IF Elfsborg
Idrottsföreningen Elfsborg, mostly short IF Elfsborg, is a sports club based in the Swedish city of Borås. The club is best known for its football team, which plays in the highest Swedish football league, Allsvenskan.
History
Early years
The club was founded on 26 June 1904 by 19 young men as Boras Fotbollslag. Two years later, the club joined the Riksidrottsförbundet and changed its name to the still valid today Designation Idrottsföreningen Elfsborg. A first success was recorded in 1908, when the district championship was won by a final victory against IFK Mariestad.
On May 26 1918 played for the first time a player of the club in the Swedish national team. In the game against the selection Norway Axel Larsson made his debut in the national jersey and celebrated a 2-0 win.
The first successes in Allsvenskan
With the introduction of the 1924 Allsvenskan IF Elfsborg missed the qualification and started in the second-rate Västsvenska series. 1926 reached the team the promotion round and had to compete against Halmstad BK. After a 1-3 defeat in the first game resulted in a 4-2 win in the return match to a decider. On July 4, 1926 shot striker Nils Hedin 's 4-2 victory on neutral ground at Ullevi in Gothenburg with four goals the club single-handedly to the rise in the Swedish Elite Series.
On the third Round of the season 1926/27, the first win was in the House of Lords, as Mitaufsteiger Westermalms IF was outclassed 5-1. At the end of the season was done with reaching the tenth rank of relegation. In the following years the club has established itself in the Allsvenskan. In the season 1930/31 the club came in danger of relegation, but was able to prevail as tenth before the tied Redbergslids IK.
1934, the club with Sven Jonasson the top scorer in Allsvenskan, in 344 consecutive games for Elfsborg was after his Erstligadebüt on 11 September 1927 on the square, thus setting a league record is still valid today. Two years later, IF Elfsborg celebrated his first title: With four points ahead of AIK, which was defeated in both encounters, the Yellow won the Swedish championship title. Sven Jonasson crowned the season with the regained the top scorer title.
1939 succeeded the second triumph in the Swedish Championship. The competition was virtually outclassed, the runner- AIK had finished the season nine points behind. At this time, the team also formed the backbone of the Swedish national team, partially stood up to seven players of the club at the same time on the field. The following season the title was defended, but the decision was just made : rival IFK Göteborg was tied at the end, but showed inferior goal difference on.
1941 IFE left his old stadium Ramnavallen and emigrated to the stadium Ryavallen. In the opening game of the club replaced the Finland national team, which had to cancel due to the war, and defeated the Swedish national team 2-1.
1942 reached the club for the first time the finals of the Svenska Cupen, but had to be beaten with 1:2 before 10,000 spectators in Solna GAIS give. Also in the league remains in 1943, 1944 and 1945, only the second place.
Years in mediocrity
In the following years IF Elfsborg could not build on the successes. Although in 1947 succeeded once again the fourth place in the league, but already in the following season could save the club from relegation with only one point ahead of Djurgårdens IF.
With Pär Bengtsson, who was at the 1948 Olympic Games in London in the squad of the Swedish national team that won the gold medal, and Åke Hjalmarsson followed in 1949, two players from Borås to the reputation of the money from Southern Europe and changed how many of their compatriots end of the 1940s / beginning of the 1950s as a professional football player player for Italy.
1951, 1952 and 1953 also jumped out only the third from last place in 1954 followed as Table of the crash in the second division.
1957 missed the club as a second division Second barely climb. The game against Örgryte IS at Gamla Ullevi, which ended with a 2-1 victory for the team from Borås, followed 32,357 spectators. A year later, the playing in the second division club with Ingemar Haraldsson a runner-up. However, the third goalkeeper of the Swedish national team remained in his entire career without international duty.
The Return
1960, the rise and thus a return to the Allsvenskan was done perfectly. As a second-division champion IFE won all three qualifying matches against Örebro SK and IFK Luleå and IFK Kristianstad. Again, in the first division saw the team furore as was promoted by five points to IFK Norrköping Swedish championship titles won. 41 908 spectators watched that season the 5-5 draw at Ullevi against IFK Göteborg.
