Mjällby Coach Anders Torstensson Triumphs Over Cancer to Win SM Gold

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Mjällby Coach Anders Torstensson Triumphs Over Cancer to Win SM Gold
Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

After last summer, he received a tough cancer prognosis. Just over a year later, Anders Torstensson has led the successful team Mjällby to a historic SM gold in football. If anything, maybe I feel even stronger now because I have realized the importance of living here and now, he says.

When the final whistle went off at Gamla Ullevi, the entire Mjällby coaching staff rushed onto Gamla Ullevi's hybrid grass pitch.

For even though the gold had seemed very, very close for a long time, it was only with Monday evening's 2-0 win over IFK Göteborg that it was completely clear.

We have kept it from us, the pressure and speculation. But it's fantastic. Redemptive to stand here as Swedish champions – with little damn Mjällby, says Anders Torstensson.

At the same time, the Mjällby coach has had a tough personal journey over the past year.

In August last year, he was put on sick leave after being diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia. However, just a few weeks after the cancer diagnosis, he was back in service and has since led the successful team, which finished fifth in Allsvenskan last year.

I don't feel so different today than I would have without it. In a way, as I've said in a hundred interviews, I leave the diagnosis at the hospital, he says.

I have accepted it and it's nothing that lies and splashes in the background.

No secrets

On the other hand, continues the gold coach, the cancer diagnosis may have given some insights into living in the present.

Not to take anything for granted and not to put things off until tomorrow. That's why we won already now, he says.

Anders Torstensson has had the main responsibility in the Hällevik team for three rounds (2013, 2021, and now since 2023).

I felt when we reached the cup final in 2023 that "there's something here". And we have worked incredibly hard for this, he says.

Everyone asks about our secrets, there are no secrets. There are just like 500 things that we are incredibly meticulous about every day. Everyone works extremely hard and we have never compromised on anything.

Tips from Janne

The gold could have been settled already before the national team gathering, but Hammarby put pressure by winning two straight matches – most recently in Sunday's derby against AIK.

But when Mjällby got the chance at Gamla Ullevi, the club's first Swedish Championship gold was secured.

On the way to the gold, Anders Torstensson took help from former national team coach Janne Andersson.

I called him sometime in August. I was determined that we wouldn't do anything different and he said I was right about that. So thanks Janne, says Torstensson.

2025: Mjällby

2024: Malmö FF

2023: Malmö FF

2022: Häcken

2021: Malmö FF

2020: Malmö FF

2019: Djurgården

2018: AIK

2017: Malmö FF

2016: Malmö FF

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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