Djurgården face tough defence

By Svend Frandsen

The 77th Swedish Allsvenskan season gets under way this weekend for what is shaping up to be one of the most open campaigns for years.

Exciting race
Djurgårdens IF gained their first title for 36 years in 2002 - and followed it up by completing the domestic double. Malmö FF, Helsingborgs IF, AIK Solna, Halmstads BK and Hammarby are all tipped to have a good chance of wresting the champions' crown, and coupled with Sweden's 2-1 win in Hungary on Wednesday, there is every hope of last season's impressive average league attendance of 10,500 being even further improved.

Blow for champions
Stockholm-based Djurgården, aiming for their tenth title to match neighbours AIK, suffered a pre-season blow with the retirement of playmaker Stefan Rehn at the age of 36. Rehn is now on the coaching staff, but the club has also lost striker Louay Chancko, now with Malmö. Johan Arneng has signed from Norway's Vålerenga Fotball to take over Rehn's crucial role.

Malmö signings
Having been pipped by the capital side on the final day last term, Malmö are determined to end their 15-year wait for another league triumph. Chancko joined in a winter spending spree that also attracted Kristian Bergtsröm, Tomas Olsson and Jon Inge Höiland. However, prolific Nigerian striker Peter Ijeh, who scored 24 goals last season, is ruled out until at least June with a broken foot. Malmö coach Tom Prahl admitted: "Ijeh's injury was an obvious set-back but I hope that Niklas Skoog or Magnus Rosenberg can provide the efficiency in front of goal that we have been lacking."

Ambitious AIK
Helsingborg, champions in 2001 and fourth last term, have kept a low profile during the off-season after the financial problems that necessitated a €1m loan from the local council in December to guarantee their top-flight status. Ambitious AIK have been busy re-building their squad under the guidance of new coach Richard Money while Halmstad and Hammarby will aim to start where they left off as both sides finished last season in spectacular fashion.

Pressure on Bosco
Örgryte IS will have a tough job following up their impressive third place in 2002. If they are to challenge for a 15th title, much will depend on new Brazilian recruit Bosco, brought in to replace midfield player and former captain Magnus Källander, bound for Greek side Aris Thessaloniki FC. Landskrona BoIS, who led the opening stages last season thanks to inspiring performances from Alexander Farnerud and Johan Nilsson, but then fell away, could be in for a tough season along with IF Elfsborg, who welcome back Fredrik Berglund from Roda JC.

Artificial grass experiment
Örebro SK's Eyravallen stadium has been resurfaced with artificial grass and there has been speculation about how well the side will cope with switching from artificial turf at home to natural surfaces away from home. The experiment funded by UEFA is, however, not expected to help the side rise above mid-table where GIF Sundsvall are also tipped to finish.

IFK struggle
Newcomers Enköpings SK and Östers IF could find life tough after promotion from the second division, but former UEFA Cup winners IFK Göteborg are another side expected to struggle. The financial situation at the club has ensured coach Bosse Johansson was unable to significantly add to the squad that only survived relegation through a play-off last season. "I believe the key to our success will be for our defenders to take more attacking responsibilities and hopefully we will then be able to stabilise our performances in the league", said former Danish national coach Johansson.