Promoted Norrköping keep with tradition

Twelve-times Swedish champions IFK Norrköping have secured promotion back to the top flight after five years in the wilderness.

Bouncing back
Norrköping were relegated to the Superettan, Sweden's second tier, in 2002 having finished second bottom of the Allsvenskan. However, under the guidance of coach Mats Jingblad, IFK have been crowned champions with three games to spare and make a long-awaited return to the élite.

Naivety
"I think we were a bit naïve when we went down and thought we would bounce back immediately, and that harmed us," said director of sport Michael Andersson. "The Superettan is a tough environment and there were lots of clubs eager to beat a team with tradition like Norrköping," he said.

'Good blend'
Jingblad has been credited by supporters with leading the Norrköping revival, but the former Swedish international, who joined in 2006, prefers to recognise the efforts of his squad. "I've had a very good group to work with and there's a good blend between youth and experience. We've also spiced it up with a few foreign imports and that has made the difference," he said. Two such imports, Iceland striker Gardar Gunnlaugsson and his Brazilian partner Daniel Bamberg have provided the ammunition for their success by scoring 24 league goals between them.

Home boy
Rejoining the élite is particularly sweet for defender Magnus Samuelsson, who celebrates his second title in as many campaigns. At the end of last term, Samuelsson left champions IF Elfsborg and rejected the lure of UEFA Champions League football to move back to his hometown club and try to restore them to the top flight.

'Pressure'
"It's something special playing for IFK Norrköping when you're born and have grown up in the town," said Samuelsson, 35. "There's always a lot of pressure playing for top clubs, perhaps even more so here as I think a lot of people involved in the game want us in the Allsvenskan because of our tradition." GIF Sundsvall and Ljungskile SK look likely to clinch the other promotion slots alongside Norrköping, with three rounds of the season to play.