Saying that Mjällby's prerequisites pale in comparison to, for example, Malmö FF or Hammarby is an understatement.
Hällevik, where the home arena Strandvallen is located, has around 1,400 inhabitants, Sölvesborg's municipality in total around 17,000.
Hasse Larsson has been involved in Mjällby for almost 50 years, first as a player and later as sports manager. For a long time, he himself had to try to find and recruit players, but in 2023, Arvid Franzén was hired as a scout on a part-time basis – remotely.
It wasn't until October 1 this year that he started full-time.
But the gold, it ended up in Hällevik anyway.
I didn't think so. Probably no one thought so. Except (center back) Tom Pettersson, maybe, says Hasse Larsson.
But we have been fairly superior in the series, actually.
Broke barriers
Tom Pettersson had played in the top division for, among others, IFK Göteborg when he joined Mjällby in 2023 after a few years in Norwegian Lilleström. He started talking early about the possibilities of winning the league title and didn't want to hear about only big city teams having a chance in the top division.
I heard that talk when I came too. "We have no money, we have no one living here". It was just a lot of mental barriers that needed to be broken down quickly. In the team and in the club, he says.
Of course, it helps if we can buy in good players. But those who are really good go to those who pay the most. That's not Mjällby. Instead, we have to develop the ones we have, and it's an incredibly developing environment we have too.
"Always a chance"
Next year, Champions League qualifying awaits – and a top division where Mjällby is the reigning champion.
It's already clear that the team will lose national team goalkeeper Noel Törnqvist, who has played on loan since his transfer to Italian Como was finalized this summer. Other Mjällby players will also likely be in high demand on the transfer market after the gold.
But if the impossible has been done once – it can be done again, notes Hasse Larsson.
It's possible to top this by winning again. Then we should keep our feet on the ground, but there's always a chance to win again.
Founded: April 1, 1939, a merger of the associations Listers IF and Hälleviks IF.
Hometown: Hällevik.
Home ground: Strandvallen.
Top division debut: The 1980 season.
Coach: Anders Torstensson.
Current: Top division series winner 2025, the club's first league title.
