Danish Superliga

The Danish Superliga (Danish: Superligaen, pronounced [ˈsuˀpɐliːˌkɛˀn̩]) is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with two teams relegated.

Superliga
Founded1991
First season1991
CountryDenmark
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDanish 1st Division
Domestic cup(s)Danish Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsCopenhagen (15th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsCopenhagen (15 titles)
Most appearancesRasmus Würtz (452)
Top goalscorerMorten Rasmussen (145)
TV partnersDomestic
Viaplay Group
(TV3+, TV3 Sport, TV3 MAX)
Discovery Networks Denmark
(Canal 9, Eurosport 2)
International
Eleven Sports
OneFootball
Website
Current: 2023–24 Danish Superliga
Danish football
league structure
Superliga (Tier 1)
1st Division (Tier 2)
2nd Division (Tier 3)
3rd Division (Tier 4)
Denmark Series (Tiers 5)
Copenhagen Series – Funen Series – Jutland Series – Zealand Series (Tiers 6)
Series 1 (Tiers 7)
Series 2 (Tiers 8)
Series 3 (Tiers 9)
Series 4 (Tiers 10)
Series 5 (Tiers 11)

History

Founded in 1991, the Danish Superliga replaced the Danish 1st Division as the highest league of football in Denmark. From the start in 1991, 10 teams were participating. The opening Superliga season was played during the spring of 1991, with the ten teams playing each other twice for the championship title. From the summer of 1991, the tournament structure would stretch over two calendar years. The 10 teams would play each other twice in the first half of the tournament. In the following spring, the bottom two teams would be cut off, the points of the teams would be cut in half, and the remaining eight teams would once more play each other twice, for a total of 32 games in a season.

This practice was abandoned before the 1995–96 season, when the number of teams competing was increased to 12, playing each other thrice for 33 games per Superliga season. For the first season of this new structure, Coca-Cola became the name sponsor of the league, which was then named Coca-Cola Ligaen. After a single season under that name, Faxe Brewery became sponsors and the league changed its name to Faxe Kondi Ligaen. Before the 2001–02 season, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) became the head sponsor, and the name of the tournament changed to SAS Ligaen. From January 2015 the Danish Superliga is known as Alka Superliga, as the Danish insurance company Alka became name sponsor.[1]

Logos used for naming rights agreements for the league:

  • Coca-Cola Ligaen(1995–96)Sponsor: Coca-Cola
    Coca-Cola Ligaen
    (1995–96)
    Sponsor: Coca-Cola
  • Faxe Kondi Ligaen(1996–97 until 2000–01)Sponsor: Faxe Brewery
    Faxe Kondi Ligaen
    (1996–97 until 2000–01)
    Sponsor: Faxe Brewery
  • SAS Ligaen(2001–02 until 2009–10)Sponsor: SAS
    SAS Ligaen
    (2001–02 until 2009–10)
    Sponsor: SAS
  • Superligaen(2010–11 until 31 Dec 2014)No league sponsor
    Superligaen
    (2010–11 until 31 Dec 2014)
    No league sponsor
  • Alka Superliga(1 Jan 2015 until 2017–18)Sponsor: Alka
    Alka Superliga
    (1 Jan 2015 until 2017–18)
    Sponsor: Alka
  • Superligaen2018–19No league sponsor
    Superligaen
    2018–19
    No league sponsor
  • 3F Superliga(Since 2019–20)Sponsor: Fagligt Fælles Forbund
    3F Superliga
    (Since 2019–20)
    Sponsor: Fagligt Fælles Forbund

Structure

From 1996 through 2016, the league included 12 clubs which played each other three times. The two teams with the fewest points at the end of the season were relegated to the Danish 1st Division and replaced by the top two teams of that division. During this era, each team played every other team at least once at home and once away plus once more either at home or away. The top six teams of the previous season played 17 matches at home and 16 away while the teams in 7th to 10th place plus the two newly promoted teams played 16 matches at home and 17 away.

