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Östersunds FK

Östersunds FK
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Full name Östersunds Fotbollsklubb
Founded 31 October 1996; 20 years ago (31 October 1996)
Ground Jämtkraft Arena, Östersund
Ground Capacity 9,500
Chairman Daniel Kindberg
Manager Graham Potter
League Allsvenskan
2016 Allsvenskan, 8th
Current season

Östersunds Fotbollsklubb, commonly known simply as Östersunds FK, Östersund or (especially locally) ÖFK, is a Swedish professional football club located in Östersund, Sweden. The club was formed on 31 October 1996 as a cooperation between three Östersund clubs. They are affiliated to the Jämtland-Härjedalens Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Jämtkraft Arena. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are black and red. Since its creation, the club has played mostly in the third tier of Swedish football but in 2013 Östersund achieved promotion to the second tier, Superettan, for the first time ever, after achieving two consecutive promotions. On 27 October 2015, the club qualified for Allsvenskan for the first time.

Östersunds FK was created in 1996 when the three local clubs Ope IF, IFK Östersund and Östersund/Torvalla FF came together with the ambition to create a club in the city that would be able to establish itself in the top two tiers of Swedish football. The next year Frösö IF also joined the project. The newly formed club started out their existence in the third tier in 1997 and Östersund/Torvalla FF ceased to exist as a consequence.

During the 2000s the club started taking on a British flavour and in 2007 the director of football Daniel Kindberg used his friendship with coaches Roberto Martínez and Graeme Jones to start a cooperation with Swansea City where Östersund would loan young players from the club. Swansea also came over to Östersund to play the inauguration game at the newly built stadium.

After a poor 2010 season the club was relegated to the fourth tier for the first time ever. The next year Daniel Kindberg returned to the role as director of football and increased financial backing from local companies which enabled the hiring of more full-time staff. The club also brought in young English manager Graham Potter who was working at an English university at the time. Through several successful signings, some coming from Potters connections at Nike Football Academy, the club was able to win both the fourth tier and then the third tier immediately the year after. The club was promoted to Superettan for the 2013 season and finished 10th that season.


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