Danish Superliga

Superliga
Countries  Denmark
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1991
First season 1991
Number of teams 12
Levels on pyramid 1
Relegation to Danish 1st Division
Domestic cup(s) Danish Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League,
UEFA Europa League
Current champions F.C. Copenhagen
(2009–10)
TV partners TV3+
Canal 9
TV 2 Sport
Others (see section)
Website Superliga.dk
2010–11 Danish Superliga

The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which is one of the the highest risks of relegation in Europe. Superliga has experienced a great development in the past 5 years, with new stadiums and greater attendances, and the league has been flying from number 23 to number 12 in the country ranking system of Uefa [1] which, if it is kept throughout all of the season 2010/2011 will allow the Champion to go directly into the group stages of Champions League, and the runner-up to go into the qualifying rounds. It is mainly FC Copenhagen who has caused this succes, together with Aab Aalborg, OB Odense and Brøndby. The Superliga is generally perceived as being able to attract players of a slightly higher level than that of the rest of the Scandinavian leagues, partly favoured by a lucrative tax-scheme. Two of the best players in the league in the season of 2010 is former Manchester United player Eric Djemba-Djemba, now OB Odense, and former Panathinaikos-player Dame 'N Doye, playing striker for FC København. For the 2009–10 season, the average attendance per game was 8315.[2] According to the soccersite Soccerlens.com the Danish Superliga is number 11 in Europe by attendances, in front of countries such as Greece, Ukraine and Austria. [3]

Contents

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 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.

Old logo of Faxe Kondi Ligaen
Old logo of SAS Ligaen

This practice was abandoned before the 1995–96 season, when the number of teams competing were 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.

Structure

Since 1996, 12 clubs have played in the league, playing each other thrice. Each team meets each one of the other teams one time at home, one time away, plus one more time home or away dependent of the clubs placement in the previous season. The two teams with the fewest points are relegated to the Danish 1st Division. The Danish champion will play in the UEFA Champions League in the upcoming season where they will start in the 3rd qualifying round for champions. The runner-up will play the UEFA Champions League they will start in the 3rd qualifying round for non-champions. The third-placed and fourth-placed team will play in the UEFA Europa league the 3rd places will start in the 3rd qualifying round and the 4th places will start in the 2nd qualifying round. And the winner of the Danish Cup will start in the 4th qualifying round.

UEFA ranking

Current ranking (2010–11 UEFA competitions)

Correct as of May 27, 2009

Rank
10–11		 Rank
09–10		 Mvmt League 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 Coeff.
14 13 RedDownArrow.svg −1 Belgium Belgium 6.125 5.500 4.700 4.500 4.500 25.325
15 16 Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1 Switzerland Switzerland 2.625 9.375 4.100 6.250 2.900 25.250
16 19 Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3 Denmark Denmark 1.500 3.500 6.125 5.125 8.200 24.450
17 17 Yellow-Circle.svg — Bulgaria Bulgaria 2.375 8.750 5.125 2.750 2.250 21.250
18 15 RedDownArrow.svg −3 Czech Republic Czech Republic 2.375 4.625 5.750 5.125 2.375 20.750
19 18 RedDownArrow.svg −1 Norway Norway 3.500 5.400 2.000 5.400 2.500 18.800

Broadcasting rights

As of 2008, Modern Times Group owns the rights to broadcast all of the matches from the league, and uses them to broadcast matches on channels TV3+ and TV 2 Sport (through sub licensing). However, the current deal was found, by the Danish Competition Authority (Konkurrencestyrelsen) not to comply with the Danish competition legislation. Therefore, a new deal was made on December 21, 2008, dividing the Superliga TV-rights between three parties.[4] The deal amounted to DKK 1,062,300,000[5] (USD 210 million, EUR 140 million),[6] effective from the 2009–10 season.

