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GAIS
GAIS logo.svg
Full name Göteborgs Atlet- &
Idrottssällskap
Nickname(s) Makrillarna (the Mackerels)
Grönsvart (Green-black)
Gårdakvarnen (the Gårda Mill)
Founded 11 March 1894; 131 years ago (1894-03-11)
1897; 128 years ago (1897) (football department)
Ground Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg
Ground Capacity 18,416
Chairman Stefan Tilk
Head coach Fredrik Holmberg
League Allsvenskan
2024 6th of 16
Third colours

Göteborgs Atlet- och Idrottssällskap, often called GAIS or Gais, is a Swedish football club from Gothenburg. The club is known by its nicknames Makrillarna (the Mackerels) or Grönsvart (Green-black). These names come from their traditional green and black striped shirts and white shorts. GAIS plays its home games at Gamla Ullevi stadium.

GAIS is one of Sweden's oldest football clubs. It was a founding member of the top league, Allsvenskan, and also its first champion. The club has won four national championships and one national cup title. For many years, GAIS was known as a "yo-yo club" because it often moved between different leagues. However, after being promoted in 2022 and 2023, GAIS played in Allsvenskan in 2024 and finished in 6th place.

GAIS History: From Founding to Today

Early Days and First Wins

GAIS was started on March 11, 1894, in Gothenburg. The club's first goal was to promote sports like athletics and strength training. The football part of the club began in 1897. Their first official football game was in 1903 against local rivals Örgryte IS.

GAIS first played in the highest league, Svenska Serien, in 1915/16. They won their first national championship in 1919. They won again in 1922. When the new top league, Allsvenskan, started, GAIS won its first season in 1924/25. They won again in 1926/27. In 1930/31, GAIS won the league again, and this time, the league champions were officially recognized as national champions.

Grus 2 193122a
Sune Sandbring (Malmö FF) playing against Frank Jacobsson (GAIS) in 1953.

During the 1930s, GAIS was not as dominant. In 1938, they were moved down to a lower division. After three years, they returned to Allsvenskan in 1941–42 and finished second. In 1942, they won the Svenska Cupen for the first and only time.

The club stayed in Allsvenskan through the 1940s and early 1950s. They surprisingly won their fourth national championship in 1953/54. But the very next year, they were moved down again.

The 1960s and 1970s: Ups and Downs

GAIS returned to Allsvenskan in 1955/56. However, from the mid-1950s, the club struggled to stay in the top league for long periods. They were moved down in 1959 and spent four seasons in the second division. They briefly returned to Allsvenskan in 1964.

After another move down, they quickly returned to Allsvenskan in 1966. GAIS then stayed in the top league from 1966 to 1975, except for one year in 1971. In 1975, GAIS played in the UEFA Cup for the first time. They lost to a Polish club, Śląsk Wrocław. That same year, GAIS was moved down from Allsvenskan again.

GAIS 1966 Team Photo
The GAIS team in 1966, after being promoted back to Allsvenskan.

Three Decades of Challenges: 1976–2006

Being moved down in 1975 was a tough moment for GAIS. They lost their spot as Gothenburg's top team to their rivals, IFK Göteborg. For the next five years, GAIS could not get back into Allsvenskan. In 1981, the club was even moved down to the third division due to money problems and poor performance.

Things looked difficult in 1982, but GAIS played very well in 1983. They earned a spot in the playoffs and won, moving back up to the second division.

GAIS League Performance
This chart shows how GAIS moved through the Swedish football league system. Different shades of gray show different league divisions.

In 1984, GAIS signed a talented player, Samir Bakaou, from Tunisia. He was called "the Black Pearl" and helped the team a lot. With him, GAIS became strong again. They almost got back to Allsvenskan in 1985 but lost in a penalty shootout. Finally, in 1987, GAIS returned to Allsvenskan after 11 years in lower divisions. They also reached the finals of the Svenska Cupen but lost.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, GAIS mostly fought to stay in Allsvenskan. They finished third in 1989, but usually were in the lower half of the league. In 1992, they were moved down again. The club faced its toughest time in 1997 when they were in the third division and had big money problems.

GAIS-team-crop
GAIS players wearing their classic green and black striped shirts during a game in 2008.

GAIS was promoted to the second division in 1998. In 1999, they made it back to Allsvenskan. However, they were moved down again in 2000 and then to the third division in 2001. After failing to return quickly in 2002, GAIS won their series in 2003 and got promoted back to Superettan (the second division).