Following the 2015–16 season, the league was expanded to 14 teams, accomplished by relegating only the last-place finisher in that season and promoting the top three teams from the 1st division. The 2016–17 season was the first for the new league structure. It began with the teams playing a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in 26 matches for each team. At that time, the league split into a six-team championship playoff and an eight-team qualifying playoff. All teams' table points and goals carry over fully into the playoffs.

In the championship playoff, each team plays the others home and away again. The top team at the end of the playoff is Superliga champion and enters the Champions League in the second qualifying round. The second-place team enters the Europa League in the first qualifying round. The third-place team advances to a one-off playoff match for another Europa League place. If the winner of the Danish Cup finishes in the top three, the match will instead involve the fourth-place team.

The qualifying playoff is split into two groups, with the teams that finished the regular season in 7th, 10th, 11th, and 14th in one group and those finishing 8th, 9th, 12th, and 13th in the other. Each group plays home-and-away within its group. The top two teams from each group then enter a knockout tournament, with each match over two legs. If the Danish Cup winner is among the top two finishers in either playoff group, it is withdrawn from the knockout playoff and its opponent automatically advances to the tournament final. The winner of that tournament faces the third-place (or fourth-place) team from the championship playoff in a one-off match, with the winner entering the Europa League in the first qualifying round.

The bottom two teams from each group then contest a relegation playoff with several steps, centered on a separate four-team knockout playoff, also consisting totally of two-legged matches:

  • The third-placed teams in each group play over two legs, with the winners remaining in the Superliga and the losers advancing to a playoff final against the third-place team from the 1st Division.
  • The bottom teams in each group play over two legs, with the winners advancing to a play-off final against the second-place team from the 1st Division, and the losers dropping to next season's 1st Division.
  • The winners of each play-off final play in the next season's Superliga.

In the 2019–20 season, the number of teams was reduced from 14 to 12 teams. It began with all 12 teams playing a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in 22 matches for each team. At that time, the league split into a six-team championship playoff and a six-team qualifying playoff. All teams' points and goals carried over fully from the regular season into the playoffs. In both playoff groups, six teams play a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in ten matches (32 for the full season). The two bottom teams in the qualifying playoff are relegated to 1st Division, while the team finishing 7th plays against the lowest placed team from the Championship playoff, who failed to qualify directly to European Football, in a single match, to decide the final European spot from Denmark.

Teams

Current teams (2023–24)
Locations of teams in the 2023–24 Danish Superliga
Club Finishing position
last season		 First season in
top division		 First season of
current spell in
top division
AGF 3rd 1918–19 2015–16
Brøndby 5th 1982 1982
Copenhagen 1st 1992–93 1992–93
Hvidovre IF 2nd in 1st Division 1965 2023–24
Lyngby 10th 1980 2022–23
Midtjylland 7th 2000–01 2000–01
Nordsjælland 2nd 2002–03 2002–03
OB 8th 1927–28 1999–00
Randers 6th 1970 2011–12
Silkeborg 9th 1988 2021–22
Vejle Boldklub 1st in 1st Division 1956-57 2023–24
Viborg 4th 1981 2021–22