Danish football rights from 2009–10 – overview
Rights package Buyer Channels1 Details
TV, I Modern Times Group TV3+, TV3+ HD Grants exclusive rights to broadcast the game played Sunday 18.00 (1st choice)
TV, II Bonnier Group2 Canal 9, DR1, DR2 Grants exclusive rights to broadcast the games played Sunday 14.00 and 16.00 on live television (2nd and 5th choice)
TV, III TV 2 Sport TV 2 Sport, TV 2 Sport HD Grants exclusive rights to broadcast the games played Saturday 17.00, Sunday 16.00 and Monday 19.00 on live television (3rd, 4th3 and 6th choice)
TV, Cup SBS Broadcasting Group Kanal 5, Kanal 5 HD, 6'eren Grants exclusive rights to broadcast the games in the Danish Cup on live television
TV, 1st Division TV 2 Sport TV 2 Sport, TV 2 Sport HD Grants exclusive rights to broadcast the games in the Danish 1st Division on live television
Radio DR DR P3 Grants exclusive rights to broadcast all the games on live radio
Highlights DR, TV 2 DR1, TV 2 Grants rights to show highlights in sports news broadcasts
  • ^1 Channels that are likely to broadcast the matches.
  • ^2 Original buyers were DR and Telenor in a consortium, but they sold the rights to Bonnier Group.
  • ^3 The fourth choice was originally at Modern Times Group, but they have chosen to give it to TV 2 Sport.

Foreign rights

Outside of Scandinavia, IMG holds the rights to the Superliga until the 2011–2012 season,[7] and they have reportedly sold the rights to networks in Greece, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, as well as several betting sites.[8]

Seasons

Current Teams (2010–11)

Club Finishing position
last season		 First season in
top division		 First season of
current spell in
top division
AaB 5th 1928–29 1987
AC Horsens 1st in 1st Division 1929–30 2010–11
Brøndby 3rd 1982 1982
Copenhagen 1st 1992–93 1992–93
Esbjerg 4th 1928–29 2001–02
Midtjylland 6th 2000–01 2000–01
Nordsjælland 7th 2002–03 2002–03
Lyngby 2nd in 1st Division 1980 2010–11
OB 2nd 1927–28 1999–2000
Randers 10th 1941–42 2006–07
Silkeborg 8th 1988 2009-10
SønderjyskE 9th 2000–01 2008–09

Winners
Season Champions Performance
Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1991 Brøndby IF 26 18 10 6 2 26 15 +11
1991–92 Lyngby BK 32[9] 14 9 2 3 22 7 +15
1992–93 F.C. Copenhagen 32[9] 14 8 3 3 31 23 +8
1993–94 Silkeborg IF 31[9] 14 8 2 4 23 15 +8
1994–95 AaB 31[9] 14 7 4 3 30 13 +17
1995–96 Brøndby IF 67 33 20 7 6 71 32 +39
1996–97 Brøndby IF 68 33 20 8 5 64 39 +25
1997–98 Brøndby IF 76 33 24 4 5 81 33 +48
1998–99 AaB 64 33 17 13 3 65 37 +28
1999-00 Herfølge BK 56 33 16 8 9 52 49 +3
2000–01 F.C. Copenhagen 63 33 17 12 4 55 27 +28
2001–02 Brøndby IF 69 33 20 9 4 74 28 +46
2002–03 F.C. Copenhagen 61 33 17 10 6 51 32 +19
2003–04 F.C. Copenhagen 68 33 20 8 5 56 27 +29
2004–05 Brøndby IF 69 33 20 9 4 61 23 +38
2005–06 F.C. Copenhagen 73 33 22 7 4 62 27 +35
2006–07 F.C. Copenhagen 76 33 23 7 3 60 23 +37
2007–08 AaB 71 33 22 5 6 60 38 +22
2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen 74 33 23 5 5 67 26 +41
2009–10 F.C. Copenhagen 68 33 21 5 7 61 22 +39

