Football Season Guide

Elfsborg will be looking to go even better than their fifth place finish in last season's Allsvenskan. They are one of the biggest Swedish clubs with a rich history, but have not won the domestic title since 2012. The one they won before that was in 2006, so if they are on six year title cycles their next domestic triumph is just around the corner. The squad definitely boasts a lot of talent, but whether they can seriously compete with the cream of the division like current champions Malmo is another question. There's quality all over the pitch for Elfsborg, and it will be up to head coach Magnus Haglund to prove that he is up for the job by utilising the resources that are at his disposal. A lot of coaches would love to have the players available to Haglund, but with quality comes expectation and that is where Elfsborg have to prove a lot of doubters wrong this season. Haglund led Elfsborg to the championship back in 2006 in an eleven year stint as manager, but his two year spell at Lillestrom was less successful and despite a fifth place finish last season there are a lot of people who expect more from his side this season. Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard is once again expected to keep David Olsson on the bench, while the back four will be steered by defensive veteran Jon Jonsson. The sale of defensive midfielder Victor Claesson to Russian club Krasnodar was a huge loss for the club. But Elfsborg have done some good business in the off season. Ostersund were dismayed when Alex Dyer chose to leave them for Elfsborg, and Dyer is expected to be the go to person in the middle of the park for Elfsborg this season having shone so far in pre-season. He can make things happen for the club and keep them ticking over as they challenge for the top. There's plenty of talent in the final third too, with great things expected from attacking trio Issam Jebali, Jesper Karlsson and Viktor Prodell this season. But will the talent of the Elfsborg squad be enough to see them challenge for the title rather than finish in the top five? The margins are sometimes so small at the top of the Allsvenskan. Haglund has a lot to prove, and the jury is still out whether a title challenge is realistic. Continuity will be the key, and for all their attacking purposes they need to keep it much tighter at the back if they are to come out on top in edgier games.