Winners
See also: List of Danish football champions

Seasons
Season Champions Performance
Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1991 Brøndby IF261810622615+11
1991–92 Lyngby BK32[2]14923227+15
1992–93 F.C. Copenhagen32[2]148333123+8
1993–94 Silkeborg IF31[2]148242315+8
1994–95 AaB31[2]147433013+17
1995–96 Brøndby IF673320767132+39
1996–97 Brøndby IF683320856439+25
1997–98 Brøndby IF763324458133+48
1998–99 AaB6433171336537+28
1999–2000 Herfølge BK563316895249+3
2000–01 F.C. Copenhagen6333171245527+28
2001–02 Brøndby IF693320947428+46
2002–03 F.C. Copenhagen6133171065132+19
2003–04 F.C. Copenhagen683320855627+29
2004–05 Brøndby IF693320946123+38
2005–06 F.C. Copenhagen733322746227+35
2006–07 F.C. Copenhagen763323736023+37
2007–08 AaB713322566038+22
2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen743323556726+41
2009–10 F.C. Copenhagen683321576122+39
2010–11 F.C. Copenhagen813325627729+48
2011–12 FC Nordsjælland683321574922+27
2012–13 F.C. Copenhagen6533181146232+30
2013–14 AaB623318876038+22
2014–15 FC Midtjylland713322566434+30
2015–16 F.C. Copenhagen713321846228+34
2016–17 F.C. Copenhagen843625927420+54
2017–18 FC Midtjylland853627458039+41
2018–19 F.C. Copenhagen823626468637+49
2019–20 FC Midtjylland823626466129+32
2020–21 Brøndby IF613219495838+20
2021–22 F.C. Copenhagen683220845619+37
2022–23 F.C. Copenhagen593218596135+26

Relegations
Season Relegated team(s)
1991Ikast FS
1991–92Vejle Boldklub
1992–93Boldklubben Frem, Boldklubben 1909
1993–94Viborg FF, B93
1994–95Fremad Amager
1995–96Ikast FS, Næstved BK
1996–97Viborg FF, Hvidovre IF
1997–98Ikast FS, Odense Boldklub
1998–99Aarhus Fremad, B93
1999–00Vejle Boldklub, Esbjerg fB
2000–01Herfølge Boldklub, SønderjyskE
2001–02Vejle Boldklub, Lyngby Boldklub
2002–03Silkeborg IF, Køge BK
2003–04Boldklubben Frem, AB
2004–05Herfølge Boldklub, Randers FC
2005–06SønderjyskE, Aarhus Gymnastikforening
2006–07Vejle Boldklub, Silkeborg IF
2007–08Viborg FF, Lyngby Boldklub
2008–09AC Horsens, Vejle Boldklub
2009–10AGF, HB Køge
2010–11Randers FC, Esbjerg fB
2011–12Lyngby Boldklub, HB Køge
2012–13AC Horsens, Silkeborg IF
2013–14AGF, Viborg FF
2014–15FC Vestsjælland, Silkeborg IF
2015–16Hobro IK
2016–17Viborg FF, Esbjerg fB
2017–18Lyngby Boldklub, Silkeborg IF, FC Helsingør
2018–19Vendsyssel FF, Vejle Boldklub
2019–20Hobro IK, Silkeborg IF, Esbjerg fB
2020–21AC Horsens, Lyngby Boldklub
2021–22Vejle Boldklub, SønderjyskE
2022–23AC Horsens, AaB

Notable players

Top goalscorers
Season Tally Top scorer(s)
199111Bent Christensen (Brøndby IF)
1991–9217Peter Møller (AaB)
1992–9322Peter Møller (AaB)
1993–9418Søren Frederiksen (Viborg FF)
1994–9524Erik Bo Andersen (AaB)
1995–9620Thomas Thorninger (AGF)
1996–9726Miklos Molnar (Lyngby BK)
1997–9828Ebbe Sand (Brøndby IF)
1998–9923Heine Fernandez (Viborg FF)
1999–0016Peter Lassen (Silkeborg IF)
2000–0121Peter Graulund (Brøndby IF)
2001–0222Peter Madsen (Brøndby IF) and Kaspar Dalgas (OB)
2002–0318Søren Frederiksen (Viborg FF) and Jan Kristiansen (Esbjerg fB)
2003–0419Steffen Højer and Mwape Miti (both OB), Mohamed Zidan (FC Midtjylland) and Tommy Bechmann (Esbjerg fB)
2004–0520Steffen Højer (OB)
2005–0616Steffen Højer (Viborg FF)
2006–0719Rade Prica (AaB)
2007–0817Jeppe Curth (AaB)
2008–0916Morten Nordstrand (F.C. Copenhagen) and Marc Nygaard (Randers FC)
2009–1018Peter Utaka (OB)
2010–1125Dame N'Doye (F.C. Copenhagen)
2011–1218Dame N'Doye (F.C. Copenhagen)
2012–1318Andreas Cornelius (F.C. Copenhagen)
2013–1418Thomas Dalgaard (Viborg FF)
2014–1517Martin Pusic (Esbjerg FB/ FC Midtjylland)
2015–1618Lukas Spalvis (AaB)
2016–1723Marcus Ingvartsen (FC Nordsjælland)
2017–1822Pål Alexander Kirkevold (Hobro IK)
2018–1929Robert Skov (F.C. Copenhagen)
2019–2018Ronnie Schwartz (Silkeborg IF/ FC Midtjylland)
2020–2119Mikael Uhre (Brøndby IF)
2021–2217Nicklas Helenius (Silkeborg IF)
2022–2315Patrick Mortensen (Aarhus GF) and Gustav Isaksen (FC Midtjylland)

