Just like every other league that exists on this planet, relegation is a very dreaded thing here in Sweden. Not just from the Allsvenskan but Superttan and lower down the pyramid that is Swedish domestic football.
Clubs in the Allsvenskan come on go really. A minimum of two get promoted each year while two are relegated with one spot decided by play-offs. But over the years some big names have gone both ways. None really get bigger in Sweden than AIK.
Further down in the Superettan we have some big name clubs especially this season with Örgryte, Östers and IFK Norrköping to name just three. Each have suffered relegation as well as promotion in recent years. In fact Östers are a bit like Sweden's Leeds United. Until this year they were languishing in the Division 1 Södra (3rd tier) and just like Leeds in August they are in the Superettan or 2nd tier as it is known.
In the third tier of Swedish football we have clubs that are big in their own regions. You look at Division 1 norra with Carlstad United, the biggest club in the Varmland County. Qviding are also in the 3rd tier södra. Further north you have Umeå FC, arguably the biggest club in the Norrland. Umeå are the Norrland's real hope of finally getting the Allsvenskan to the norrland but it remains to be seen if they can get to the Superettan first.
AIK's stint in the Superettan in 2005 was a shock considering the size of the club but AIK were not the only big club who have spent time in the Superettan, names such as IFK Norrköping, a traditionally strong club, Östers, Örebro and Kalmar spent time while BK Häcken, Örgryte and Hammarby have also been in the Superettan. While this year the superettan boasted some strong names such as Hammarby, Örgryte, IFK Norrköping, GIF Sundsvall and Östers, other names have since been back to the Allsvenskan and won it with Kalmar and AIK but Örebro have established themselves as a top-flight side.
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