Relegations

Season Relegated team(s)
1991 Ikast FS
1991–92 Vejle BK
1992–93 BK Frem, B 1909
1993–94 Viborg FF, B93
1994–95 Fremad Amager
1995–96 Ikast FS, Næstved BK
1996–97 Viborg FF, Hvidovre IF
1997–98 Ikast FS, Odense BK
1998–99 Aarhus Fremad, B93
1999-00 Vejle BK, Esbjerg fB
2000–01 Herfølge BK, HFK Sønderjylland
2001–02 Vejle BK, Lyngby BK
2002–03 Silkeborg IF, Køge BK
2003–04 BK Frem, AB
2004–05 Herfølge BK, Randers FC
2005–06 SønderjyskE, AGF Aarhus
2006–07 Vejle BK, Silkeborg IF
2007–08 Viborg FF, Lyngby BK
2008–09 AC Horsens, Vejle BK
2009–10 AGF, HB Køge

Notable players

Top goalscorers

Season Tally Top scorer(s)
1991 11 Bent Christensen (Brøndby IF)
1991–92 17 Peter Møller (AaB)
1992–93 22 Peter Møller (AaB)
1993–94 18 Søren Frederiksen (Viborg FF)
1994–95 24 Erik Bo Andersen (AaB)
1995–96 20 Thomas Thorninger (AGF)
1996–97 26 Miklos Molnar (Lyngby FC)
1997–98 28 Ebbe Sand (Brøndby IF)
1998–99 23 Heine Fernandez (Viborg FF)
1999-00 16 Peter Lassen (Silkeborg IF)
2000–01 21 Peter Graulund (Brøndby IF)
2001–02 22 Peter Madsen (Brøndby IF) and Kaspar Dalgas (OB)
2002–03 18 Søren Frederiksen (Viborg FF) and Jan Kristiansen (Esbjerg fB)
2003–04 19 Steffen Højer and Mwape Miti (both OB), Mohamed Zidan (FC Midtjylland) and Tommy Bechmann (Esbjerg fB)
2004–05 20 Steffen Højer (OB)
2005–06 16 Steffen Højer (Viborg FF)
2006–07 19 Rade Prica (AaB)
2007–08 17 Jeppe Curth (AaB)
2008–09 16 Morten Nordstrand (F.C. Copenhagen) and Marc Nygaard (Randers FC)
2009–10 18 Peter Utaka (OB)

Most capped players

Players with more than 300 Superliga appearances
Rank Player Appearances Club(s)
1 Denmark Per Nielsen 394 Brøndby IF
2 Denmark Jimmy Nielsen 375 AaB, Vejle BK
3 Denmark Michael Hansen 371 Silkeborg IF, OB, Esbjerg fB, FC Midtjylland
Denmark Mogens Krogh 371 Ikast FS, Brøndby IF
5 Poland Arek Onyszko 363 Viborg FF, OB, FC Midtjylland
6 Denmark Michael Nonbo 355 Næstved IF, AGF, Viborg FF, SønderjyskE
7 Denmark Jens Jessen 341 AaB, FC Midtjylland
Denmark Jakob Glerup 341 Viborg FF
9 Denmark Steffen Højer 339 Viborg FF, AaB, OB
10 Denmark Kim Daugaard 336 Brøndby IF
11 Denmark Søren Frederiksen 335 Viborg FF, Silkeborg IF, AaB
12 Denmark Heine Fernandez 326 Silkeborg IF, Viborg FF, FC København, AB
13 Denmark Henrik Rasmussen 322 AaB
14 Denmark Michael Hemmingsen 315 B 1909, OB
15 Denmark Peter Møller 310 AaB, FC København, Brøndby IF
Denmark Bora Zivkovic 310 Silkeborg IF, FC København, Herfølge BK, Vejle BK
Denmark Jesper Sørensen 310 AGF, FC København, AB
As of 23 April 2010[10]
(Bold denotes players still playing in the Superliga)