All-Time topscorer(s)

The 10 most scoring players throughout the history of the Superliga. Latest update 30 December 2022.

Rank Topscorer(s) Goals Club(s)
1.Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen145AGF, Brøndby IF, AaB, FC Midtjylland
2.Søren Frederiksen139Silkeborg IF, Viborg FF, AaB
3.Peter Møller135AaB, Brøndby IF, FC København
4.Heine Fernandez126AB, FC København, Silkeborg IF, Viborg FF
5.Steffen Højer124OB, Viborg FF, AaB
6.Frank Kristensen109FC Midtjylland, Ikast fS, Randers FC
7.Peter Graulund107AGF, Brøndby IF, Vejle BK
8.Søren Andersen101AGF, OB, AaB
9.Nicklas Helenius93AaB, Silkeborg IF, OB, AGF
10.Dame N'Doye90FC København

Most capped players
Twenty players with most Superliga appearances
RankPlayerAppearancesClub(s)
1 Rasmus Würtz 452 AaB, Copenhagen, Vejle
2 Hans Henrik Andreasen 397 OB, Esbjerg fB, Hobro
3 Per Nielsen 394 Brøndby
4 Jakob Poulsen 390 Esbjerg fB, AGF, Midtjylland
5 Jimmy Nielsen 375 AaB, Vejle
6 Jesper Hansen 374 Nordsjælland, Lyngby, Midtjylland, AGF
7 Michael Hansen 371 Silkeborg, OB, Esbjerg fB, Midtjylland
Mogens Krogh 371 Ikast FS, Brøndby
9 Nicolai Stokholm 370 AB, OB, Nordsjælland
10 Arek Onyszko 363 Viborg, OB, Midtjylland
11 Johan Absalonsen 362 Brøndby, OB, Copenhagen, Horsens, SønderjyskE
12 Michael Nonbo 355 Næstved, AGF, Viborg, SønderjyskE
Morten "Duncan" Rasmussen 355 AGF, Brøndby, AaB, FC Midtjylland
Jonas Borring 355 OB, Midtjylland, Randers, Brøndby, Horsens
15 Anders Møller Christensen 351 Næstved, OB, Esbjerg fB
16 Kasper Risgård 344 AaB, Silkeborg
17 Thomas Augustinussen 342 AaB
18 Jens Jessen 341 AaB, Midtjylland
Jakob Glerup 341 Viborg
20 Rasmus Falk 340 OB, Copenhagen
As of 25 July 2023[3]

