new players filled important gaps and Örebro immediately became a winning team. After earning seven points in three games against the top trio IFK Göteborg, Kalmar FF and Elfsborgs IF, relegation was no longer a threat. Being one of the best teams of the second half of the season, Örebro eventually finished seventh. The successful ending to the 2008 season was carried on to 2009. Several new talented players were brought on the team, including Alejandro Bedoya (whose impressive first season earned him a number of caps for the US in 2010, although he just missed out of the world cup squad), Michael Almebäck and home-grown talent Marcus Astvald (both of which earned selections to the U-21 Sweden squad). After an unlucky start of the season with two losses, Örebro soon joined the top teams and it was only a spell of bad form in the late season that deprived the team of a new medal. Örebro finished sixth. In 2010, Sixten Boström had the opportunity to work with nearly the same squad as in 2009, with a fresh addition of Paulinho Guara on loan from Korean Busan. Despite a couple of unexpected losses at home in the beginning of the season (against Mjällby and Gasis), there was never a doubt that Örebro would be a top team. Clear losses both away and at home to eventual champions Malmö FF spoiled the chance of a gold, but the impressive and clear late summer home wins against Elfsborg and Helsingborg (both 3–0) revealed potential of the team. The team finished third, owing them "little silver" and a spot in the second qualification round for the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League. In the summer of 2010, striker Kim Olsen left the team and a number of youngesters were brought on. One of them, Astrit Ajdarevic had an instant impact. He came on as a substitute and scored a late, beautiful equalizer against Elfsborg away, and then scored two goals in the home win. Ajdarevic was however not fit to become a regular starter of the team. Although Örebro wanted to extend Ajdarevic's contract, he received an offer he could not refuse from IFK Norrköping and thus left the team at the end of the season. The transfer window after the end of the 2010 season became even more hectic. Despite early rumours of an exodus of top players, the only players from the