Sweden’s women’s football team, Ängelholms FF, has just wrapped up one of the most remarkable seasons in football history.
Over the course of 18 league matches, they remained undefeated, never conceding a single goal. Yet, in a surprising turn of events, despite their dominance, they did not claim the league title.
Hailing from the picturesque coastal town of Ängelholm, with a population of just over 40,000, the team’s performance has left the local football community in a state of shock and disbelief.
Angelholms’ flawless record reads: 18 matches played, 15 wins, and three draws—no losses and, impressively, no goals conceded. Over the season, they found the back of the net 78 times, averaging an imposing 4.3 goals per game.
Despite this overwhelming performance, they ended up second in Division 4 Skane Northwest, Sweden’s sixth tier, finishing just a single point behind Ljungbyheds IF in the 10-team competition.
An unbeaten season is always remarkable, but it’s not without precedent in football. Bayer Leverkusen nearly achieved this feat last season, going undefeated throughout the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, only to lose in the Europa League final to Atalanta.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s legendary unbeaten run in the 2003-04 Premier League season remains a source of pride for their fans, celebrated with a special gold trophy.
Though rare, unbeaten seasons happen, and many teams have pursued this lofty status.
However, Angelholms’ feat of going unbeaten without conceding a single goal in an entire league campaign is truly special.
Even assistant coach Lars Norberg found it hard to fathom. “Not conceding a goal feels like a greater achievement (than going unbeaten),” he remarked. “After nine games, the team realized it was fun that we managed to keep a clean sheet through our hard work all over the pitch and a stable goalkeeper.”
As the season progressed, Angelholms’ clean sheet streak became a source of motivation for both the team and their opponents.
“It became a thing for the opponents,” Norberg explained, “The longer the season went on, they just wanted to crack our clean sheet, and that became even more motivation for the girls to fight.”
Much credit goes to their goalkeeper, Nellie Bengtsson, who was a key figure in their defensive resilience. She not only made crucial saves but even contributed on the scoresheet by taking—and scoring—a penalty for her side.
“It was also extra fun that Nellie saved a penalty in one of the matches and also scored a penalty for us in another,” Norberg added, underscoring her crucial role.
Despite their defensive heroics and strong offensive output, Angelholms’ dream of winning the league was shattered.
Ljungbyheds IF, with one loss and two crucial draws, edged them by a single point to claim the title.
For Angelholms, their title challenge faltered in two key 0-0 draws, both against Vastra Karup FK, the league’s third-place finishers, and Ljungbyheds in the reverse fixture.
Reflecting on the season, captain Agnes Kant pointed out the intensity of their matches, particularly against Ljungbyheds. “We knew it would be a very tough match,” she said. “We won the first match 1-0, and it felt so good, the whole team fought. There were tough, close battles.” Yet, the decisive second match ended in a goalless draw, costing Angelholms the title. “After the second match, we had a little more control over how they played… but this time, we didn’t score.”
Norberg highlighted the challenges posed by their matches against Vastra Karup.
“The double matches with Vastra Karup ended in a draw and were a bit tough as the opponents borrowed some players from their first team who play in Division 2,” he said.
Despite these external factors, Angelholms were still the stronger team, hitting the post and crossbar multiple times.
“Luck was not on our side in these matches,” Norberg lamented.
This isn’t the first time an unbeaten team has failed to secure a title. Football history remembers the likes of Perugia in Serie A’s 1978-79 season, who drew 19 of their 30 games, finishing second.
Similar cases occurred with Spartak Sofia in 1951, Benfica in 1977-78, Galatasaray in 1985-86, and Red Star Belgrade in 2007-08.
While Angelholms’ league campaign has ended, their season continues with a chance at redemption.
They’ve already advanced past Ros/Sva/Kagk in the first round of the promotion playoffs with a dominant 8-2 aggregate victory, although they conceded for the first time.
Now, they face Strovelstorp GIF/IF Salamis in a crucial second-leg match after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Promotion is now their singular focus.
“It’s a strange feeling,” Norberg admits, reflecting on how close they came to an extraordinary finish. “If we had managed to win one of the three tied games, history would have been different. Now we have to win on Sunday so we put a Band-Aid on the wound by advancing to the next division.”
Regardless of what happens next, Angelholms FF’s 2024 season will be remembered as a monumental one in football lore—the first team to go unbeaten, never concede a goal, and still fall short of the title. It’s a unique achievement that, while bittersweet, cements their place in history.
