Hammarby IF

Hammarby IF

Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre. In Sweden, the club is often referred to by its nickname Bajen (a short form of a mock-English pronunciation of "Hammarby").

Formed in 1889 as Hammarby Roddförening (eng: Hammarby Boat Club), in 1897 the name was changed to Hammarby Idrottsförening (Hammarby IF) as many of the club's athlethes were now engaging in more sports than just rowing. In 2001, the A-team, B-team and the J-teams were separated from the youth teams and the club is referred to as Hammarby Fotboll.

The team won their first and so far only Allsvenskan title in 2001.

Owing to its geographical location in the formerly less affluent district of Södermalm, in Stockholm Hammarby was historically regarded as a club with a mainly working-class fan base. Today the club attracts supporters from all parts of society, though Hammarby fans are proud of their working-class roots and often show that when they play the local rival Djurgården, known to draw part of its crowd from Stockholm's upper class.

The club is by 49% owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group and by 51% Hammarby IF FF. The club is affiliated to the Stockholms Fotbollförbund.

Italian sportswear company Kappa is the current kit manufacturer for Hammarby, after changing from Nike in the year end of 2010. Hammarby also holds major sponsorship deals with lending institution Folkia and sporting goods retailer Intersport. Since 2010, soft drink brand Pepsi is the club's main shirt sponsor.