The historic triumph of Mjällby AIF, with Sevilla flavor
The club from Hällevik — a town in southern Sweden with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants — has won its first title in 86 years of existence. For the past three seasons, it has been involved in various initiatives promoted by Sevilla FC
Mjällby AIF, the newly crowned Allsvenskan champion with three matches to spare, has a close relationship with Sevilla FC. Over the last three years, several of its professionals have visited the Spanish club to take part in training programs organized by the Sevilla FC Innovation Center.
Through the Business Academy and Coaches Academy projects, different delegations from the Swedish side have expanded their knowledge in several areas, receiving training in physical preparation, scouting, psychology, residential management, age-category training methodology, and technological innovation — with their current head coach, Anders Torstensson, among the participants.
They also had the opportunity to attend several training sessions at the club’s sports complex and watch matches such as the Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven and the LaLiga fixture versus Villarreal during the 2023/24 season.
This relationship was born thanks to James Wahlberg, Mjällby AIF’s communications director and a self-proclaimed Sevilla FC supporter, who acted as the link between the Swedish and Andalusian clubs — a connection that began from his admiration for Sevilla from Scandinavia.
The success, which has impressed the football world, has Torstensson himself as one of its most remarkable protagonists. Despite being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, he has continued coaching and has once again shown that giving up will never be an option.