Rounds 19 and 20 of this year’s Allsvenskan have been completed. These rounds served as anniversary rounds to honor the 100-year history of Allsvenskan, with the 16 matches played forming a central part of the celebration that will continue throughout the year.
“We are very pleased with how successfully the celebration turned out at all the stadiums across the country. The clubs have shown great flexibility and creativity in highlighting the rich history of Allsvenskan,” said Robert Johansson, Communications Director at Swedish Professional Football Leagues and head of the 100-year anniversary.
The anniversary rounds featured everything from classic retro jerseys and leather balls to heartwarming reunions with old club legends. Additionally, each team was honored in special pre-match ceremonies where they received an Allsvenskan anniversary ball and a diploma in front of their home crowd as a symbol of their contribution to Allsvenskan’s history.
“We decided to have two anniversary rounds so that every team in Allsvenskan would have the opportunity to honor and highlight their part in Allsvenskan’s history in front of their home fans. The clubs and their supporters are a significant part of what makes Allsvenskan unique, and the anniversary rounds were a great way for the league to give back,” Johansson continued.
Ahead of the celebration, Swedish Professional Football Leagues encouraged all the clubs in Allsvenskan to create and wear retro jerseys in their home games during the anniversary matches. This initiative resulted in 15 out of 16 clubs producing jerseys that honored different eras and seasons from the past century, ranging from the very first season in 1924 to the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Hammarby and AIK chose to design and wear jerseys resembling those used by their clubs during the inaugural Allsvenskan season in 1924.
BK Häcken’s retro jersey is a replica of the one they wore during their first season in Allsvenskan in 1983.
“All the amazing retro jerseys have truly made the anniversary rounds something special. The clubs deserve great praise for how they embraced the challenge, and it’s exciting to see how much positive feedback the jerseys have received, even garnering significant international attention,” Johansson remarked.
The anniversary rounds also featured pre-match ceremonies where the home team was acknowledged for their contribution to Allsvenskan’s history. Representatives from Swedish Professional Football Leagues were present at every stadium to present the club with a diploma and an Allsvenskan anniversary ball. The anniversary ball, produced by SELECT, is a replica of the ball used in Allsvenskan in 1924.
The Allsvenskan anniversary ball from SELECT will be distributed throughout the year to all 67 clubs that have ever played in Allsvenskan.
After the presentation, the ball was taken to the center circle for a symbolic kickoff. In most cases, the club selected a former player, a club legend, to take the kickoff, giving them the opportunity to step onto the field once again and receive the appreciation of the home crowd.
“The symbolic kickoffs provided several touching moments where supporters had the chance to honor heroes of the past. Allsvenskan is Sweden’s most popular league, and while the anniversary rounds allowed us to celebrate the past, they also served as a reminder of how strong the league is today. Hopefully, in a hundred years, people will look back on our celebration and aim to make it even better,” Johansson concluded.
