Folke Adamsson

Folke Adamsson (1911–1977) was a Swedish football player and manager. He represented Hammarby IF during his whole playing career and later went on to coach the club for 18 years, as the longest-serving manager in its history.[3]

Folke Adamsson
Adamsson with Hammarby IF in 1938
Personal information
Date of birth 1911[1]
Place of birth Fagersta, Sweden
Date of death 1977 (aged 66)[2]
Place of death Stockholm, Sweden
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
–1930 Fagersta AIK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1931–1943 Hammarby IF 187 (46)
Managerial career
1947–1965 Hammarby IF
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

He grew up in Fagersta and started to play youth football with local club Fagersta AIK.[3] In 1931, at age 19, Adamsson moved to Hammarby IF in Stockholm.[4]

Between 1931 and 1943, Adamsson made 187 league appearances for Hammarby, mostly in the Swedish second tier. In 1940, Hammarby played one season in Allsvenskan, the domestic top league, but was relegated immediately.[5]

In 1943, Adamsson retired from playing due to a persistent knee injury.[6]

Managerial career
Folke Adamsson being celebrated by his players as Hammarby secured their top-flight status in 1961.

After his playing career, Adamsson was the coach of Huvudsta IS and Hagalunds IS.[1]

In 1946–47, Hammarby finished last in Division 2, and got relegated to Division 4 due to a restructuring of the Swedish league system. The next season, Adamsson took over as head coach of Hammarby, replacing Sven Bergqvist.[7] The economy had collapsed and the club's entire existence was now threatened.[8] Up on his return to Hammarby, Adamsson said:[1]

I had been away for a while and knew the club was in a downward spiral: no players, no coaches, no finances, everything seemed to be falling apart. However, some people had persevered, and I decided to do my bit. I simply did not want to see my dear old Hammarby become a new Westermalm.

Adamsson would, together with team manager Lennart Nyman, lead Hammarby IF from Division 4 back to Allsvenskan in just six seasons.[8] The duo is credited with implementing a sense of work ethic and professionalism in the club.[3][9] In the 1953–1954 season, the second tier was won without a single loss, whilst using only 15 players.[10]

Hammarby went on to compete in Allsvenskan during the majority of Adamsson's stint at the club, before he decided to step down as manager at the end of 1965, being replaced by Georg Kraemer.[11]

Other sports

In 1939, Adamsson was part of the first squad as Hammarby established a handball section.[12]

References
  1. "Julkalendern lucka 24: Folke Adamsson" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. 24 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
  2. "Folke Adamsson" (in Swedish). HIF Historia. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. "Bajen - en livsstil" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. 6 March 1997. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  4. "1931" (in Swedish). HIF Historia. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. "Här grundades Hammarby IF" (in Swedish). Tidningen Hammarby Sjöstad. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. "1943" (in Swedish). HIF Historia. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. "1946/47 – Ner i fyran" (in Swedish). Hammarby Fotboll. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. Persson, p. 76.
  9. "De 10 största ögonblicken i Hammarbys historia" (in Swedish). Stora Ord. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. Persson, p. 81.
  11. "1966" (in Swedish). HIF Historia. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. "Lagets historia" (in Swedish). Hammarby Handboll. Retrieved 30 October 2020.

Works cited
  • Persson, Gunnar (1996). Hammarby IF: En klubbhistoria 1897–1997 (in Swedish). Strömbergs Bokförlag. ISBN 91-7151-097-4.
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