Football Season Guide

Djurgarden missed out on a top 3 finish in 2024 by a single point. For long they were 2nd and challenging Malmo. Then the games in Europe began in August. This was when the domestic form declined. The main struggles were in attack. Had only the 8th best scoring record last year – 45 goals in 30 games. Deniz Hummet scored 14 of those goals and he was indispensable. He was sold this winter though. Yet to sign a replacement so right now the only typical centre forwards are inexperienced August Priske and Kalipha Jawla. Likely to add a big name in attack soon but this is yet to happen. The disappointing end to last season led to a managerial change in the winter. Finnish specialist Jani Honkavaara is now in charge. He coached Finland’s national team most recently. All his coaching experience at club level so far has been in Finland too. The quartet of Finns on the roster will be used a lot in all likeliness. Honkavaara has worked personally with 3 of them so he knows their qualities. Djurgarden’s lack of options in attack could see winger Oskar Fallenius requalified as a false 9. He played in this role in the Swedish Cup recently. Had mixed success. Veterans Rasmus Schüller (33) and Albin Ekdal (35) were injured for most of 2024. Both can be very useful when available. Keeping them available might prove a challenge though.