope to do.

Malmö FF established its women's section in 1970 and secured promotion to the top division in 1980. In 1986, the club took its first SM-gold medal on the women's side.

The club then won SM-gold medals in 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994. Before the 2005 season, the women's section broke away from the parent association and played for two seasons under the name Malmö FF Dam.

The association changed its name to Ldb Malmö in 2007 and to FC Rosengård at the end of 2013.

In the late 2010s, the members voted at MFF's annual meeting to restart a women's team.

The MFF board wanted to see a merger with Limhamn/Bunkeflo (LB07), which then had a women's team in Allsvenskan, but the members voted no. Instead, a women's team was created, starting at the bottom of the league pyramid in Division 4.

Since 2020, there have been four consecutive series championships. The team took 74 out of 74 possible wins in the first four seasons with a goal difference of 569–25.

With four rounds left to play in Elitettan – where the top two teams are promoted to Damallsvenskan – series-leading MFF (+41 in goal difference) has a 12-point lead over third-place Umeå (+19). Malmö meets Örebro away on Saturday, and Umeå has a home match against Bollstanäs.

Malmö club Ariana FC is the comet in Swedish football, according to the Swedish Football Historians and Statisticians (SFS).

The team secured six consecutive promotions from 2017 to 2022 – from Division 7 to the third highest level in men's football. Additionally, the team won the reserve league series in 2016. The team finished eighth in the third highest level in men's football last year.

Stockholm club FK Sumarice took six consecutive series championships from 1985 to 1990 – from Division 8 to Division 2 East Svealand. The team was relegated directly from Division 2 after just one point in 16 matches in 1991.

Dalkurd FF, originally formed in Borlänge, secured five consecutive promotions from 2005 to 2009 – from Division 6 to the then Division 1 North. Dalkurd played in the men's Allsvenskan in 2018 but finished second to last and was relegated to Superettan. Before the 2018 season, the operations were moved to Uppsala, but initially, Dalkurd played their matches in Gävle.

The association lost its elite license before this year's season and was relegated to Division 2 North Svealand. Dalkurd will finish last in that series and play in Division 3 next year.

Sources: Swedish Football Historians and Statisticians, svenskfotboll.se

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Haaland Sidelined Indefinitely with Foot
1 MIN READ

Haaland Sidelined Indefinitely with Foot Injury, City Hopes for Season Return

Södertälje Takes Lead in Heated
2 MIN READ

Södertälje Takes Lead in Heated Semifinal Against Djurgården

17-Year-Old Ivar Stenberg Propels Frölunda
3 MIN READ

17-Year-Old Ivar Stenberg Propels Frölunda to Semifinals

Celina's Late Header Secures AIK
2 MIN READ

Celina's Late Header Secures AIK Victory at Gamla Ullevi

Swedish Referees Selected for European
1 MIN READ

Swedish Referees Selected for European Championship Duty

Malmö FF Fans Face Charges
1 MIN READ

Malmö FF Fans Face Charges for Nazi Salutes During Match

AI Tool Shields Ski Stars
2 MIN READ

AI Tool Shields Ski Stars from Online Hate with Zero Tolerance

Tai Woffinden Sedated After Surgery
1 MIN READ

Tai Woffinden Sedated After Surgery Following Polish Speedway Crash

Halmstad BK Condemns Fans' Taunts
2 MIN READ

Halmstad BK Condemns Fans' Taunts as Billionaire Withdraws Sponsorship

Bukayo Saka Returns to Boost
2 MIN READ

Bukayo Saka Returns to Boost Arsenal Ahead of Fulham Clash

Sweden Eyes NBA Star Pelle
3 MIN READ

Sweden Eyes NBA Star Pelle Larsson for European Basketball Championship

Tearful Gjert Ingebrigtsen Denies Abuse
3 MIN READ

Tearful Gjert Ingebrigtsen Denies Abuse Allegations in Court

Kempe Scores Twice as Kings
1 MIN READ

Kempe Scores Twice as Kings Set New Home Win Record

Ovetjkin Nears Gretzky's NHL Goal
1 MIN READ

Ovetjkin Nears Gretzky's NHL Goal Record with Latest Score

Niklas Edin's Team Bounces Back
1 MIN READ

Niklas Edin's Team Bounces Back with Two Wins at World Championship

Teenager Jakub Mensik Defeats Djokovic
1 MIN READ

Teenager Jakub Mensik Defeats Djokovic to Claim Miami ATP Title

Min Woo Lee Claims First
1 MIN READ

Min Woo Lee Claims First PGA Tour Victory as Svensson Stumbles

Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden Hospitalized
1 MIN READ

Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden Hospitalized After Serious Crash

Haaland Injured in City's FA
1 MIN READ

Haaland Injured in City's FA Cup Win Over Bournemouth

Omar Faraj Scores Five as
2 MIN READ

Omar Faraj Scores Five as Degerfors Triumphs Over Halmstad

Hammarby's Ellen Wangerheim Joins National
1 MIN READ

Hammarby's Ellen Wangerheim Joins National Team for Nations League

Paulos Abraham Shines as Hammarby
2 MIN READ

Paulos Abraham Shines as Hammarby Dominates IFK Göteborg 4-0

Sweden Triumphs Over Finland to
2 MIN READ

Sweden Triumphs Over Finland to Secure World Championship Gold

Brynäs Advances to Semifinals but
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Advances to Semifinals but Goalkeeper Injury Raises Concerns

Hammarby Dominates Göteborg 4-0 in
2 MIN READ

Hammarby Dominates Göteborg 4-0 in Allsvenskan Opener

Elfsborg Eyes Revenge Against Malmö
2 MIN READ

Elfsborg Eyes Revenge Against Malmö FF After Dramatic Comeback

Sweden Claims Sixth Straight Bandy
2 MIN READ

Sweden Claims Sixth Straight Bandy World Championship Gold

Police Mobilize for Hammarby March
1 MIN READ

Police Mobilize for Hammarby March in Stockholm

Spaniard López-Chacarra Triumphs in India
1 MIN READ

Spaniard López-Chacarra Triumphs in India as Dantorp Falls Short

Ebba Andersson Triumphs with Double
2 MIN READ

Ebba Andersson Triumphs with Double Wins in Ski Classics Finale

Swede Max Novak's Ski Pole
1 MIN READ

Swede Max Novak's Ski Pole Breaks, Ending Race Hopes in Norway

Sweden's Curling Champs Stumble in
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Curling Champs Stumble in World Championship Opener

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson
1 MIN READ

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson Shines with 14 Points in Miami Win

Lucas Raymond Sets New Career
1 MIN READ

Lucas Raymond Sets New Career High in Detroit's Win Over Boston

Andreas Nordebäck Achieves Season's Best
1 MIN READ

Andreas Nordebäck Achieves Season's Best with 17th Place Finish in Boston

Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Pegula
1 MIN READ

Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Pegula to Win Miami WTA Title

Jesper Svensson Shines in Tight
1 MIN READ

Jesper Svensson Shines in Tight PGA Tour Battle in Houston

AIK Keeps SHL Hopes Alive,
2 MIN READ

AIK Keeps SHL Hopes Alive, Set to Face Karlskoga in Semifinals

Viktor Gyökeres Shines with Two
1 MIN READ

Viktor Gyökeres Shines with Two Goals in Sporting Lisbon Victory

Layouni Leads Häcken to Victory
2 MIN READ

Layouni Leads Häcken to Victory with Double Strike in Allsvenskan Opener