In 2004, Roland Nilsson became the head coach. Under him, GAIS finished sixth in 2004. The next year, they finished third and played in the promotion playoffs for Allsvenskan. After a very close series, GAIS finally returned to Allsvenskan. They stayed there for seven seasons. After a strong fifth-place finish in 2011, they ended up in last place and were moved down in 2012. They remained in the second tier until 2021 when they were moved down again.

In 2022, GAIS played in the third division. But they quickly moved up, getting promoted two years in a row. As of 2024, they are back in Allsvenskan.

GAIS Supporters and Rivalries

GAIS-BK Häcken, 9 augusti 2006 (10)
GAIS supporters cheering in 2006.

GAIS is the third most popular club in Gothenburg. About 13% of football fans in the city support GAIS. Their fans are known for being very loyal, no matter how well the club is doing. The oldest and main GAIS supporter group is called Makrillarna, started in 1961.

In 2018, the club did something special: they allowed a supporter to be an assistant manager for one game. This was very unusual for a Swedish football club.

GAIS has a strong rivalry with another Gothenburg team, IFK Göteborg. When GAIS plays in the top league, about 4,500 to 7,000 fans usually attend games. In the second league, it's about 3,000 to 4,000 fans. More people come to games against local rivals like IFK Göteborg, Örgryte IS, and IF Elfsborg, as well as against big teams from Stockholm and Skåne.

GAIS Players

Current First-Team Squad

No. Position Player
1 Sweden GK Mergim Krasniqi
2 Canada DF Matteo de Brienne
4 Sweden DF Oskar Ågren
5 Sweden DF Robin Wendin Thomasson
6 Sweden DF August Wängberg
7 Sweden MF Joackim Åberg
8 Sweden MF William Milovanovic
9 Sweden MF Gustav Lundgren
10 Sweden MF Amin Boudri
11 Sweden FW Edvin Becirovic
12 Sweden DF Robin Frej
13 New Zealand GK Kees Sims
14 Sweden MF Filip Gustafsson
16 Sweden FW Rasmus Niklasson Petrovic
No. Position Player
17 Iceland MF Róbert Frosti Þorkelsson
18 Sweden MF Kevin Holmén
19 Ivory Coast FW Ibrahim Diabate
20 Sweden FW Chisomnazu Chika Chidi
21 Sweden MF Axel Henriksson
22 Bosnia and Herzegovina DF Anes Čardaklija
24 Sweden DF Filip Beckman
25 Sweden MF Jonas Lindberg
26 Sint Maarten FW Chovanie Amatkarijo
28 Sweden FW Lucas Hedlund
29 Sweden FW Daniel Bengtsson
30 Sweden GK Victor Astor
31 Sweden FW Simon Sjöholm
32 Sweden MF Harun Ibrahim

Players on Loan

No. Position Player
Sweden MF Mohamed Bawa (at Östersund until 30 November 2025)

Retired Jersey Numbers

  • 15 – Fredrik Lundgren, a defender and midfielder who played for GAIS from 1999–2002 and 2003–2012.

Famous Players

Karl-Alfred Jacobsson was chosen as "player of the century" and "player of the millennium" by GAIS fans. The supporter group Makrillarna gives out an award called "The Honorary Mackerel" to the best player each season since 1961.

Gamla ullevi goteborg gren
Gunnar Gren won an award in 1963 for helping GAIS get into Allsvenskan. His statue is outside the Gamla Ullevi stadium.
Wánderson do Carmo 2013
Wánderson was a top goalscorer in the Russian Premier League after leaving GAIS.
  • Sweden Frank Jacobsson
  • Sweden Leif Andersson
  • Sweden Bo Palle
  • Sweden Gunnar Gren
  • Sweden Leif Forsberg
  • Sweden Leif Wendt
  • Sweden Kurt Axelsson
  • Sweden Kent Grek
  • Sweden Jan Olsson
  • Sweden Hasse Samuelsson
  • Sweden Hasse Johansson
  • Sweden Sten Pålsson
  • Sweden Kjell Uppling
  • Sweden Eine Fredriksson
  • Sweden Sune Persson
  • Sweden Nils Norlander
  • Sweden Mikael Johansson
  • Sweden Mikael Berthagen
  • Sweden Morgan Lagemyr
  • Sweden Osborn Larsson
  • Sweden Lallo Fernandez
  • Sweden Håkan Lindman
  • Sweden Niklas Sjöstedt
  • Tunisia Samir Bakaou
  • Sweden Sören Järelöv
  • Sweden Ulf Johansson
  • England Steve Gardner
  • Sweden Tony Persson
  • Sweden Jens Wålemark
  • Sweden Lenna Kreivi
  • Finland Erik Holmgren
  • Sweden Tinos Lappas
  • Sweden Thomas Hallberg
  • Sweden Stefan Martinsen
  • Sweden Niclas Johansson
  • Sweden Mårten Jonsson
  • Sweden Per Johansson
  • Sweden Magnus Gustafsson
  • Sweden Thomas Hvenfelt
  • Sweden Anders Holmberg
  • Sweden Ivan Ottordahl
  • Sweden Mathias Gravem
  • Finland Ville Viljanen
  • Sweden Stefan Vennberg
  • Sweden Fredrik Lundgren
  • Sweden Dime Jankulovski
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo Richard Ekunde
  • Sweden Bobbie Friberg da Cruz
  • Brazil Wánderson
  • Sweden Kenneth Gustafsson
  • Cameroon Eric Bassombeng
  • Sweden Lars Göthfelt
  • Sweden Joel Anell

