Örgryte IS, officially Örgryte Idrottssällskap and commonly shortened to ÖIS, is a Swedish sports club based in Gothenburg. Founded on 4 December 1887, it is the oldest active football club in Sweden and won the first Swedish national championship in 1896 [1]. The club’s visual identity is built around a shield-shaped emblem featuring a white seven-pointed star in a red and blue field, with the initials ÖIS engraved in the star, as defined in the club’s official statutes [2].
After finishing third in Superettan in 2025 and winning the promotion play-off, ÖIS returned to Allsvenskan for the 2026 season, its first top-flight campaign since 2009 [3][4].
Meaning and Symbolism
The club’s official colors are red and blue, decided at a meeting two weeks after the society’s founding. The club’s own materials describe them as “kärleken och trohetens färger,” meaning the colors of love and loyalty [5]. The official brand page states the same symbolism in Swedish: “Rött för kärleken, blått för troheten” (Red for love, blue for loyalty) [6].
The shield and star: The club emblem is a shield with a white seven-pointed star set in a red and blue field, with the initials ÖIS engraved in the star [2]. The acronym ÖIS stands for Örgryte Idrottssällskap and has been written in capitals in the club mark since the club’s founding in 1887 [6].
Design and History
The club was founded on 4 December 1887, when twelve young men gathered in Villa Carlslund in Gothenburg. Wilhelm Friberg was elected the first chairman, a position he held until 1926 [5][7]. At a meeting two weeks later, the club colors were set as red and blue [5].
The shield-and-star emblem is described in the club’s statutes, which state that the club sign consists of a shield with a white seven-pointed star in a red and blue field, with the initials ÖIS engraved in the star [2]. The club mark is trademarked and its use is governed by an official graphical manual, the latest version of which was updated on 11 May 2012 [6].
Reliable public sources documenting a specific redesign date or a named designer for the current emblem were not found in the materials reviewed for this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Örgryte IS logo look like?
The club emblem is a shield with a white seven-pointed star in a red and blue field, with the initials ÖIS engraved in the star [2].
What do the colors in the Örgryte IS logo represent?
The official club colors are red and blue, described by the club as the colors of love and loyalty [6][5].
When was Örgryte IS founded?
The club was founded on 4 December 1887 by twelve young men in Gothenburg, with Wilhelm Friberg as its first chairman [5][7].
Which league does Örgryte IS currently play in?
ÖIS returned to Allsvenskan for the 2026 season after winning the promotion play-off from Superettan, marking its first top-flight campaign since 2009 [3][4].
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners. Explore the Logo Index library for more logo design analyses.