Notable foreign players

Notable Foreign players with more than 50 Superliga appearances
Rank Player Appearances Club(s)
1 Poland Arek Onyszko 363 Viborg FF, OB, FC Midtjylland
2 Morocco Karim Zaza 289 FC København, OB, Brøndby IF, AaB
3 Faroe Islands Todi Jónsson 243 Lyngby BK, FC København
4 Zambia Andrew Tembo 218 OB
5 Zambia Mwape Miti 178 OB
6 Norway Dan Eggen 167 BK Frem, Brøndby IF
7 Nigeria Abdul Sule 160 AB, AC Horsens
8 South Africa Sibusiso Zuma 158 FC København, FC Nordsjælland
Netherlands Fernando Derveld 156 OB, Esbjerg fB
10 Germany Kolja Afriyie 154 Esbjerg fB, FC Midtjylland
Lithuania Aurelijus Skarbalius 150 Brøndby IF, Herfølge BK
12 Sweden Martin Ericsson 146 AaB, Brøndby IF
13 Ghana Razak Pimpong 145 FC Midtjylland, FC København
14 Canada Atiba Hutchinson 139 FC København
Faroe Islands Jakup Mikkelsen 136 Herfølge BK
16 Sweden Mattias Jonson 131 Brøndby IF
17 Sweden Andreas Klarström 127 Esbjerg fB
18 Brazil Álvaro Santos 120 FC København
19 Estonia Andres Oper 117 AaB
Sweden Tobias Grahn 117 Lyngby BK, AGF, OB, Randers FC
21 Sweden Rawez Lawan 113 AC Horsens, FC Nordsjælland
22 Sweden Oscar Wendt 109 FC København
23 Sweden Njogu Demba-Nyrén 107 Esbjerg fB, OB
24 Sweden Fredrik Berglund 104 Esbjerg fB, FC København
Ghana Francis Dickoh 104 FC Nordsjælland
2 Senegal Tidiane Sane 103 Randers FC
2 Sweden Andreas Johansson 100 AAB, OB
2 Estonia Urmas Rooba 97 FC Midtjylland, FC København, Vejle BK
2 France Michaël Murcy 96 Esbjerg
2 Brazil Caca 94 Aab, OB
2 Sweden Marcus Allbäck 89 Lyngby, FC Copenhagen
2 New Zealand Winston Reid 81 FC Midtjylland
2 Sweden Tobias Linderoth 84 FC Copenhagen
2 Sweden Samuel Holmén 83 Brøndby
2 Australia Shane Cansdell-Sheriff 82 AGF
2 Czech Republic Zdenek Pospech 81 FCK
2 Nigeria Adigun Salami 77 FC Midtjylland
2 Nigeria Oluwafemi Ajilore 76 FC Midtjylland
2 Nigeria Peter Utaka 72 OB
2 Iceland Stefan Gislason 70 Brøndby
2 Sweden Anders Andersson 70 Aab
2 Senegal Djiby Fall 70 Randers FC, OB
2 Norway Jan Halvor Halvorsen 67 AGF
2 Cameroon Alphonse Tchami 65 OB
2 Cameroon Joseph Elanga 65 Brøndby, Horsens
2 Sweden Max Von Schlebrügge 64 Brøndby
2 Sweden Mikael Antonsson 63 FC København
2 Norway Brede Hangeland 63 FC København
2 Brazil César Santin 63 FC København
2 England Mark Howard 62 Brøndby, AGF
2 Nigeria Uche Okechukwu 62 Brøndby
2 Iceland Sølvi Ottesen 60 Sønderjydske, FC København
2 Sweden Alexander Farnerud 60 OB
2 Sweden Krister Nordin 58 Brøndby
2 Sweden Johan Elmander 58 Brøndby IF
2 France Bédi Buval 57 Randers FC
2 Sweden Magnus Svensson 57 Brøndby
2 Latvia Imants Bleidelis 55 Viborg
2 Romania Gheorghe Florescu 54 FC Midtjylland
2 Czech Republic Libor Sionko 54 FCK
2 Norway Håvard Flo 53 AGF
2 Ghana Charles Akonnor 53 AC Horsens
2 The Gambia Ousman Jallow 50 Brøndby
2 Cameroon Eric Djemba-Djemba 50 OB
2 Croatia Kristijan Ipša 50 FC Midtjylland
As of 24 August 2010[11]
(Bold denotes players still playing in the Superliga)