In 1963, the team found two years after their sensational success but again in a relegation battle, but was able to maintain the class as a table tenth. Again, two years later, you found yourself in front of the field again and was Malmö FF behind runner-up.
In 1971, the second descent of IF Elfsborg in the club's history. 14 points from 22 games were enough to get the class. As a second-division champion but the direct return to the now spiked to 14 teams Elite series was made . Here, the team placed in the following years in the middle of the league.
1977 remained goalkeeper goals Stenbäcken 674 minutes without conceding a goal and was able to set a new league record. He helped the club to a new runner and the first-time qualifying for the European Cup. In the UEFA Cup 1978/79 succeeded in the first game, although a 2-0 win over Racing Strasbourg, with a 1:4 defeat in the second leg in France, however, the off followed already in the first round. Two years later, was third, then it went downhill again. 1981 had to play in relegation matches against BK Hacken the team. After a 1-0 away victory handed a 1-1 draw at home to relegation Ryavallen. In the same year the team pulls for the second time in club history the cup final one, but is outclassed by Kalmar FF in front of 2,245 spectators 4-0. The following season, again the third place and thus the newly introduced Final was reached. Here was the semi-final against Hammarby IF conclusion than a 3-1 home success proved after the 0-3 defeat in the return game as too little.
Years in the second division
1984 Elfsborg was just before last and had to say goodbye for the third time from league football. With Simon Hunt, who had come from AFC Wrexham, was the first time a foreign player in the ranks of the club. In the second division succeeded at first and after the championship success in the promotion round to return to the top flight.
With one point ahead of Kalmar FF Yellow managed to avoid relegation in the Allsvenskan. However, the team finished second in the following season far behind with only ten points to last place and left again the Swedish Elite Series. In the following years the club was bobbing around in the second class Division 1. 1995 succeeds the third place in the second division.
Renewed return and triumphs
1996 IF Elfsborg Champion Division 1 Södra and creates what it ten years to return to the first division. After a 3-0 opening win against IFK Gothenburg is occupied at the end of the season, seventh place. In the third Cup finals triumph is again missed AIK succeed before 9472 spectators a 2-1 win. In the following years, the club placed in the no man's land of the table.
With the beginning of the new millennium came with the fifth place in the standings, the best result for almost 20 years. On 25 June 2001 succeeds in fourth finals in a dramatic game for the first time the victory in the Svenska Cupen. After it was tied after 120 minutes of game 1:1, the players proved from Borås their nerve and were after 24 penalty kicks celebrate the first title win in this competition with a 10-9 win on penalties. 2003 could be re- won the trophy, this time Assyriska Föreningen with two goals from Lars Nilsson was clearly defeated 2-0.
2005 moved to IF Elfsborg. The old stadium was replaced by the modern Borås Arena, which offers nearly 17,000 spectators. The opening match on April 17, 2005, compared Örgryte IS was won by a goal from Daniel Mobaeck 1-0.
2006 IF Elfsborg was a 45 - year break for the fifth time in club history of Swedish national champion. After an exciting head-to -head race with AIK, that was decided on the final day, the yellow could stretch the Lennart Johansson - Cup into the air. On 31 March 2007, the Swedish Supercup with a 1-0 win against Cup Winners Helsingborgs IF also won.
As a Swedish champion IFE came in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2007 /08. After successes over the Northern Irish club Linfield FC and the Hungarian club Debrecen VSC, the Spanish side FC Valencia proved with victories in both games than high hurdle.
2012 succeeded in re- Cup - for the sixth time. Thanks to a 1-1 draw on 4 November 2012 ( 30th Round ) at home against Åtvidabergs FF remained the club on the first place in the table with 59 points against BK Hacken ( 57 points ) and Malmö FF (56 points). The latter club would have to still be champion may have to win at AIK Solna - Malmö FF lost his last league game but with 0:2.