GAIS Managers

Roland Nilsson
Roland Nilsson, a bronze medalist from the 1994 FIFA World Cup, helped GAIS return to Allsvenskan as manager.
  • Sweden Knut Holmberg (1938–42)
  • Sweden Gösta Holmberg (1940–41)
  • Sweden Helge Liljebjörn (1941–43)
  • Sweden Holger Jernsten (1943–49)
  • England George Raynor (1947–48)
  • Austria Willy Wolf (1949–51)
  • Sweden Helge Ahlström (1951–52)
  • Sweden Sven Jacobsson (1952–54)
  • Sweden Gösta Hallberg (1954–56)
  • Sweden Sixten Rosenqvist (1955–57)
  • Sweden Karl-Erik Grahn (1956–59)
  • Sweden Curt Thorstensson (1960–61)
  • Hungary István Takács (1962)
  • Sweden Gunnar Gren (1963–64)
  • Sweden Holger Hansson (1965–67)
  • Sweden Gunnar Gren (1968–69)
  • Sweden Holger Hansson (1970–72)
  • Hungary Vilmos Várszegi (1973–76)
  • Sweden Rune Jingård (1976)
  • Sweden Arne Lindqvist (1977)
  • Sweden Lars Hedén (1978–79)
  • Norway Tom Lilledal (1980)
  • Sweden Bosse Nilsson (1981)
  • Sweden Bo Falk (1982–92)
  • Sweden Bengt-Arne Strömberg (1993–96)
  • Sweden Hans Gren (1997–98)
  • Sweden Lennart Ottordal (1999–00)
  • Sweden Kent Kierdorf (2001)
  • Sweden Lennart Ottordal (2001–02)
  • Sweden Roberto Jacobsson (2003)
  • Sweden Roland Nilsson (2004–07)
  • Sweden Magnus Pehrsson (2008)
  • Sweden Alexander Axén (2009 – Jul 2012)
  • Netherlands Jan Mak (Aug–Oct 2012)
  • Sweden Benjamin Westman (Oct–Dec 2012)
  • Sweden Thomas Askebrand (2013–2014)
  • Sweden Per-Ola Ljung (2014 – Aug 2015)
  • Sweden Jesper Ljung (Aug–Dec 2015)
  • Sweden Benjamin Westman (2016–2017)
  • Sweden Patrik Ingelsten (Jun–Jul 2017)
  • Sweden Bosko Orovic (2017 – Jul 2019)
  • Sweden Patrik Ingelsten (Jul–Sep 2019)
  • Sweden Tomas Erixon (Sep–Dec 2019)
  • Sweden Stefan Jacobsson (Dec 2019 – Nov 2021)
  • Sweden Fredrik Holmberg (Nov 2021–)

GAIS Achievements

National Championships

  • Swedish Champions
    • Winners (4): 1919, 1922, 1930–31, 1953–54

League Titles

  • Allsvenskan:
    • Winners (4): 1924–25, 1926–27, 1930–31, 1953–54
    • Runners-up (4): 1925–26, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1941–42
  • Superettan:
    • Runner-up (1): 2023
  • Division 1 Södra:
    • Winners (1): 1987, 2022
    • Runners-up (2): 1995, 1999
  • Svenska Serien:
    • Winners (1): 1923–24

Cup Wins

  • Svenska Cupen:
    • Winners (1): 1942
    • Runners-up (1): 1986–87
  • Svenska Mästerskapet:
    • Winners (2): 1919, 1922

European Competitions

  • Intertoto Cup:
    • Winners (1): 1990

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: GAIS Gotemburgo para niños

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