Most capped foreign players
Main article: List of foreign Danish Superliga players
Thirty foreign players with most Superliga appearances
RankPlayerNationalityAppearancesClub(s)
1 Arek Onyszko Poland 362 Viborg FF, OB, FC Midtjylland
2 Jerry Lucena Philippines 334 Esbjerg fB, AGF Aarhus
3 Karim Zaza Morocco 322 FC København, OB, Brøndby IF, AaB
4 Rilwan Hassan Nigeria 296 FC Midtjylland, SønderjyskE
5 Todi Jónsson Faroe Islands 243 Lyngby BK, FC København
6 Pierre Bengtsson Sweden 242 FC Nordsjælland, FC København, Vejle BK
7 Andrew Tembo Zambia 218 OB
8 Kolja Afriyie Germany 203 Esbjerg fB, FC Midtjylland
9 Izunna Uzochukwu Nigeria 201 FC Midtjylland, OB
10 Espen Ruud Norway 197 OB
11 Quincy Antipas Zimbabwe 191 HB Køge, SønderjyskE, Brøndby IF, Hobro IK
12 Rúrik Gíslason Iceland 181 Viborg FF, OB, FC København
13 Mwape Miti Zambia 178 OB
14 Hallgrímur Jónasson Iceland 174 SønderjyskE, OB, Lyngby BK
15 Bajram Fetai Macedonia 167 Silkeborg IF, FC Nordsjælland, Lyngby BK
16 Rawez Lawan Sweden 168 AC Horsens, FC Nordsjælland
17 Dan Eggen Norway 167 BK Frem, Brøndby IF
18 Andreas Johansson Sweden 162 AaB, OB
19 César Santin Brazil 161 FC København
20 Abdul Sule Nigeria 160 AB, AC Horsens
Jacob Rinne Sweden 160 AaB
As at the end of season 2021–22[4]

Attendances
Season Average Total Max Min
19913,937354,34813,935712
1991–924,428646,51016,5001,014
1992–935,023733,29922,862484
1993–944,739691,85526,679475
1994–955,930865,75536,623487
1995–965,6891,126,41439,640704
1996–975,3181,052,92228,491585
1997–985,5191,092,68833,124939
1998–994,974984,87437,940180
1999–20005,8381,155,91728,8181,493
2000–015,8371,155,66240,2811,003
2001–025,7271,133,92040,186314
2002–037,3071,446,75240,254800
2003–047,9801,580,01141,0051,011
2004–058,5891,700,53240,654843
2005–067,9571,575,39941,2011,307
2006–078,1081,605,36740,4631,799
2007–088,4991,682,79132,1531,035
2008–098,8151,745,30832,8561,609
2009–108,3151,646,40530,191707
2010–117,0491,395,61628,3871,017
2011–127,1031,406,46225,6511,059
2012–136,7601,338,46533,2150 [lower-alpha 1]
2013–147,9291,570,02732,8461,656
2014–156,9321,372,51132,5261,201
2015–167,2531,436,18829,1781,327
2016–176,0021,500,38026,6861,044
2017–185,8801,469,98028,410568
2018–196,5811,618,96533,1341,012
2019–204,7641,152,83229,3100 [lower-alpha 2]
2020–211,193229,13610,9660 [lower-alpha 3]
2021–228,6361,658,07835,4631,702
2022–2310,2891,975,45435,8202,507
  1. Brøndby IF got a two matches ban on spectators due to unrest at a cup game against FC København.[5]
  2. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic some games were played without spectators and some games were played with a reduced amount allowed.[6]
  3. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic some games were played without spectators and some games were played with a reduced amount allowed.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. "Officielt: Superligaen bliver til Alka Superligaen". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. Tally includes points carried over from the first half of the season.
  3. "Spilletid, all-time". SuperStats. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. "UDLÆNDINGE MED FLEST SPILLEDE KAMPE, ALL TIME". superstats.dk. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  5. Davidsen, Martin (25 March 2013). "DIF slår fast: Brøndby uden tilskuere i to kampe". Tipsbladet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. Muminovic, Arnela (5 June 2020). "Regeringen vil tillade 500 tilskuere til Superliga-kampe". Danmarks Radio. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. Paaske, Søren (15 September 2020). "Nye corona-restriktioner: Færre tilskuere til Superliga-kampe". BT. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
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