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Bertil Bäckvall

Swedish footballer and manager

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Overview

Bertil Bäckvall (22 February 1923 – 28 October 2012) was a Swedish footballer and manager. He mostly represented Hammarby IF and AIK, and won two caps for the Sweden national team.

Hammarby IF

Born and raised in Stockholm, Bäckvall started to play football with local club Sandsborgs IF as a youngster. In 1939, he made his debut for Hammarby IF in Allsvenskan, Sweden's first tier. Bäckvall played four league games throughout the season, as Hammarby suffered a relegation, and scored a brace in a 7–1 home win against Gårda BK on 2 June 1940, making him one of the youngest ever goalscorers in Allsvenskan, at age 17. Back in Division 2, the Swedish second tier, Hammarby IF finished in the top four for the next six years. Bäckvall established himself as one of his side's offensive key players, together with Holger Nurmela and Kurt Kjellström. He had his major breakthrough in 1942, playing 18 games and scoring eight goals, as his side placed second behind IK Brage on goal difference, barely missing out on the play-off spot.

He left Hammarby in the summer of 1946, being replaced as a left winger by the future club legend Lennart Skoglund, who would become one of the most renowned Swedish players.

AIK

In 1946, Bäckvall completed a transfer to AIK in Allsvenskan. He made his competitive debut for the club on 8 September the same year, in a 2–1 home win against Degerfors IF. He became a frequent starter, getting known for his pace and fine scoring efficiency. Other key players in this era included Börje Leander, Sune Andersson and Henry Carlsson. On 13 May 1949, Bäckvall won his second and final cap for Sweden, in an impressive 3–1 win against England. In 1950–51, the club suffered a relegation from the top division for the first time in its history, but Bäckvall decided to stay with AIK and won an immediate promotion the next season. He decided to retire from top-level football in 1953, after seven full seasons with the club, due to an injured achilles tendon. In total, Bäckvall played 133 league games for AIK and scored 40 goals.

Managerial career

In 1954, Bäckvall became the player-coach of local Stockholm club Hagalunds IS in the lower divisions, where he stayed for one season. He later worked as a coach in AIK's youth organisation. He later worked as a coach for Kalmar FF and IK Brage in Division 2.

Club

AIK * Svenska Cupen: 1949, 1950

Everyday life

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