Djurgarden has made a key addition to its sporting leadership by recruiting head scout John Swärd from Allsvenskan leaders Sirius. The appointment, reported by Expressen Sport this week, means Swärd will leave the Uppsala club after a successful period and join Djurgarden ahead of next season.
The 31-year-old Swärd joined Sirius from Karlbergs BK in 2021 and was promoted to head scout ahead of the 2024 season. During his time there, Sirius experienced rapid financial growth, largely driven by profitable player sales. The club's current success in Allsvenskan, where they lead the table by six points with twelve rounds remaining, is widely attributed to Swärd's work in player identification. Sirius has been particularly successful in signing the right strikers, with names like Wessam Abou Ali, Youssef Salech and Robbie Ure serving as examples of accurate acquisitions.
Why is John Swärd an important addition?
John Swärd joins a Djurgarden that has undergone extensive organizational changes over the past year. The recruitment of Swärd is the second major sporting addition in a short time, following the earlier appointment of Maximilian Hahn as sporting director. Swärd has demonstrated a clear ability to build and develop a scouting operation that directly impacts a team's on-field success. His work in finding and recruiting players who fit Sirius's playing philosophy has been central to the club's rise.
During the winter, both Swärd and his colleague Jonathan Ederström, head of the men's team, were courted by other clubs but chose to remain at Sirius at that time. Swärd has previously dismissed speculation about a move. "I have neither before nor will I in the future comment on speculation." he said earlier this year.
What is Djurgarden's current situation?
Djurgarden currently sits fourth in Allsvenskan with 29 points from 17 matches. The team has nine wins, two draws and six losses, with a goal difference of +18 (37 goals scored, 19 conceded). Recent form has been inconsistent with a sequence of win, loss, loss, win, win. The team trails league-leading Sirius by a full 13 points, highlighting the challenge in this season's title race. The next match is an away fixture against IF Brommapojkarna on October 18th, a team currently in ninth place in the table.
To follow the team's progress more closely, you can check the latest table on our standings page and upcoming matches on fixtures.
What changes have occurred in Djurgarden's leadership?
Swärd's arrival follows a period of major changes within Djurgarden's organization. Last spring, chairman Lars-Erik Sjöberg resigned following an investigation by Expressen, and was succeeded by Erik Gozzi. Later in 2025, CEO Henrik Berggren moved to Svensk Elitfotboll, and Hampus Frisen took over as the new CEO. Frisen has so far refrained from commenting on Swärd's move. "I have no comments regarding other clubs' employees," he told Expressen Sport.
In the spring, sporting director Bosse Andersson then left his role after many years at the club, which opened the door for the recruitment of Maximilian Hahn. Now comes another key figure in the form of John Swärd, who will strengthen scouting operations and player identification. Swärd's expertise in finding and recruiting the right players will be decisive for Djurgarden's future ambitions.
What does this mean for Djurgarden's future?
With Swärd on board, Djurgarden gains access to one of Allsvenskan's most successful scouts in recent years. His experience in building up Sirius's scouting department from the ground up will be invaluable as Djurgarden now looks to strengthen its own organization. The recruitment signals a clear commitment to improving long-term player development and acquisition policy.
For fans wanting to follow player updates more closely, the latest squad information is available on our squad page. With twelve rounds remaining in the season and a fourth-place position to defend, Swärd's future work in identifying talent becomes especially important for the club. His first task will be to familiarize himself with Djurgarden's current structure and needs ahead of preparations for next season.
