Division 2 is the fourth level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 84 Swedish football teams. Division 2 had status as the official second level from 1928 to 1986 but was replaced by Division 1 in 1987. It then had status as the official third level until 2005 but was replaced once again by the recreated Division 1 in 2006.

Overview

In the Division, there are 84 clubs which are divided in six groups of 14 teams each representing a geographical area.^[1] During the course of a season (starting in April and ending in October) each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 26 games. At the end of each season the two lowest placed teams of each group are relegated to Division 3 and the twelve winning teams from the twelve Division 3 leagues are promoted in their place while the third lowest placed teams in the Division 2 leagues plays promotion/relegation play-offs against the twelve second placed teams in Division 3. The top team in each Division 2 group is promoted to Division 1 and the three lowest placed teams from each Division 1 league are relegated in their place.^[2]

Administration

The Swedish Football Association (Swedish: Svenska Fotbollförbundet; SvFF) is responsible for the administration of Division 2.

Historical context

Division 2 is the fourth-highest division in Swedish Football. It currently comprises six regional leagues which may show some small changes to their titles year on year reflecting the changing geographical distribution of clubs. The six sections for the 2014 season cover Norrland, Norra Svealand, Södra Svealand, Norra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Östra Götaland.^[3]

The name of Division 2 has been around since 1924/25 season when there were 5 sections titled Uppsvenskan, Mellansvenskan, Östsvenskan, Västsvenskan and Sydsvenskan which were run on an unofficial basis. Division 2 became official in 1928/29 as the second tier of Swedish football with 2 sections being created - Norra and Södra - with a total of 20 teams.^[4]

In 1932/33 Division 2 was expanded into 4 sections covering Norra, Östra, Västra and Södra. This format continued until the end of the 1946/47 season. For the 1947/48 season a 2 section structure was restored comprising the Nordöstra and Sydvästra sections. In 1953/54 a section representing the northern clubs in Sweden was introduced for the first time known as Norrland. The other two sections were titled Svealand and Götaland. In 1955/56 it was decided that Götaland should have 2 sections. This provided Division 2 with 4 sections covering Norrland, Svealand, Östra Götaland and Västra Götaland.^[4]

In 1972 the structure reverted to 3 sections titled Norra, Mellersta and Södra. This was short-lived and in 1974 two sections covering Norra and Södra were consolidated. This system continued until the end of the 1986 season when the competition became Division 1.^[4]

From 1987 onwards Division 2 became the third highest league in Swedish football and this continued until 2005. The new division initially had 4 sections titled Norra, Mellersta, Östra and Västra. In 1993 it was divided into 6 sections titled Norrland, Östra Svealand, Västra Svealand, Östra Götaland, Västra Götaland and Södra Götaland.^[4]

In 2006 Division 2 became Sweden's fourth highest division with the introduction of Division 1 below the Superettan.^[4]

Current clubs

2022 season.

Ånge

Anundsjö

Bergnäset

Boden

Gällivare Malmberget

Härnösand

Hudiksvall

IFK Östersund

Selånger

Skellefteå

Söderhamn

Sollefteå

Teg

Avesta

Gamla Upsala

Kvarnsveden

Sandviken

Skiljebo
Syrianska
Västerås IK

Strömsberg

Upsala

Valbo

AFK Linköping

Assyriska IF

Eskilstuna C

Gute

Linköping City

Sylvia

Sleipner
Smedby

Syrianska

Vimmerby

Karlslund
Rynninge

Karlstad BK

Nordvärmland

Asarum

Karlskrona

IFK Berga
Lindsdal

Tenhult

Tvååker

Vinberg

Location of teams of the 2014 Division 2.
Red: Norrland; Blue: Norra Svealand; Green: Södra Svealand; Yellow: Norra Götaland; Orange: Södra Götaland; Purple: Västra Götaland.

Konyaspor

Arameisk-Syrianska

IFK Stockholm

Ekerö

Enskede

Aspudden-Tellus

Nacka

Värmdö

Sollentuna

Norrtälje

Location of Stockholm County teams of the 2014 Division 2.
Blue: Norra Svealand; Green: Södra Svealand.

