Eric Persson
Encyclopedia
Eric "Hövdingen" Persson (19 April 1898 – 9 June 1984; Malmö
, Sweden
) was a long time chairman of Swedish football club Malmö FF
and one of the most legendary Swedish football leaders of all time.
) because of the success the club enjoyed while under his leadership. Malmö FF won 10 Swedish Championships
out of their total 16 during Perssons era as chairman.
Persson became a member of Malmö FF in 1925. In 1929, he was elected a member of the board and 8 years later in 1937, he was elected chairman of the club, a position he would hold on to until 1974. In 1944, Persson led Malmö FF to the first Swedish championship in the history of the club.
He would lead the club to another 9 victories in Allsvenskan
as well as 8 Swedish Cup titles. At the yearly members meeting in 1974, he announced that he would be stepping down as chairman after the season, his successor would be Hans Cavalli-Björkman
. Four years later in 1979, Malmö FF reached the final of the European Cup (The predecessor to UEFA Champions League
). The club lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest but the final is still regarded as the brightest moment of the clubs history, Something which some argue would have been impossible if it hadn't been for Persson. When he was elected chairman in 1937, the club was playing in the second division in Sweden, when he left the club in the late 1970s the club was the dominating club in Swedish football and a consistent competitor in Europe.
Today, Persson is regarded as the most important person in Malmö FFs history.
, Persson was a part of organisations that helped Jewish people escape the Nazi occupation of Denmark
. As a result he was awarded the Order of the Elephant
, the highest order in Denmark
.
In 1958, Persson part of the committee who selected the Swedish national football team for the FIFA World Cup
which took place in Sweden that year.
Persson was also a supporter and member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
. He was a close friend of Swedish prime ministers Olof Palme
and Per-Albin Hansson.
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) was a long time chairman of Swedish football club Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
and one of the most legendary Swedish football leaders of all time.
Chairman of Malmö FF
Persson was chairman of the club for 37 years between 1937 and 1974. He earned his nickname "Hövdingen" (Swedish for Tribal chiefTribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
) because of the success the club enjoyed while under his leadership. Malmö FF won 10 Swedish Championships
Swedish football champions
Swedish football champions is a title held by the winners of the highest Swedish football league played each year, Allsvenskan. IFK Göteborg holds the record of most titles with 18 Swedish championships. After winning the 2011 Allsvenskan, Helsingborgs IF are the reigning Swedish football...
out of their total 16 during Perssons era as chairman.
Persson became a member of Malmö FF in 1925. In 1929, he was elected a member of the board and 8 years later in 1937, he was elected chairman of the club, a position he would hold on to until 1974. In 1944, Persson led Malmö FF to the first Swedish championship in the history of the club.
He would lead the club to another 9 victories in Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
as well as 8 Swedish Cup titles. At the yearly members meeting in 1974, he announced that he would be stepping down as chairman after the season, his successor would be Hans Cavalli-Björkman
Hans Cavalli-Björkman
Hans Cavalli-Björkman is a Swedish former fotball chairman for the Swedish club Malmö FF, a post he held between 1975 and 1998. During Cavalli-Björkmans years at the club they won four Swedish championships as well as six Svenska Cupen titles...
. Four years later in 1979, Malmö FF reached the final of the European Cup (The predecessor to UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
). The club lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest but the final is still regarded as the brightest moment of the clubs history, Something which some argue would have been impossible if it hadn't been for Persson. When he was elected chairman in 1937, the club was playing in the second division in Sweden, when he left the club in the late 1970s the club was the dominating club in Swedish football and a consistent competitor in Europe.
Today, Persson is regarded as the most important person in Malmö FFs history.
Life outside the club
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Persson was a part of organisations that helped Jewish people escape the Nazi occupation of Denmark
Occupation of Denmark
Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish...
. As a result he was awarded the Order of the Elephant
Order of the Elephant
The Order of the Elephant is the highest order of Denmark. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively bestowed on royalty and heads of state.- History :A Danish religious...
, the highest order in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
In 1958, Persson part of the committee who selected the Swedish national football team for the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
which took place in Sweden that year.
Persson was also a supporter and member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
. He was a close friend of Swedish prime ministers Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
and Per-Albin Hansson.