Assyriska

Trollhättan

Grebbestad

IFK Skövde

IFK Uddevalla

Gauthiod

Lidköping

Skövde AIK

Stenungsund

Tibro

Vänersborg

Angered Utd.

Daltorp

Jonsered

Kortedala

Lindome

Torslanda

Ytterby

Location of Greater Gothenburg teams of the 2014 Division 2.
Yellow: Norra Götaland; Purple: Västra Götaland.

Prespa Birlik

Höllviken

Österlen

IFK Malmö

Kvarnby

Rosengård

Torn

BW90

Nosaby

HIF Akademi
Högaborg

Hässleholm

Höganäs

Location of Skåne County teams of the 2014 Division 2 teams.
Orange: Södra Götaland; Purple: Västra Götaland.

Seasons – league tables

Player of the year awards

Ever since 2003 the online bookmaker Unibet have given out awards at the end of the season to the best players in Division 2. The recipients are decided by a jury of sportsjournalists, coaches and football experts.^[6]

2003

Mathias Ranégie who was voted best forward in 2006 went on to become the 2011 Allsvenskan top goalscorer and then signed with Serie A club Udinese in 2012.

Nigerian 2007 winner Abiola Dauda was signed by Allsvenskan club Kalmar FF after his successful season and was one of the top scorers in the 2012 Allsvenskan.

The best midfielder of 2010, Ibrahim Koroma, has over 10 caps for the Sierra Leone national football team.

Position	Player	Club
GK	Jonnie Fedel	Höllvikens GIF
DF	Erik Skördåker	Jönköpings Södra IF
MF	Tom Juma	Friska Viljor FC
FW	Jimmy Rajala	IK Brage

2004

Position	Player	Club
GK	Sebastian Karlsson	Degerfors IF
DF	Markus Senften	Mjällby AIF
MF	Magnus Henrysson	Umeå FC
FW	Andreas Tegström	Husqvarna FF

2005

Position	Player	Club
GK	Rickard Claesson	Sandareds IF
DF	Björn Bjersing	Umeå FC
MF	Aram Ibrahim	Jönköpings Södra IF
FW	Johan Pettersson	IK Sirius

2006

Position	Player	Club
GK	Gerhard Andersson	IK Brage
DF	André Grim	IFK Timrå
MF	Mikael Andersson	IK Sleipner
FW	Mathias Ranégie	Lärje-Angereds IF

2007

Position	Player	Club
GK	Ambjörn Lennartsson	Myresjö IF
DF	Lars-Henrik Enered	Eskilstuna City
MF	Johan Blomberg	Lunds BK
FW	Abiola Dauda	Sölvesborgs GoIF

2008

Position	Player	Club
GK	Martin Sundström	Brynäs IF
DF	Haisem Ismail	Skiljebo SK
MF	Carlos Gaete Moggia	Hammarby TFF
FW	Robin Arestav	Mariehem SK

2009

Position	Player	Club
GK	Johannes Hopf	Hammarby TFF
DF	Haris Devic	Bodens BK
MF	Joakim Persson	Lunds BK
FW	Nedim Halilović	Dalkurd FF

2010

Position	Player	Club
GK	Modou Jawo	IK Frej
DF	Ibrahim Koroma	Motala AIF
MF	Goran Zdravkov	Skellefteå FF
FW	Andreas Grahm	VMA IK

2011

Position	Player	Club
GK	Besarion Kodalaev	Östersunds FK
DF	Pontus Jakobsson	Örebro SK Ungdom
MF	Armin Pasagic	IFK Klagshamn
FW	Sonny Karlsson	Utsiktens BK

2012

Position	Player	Club
GK	Jonas Käck	IS Halmia
DF	Pontus Nordenberg	Nyköpings BIS
MF	Pontus Silfver	Hudiksvalls FF
FW	Ahmad Khreis	Selånger FK

2013

Position	Player	Club
GK	Fredrik Enberg	Skellefteå FF
DF	Sebastian Starkenberg	Motala AIF
MF	Imer Beqiri	IFK Uddevalla
FW	Mathias Strinäs	Norrby IF

2014

Position	Player	Club
GK	Simon Lundgren	Akropolis IF
DF	William Olausson	Piteå IF
MF	Muktar Ahmed	FK Karlskrona
FW	Fredrik Notice	Södertälje FK

References