Attendances

Season Average Total Max Min
1991 3.937 354.348 13.935 712
1991–92 4.428 646.510 16.500 1.014
1992–93 5.023 733.299 22.862 484
1993–94 4.739 691.855 26.679 475
1994–95 5.930 865.755 36.623 487
1995–96 5.689 1.126.414 39.640 704
1996–97 5.318 1.052.922 28.491 585
1997–98 5.519 1.092.688 33.124 939
1998–99 4.974 984.874 37.940 180
1999–2000 5.838 1.155.917 28.818 1.493
2000–01 5.837 1.155.662 40.281 1.003
2001–02 5.727 1.133.920 40.186 314
2002–03 7.307 1.446.752 40.254 800
2003–04 7.980 1.580.011 41.005 1.011
2004–05 8.589 1.700.532 40.654 843
2005–06 7.957 1.575.399 41.201 1.307
2006–07 8.108 1.605.367 40.463 1.799
2007–08 8.499 1.682.791 32.153 1.035
2008–09 8.815 1.745.308 32.856 1.609
2009–10 8.315 1.646.405 30.191 707

According to www.soccerleens.com, the Danish Superliga is number 11 in Europe by appearences, in front of strong leagues such as Greece, Austria and Ukraine behind: http://soccerlens.com/the-top-15-leagues-in-europe/39185/

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method4/crank2011.html
  2. ↑ http://www.haslund.info/danmark/dt/200910/tilskuer.asp
  3. ↑ http://soccerlens.com/the-top-15-leagues-in-europe/39185/
  4. ↑ Ritzau (2007-12-21). "Fakta om fodboldaftalen (lit. Facts about the football agreement)". TV 2 Sporten. http://sporten.tv2.dk/fodbold/article.php/id-9806692.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  5. ↑ Ritzau (2007-12-21). "Dansk fodbold solgt for 1 mia. (lit. Danish football sold for 1 billion)". TV 2 Denmark. http://sporten-dyn.tv2.dk/article.php/id-9806036.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
  6. ↑ Calculated using Google Calculator's currency converting feature [1] [2]
  7. ↑ IMG (2009-06-17). "IMG to represent Danish Superliga for three seasons". Press release. http://www.imgworld.com/press_room/fullstory.sps?iType=13708&iNewsid=6634629&iCategoryID=. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  8. ↑ Olsen, Theis L. (2010-02-19). "Superliga-bold på skærmen i Dubai og Grækenland". business.dk. Berlingske Tidende. http://www.business.dk/medier-reklamer/superliga-bold-paa-skaermen-i-dubai-og-graekenland. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Tally includes points carried over from the first half of the season.
  10. ↑ "FLEST KAMPE, ALLTIME". hvemvandt.dk. http://www.hvemvandt.dk/spilletid_all.php. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  11. ↑ "UDLÆNDINGE I SUPERLIGAEN, ALLTIME". hvemvandt.dk. http://www.hvemvandt.dk/visudlanding-land_all.php. Retrieved 16 May 2010. 
Danish Superliga · 2010–11
AaB · Brøndby · Copenhagen · Esbjerg · Horsens · Lyngby · Midtjylland · Nordsjælland · OB · Randers · Silkeborg · SønderjyskE
Danish Superliga seasons
1st Division · 1991 · 1991–92 · 1992–93 · 1993–94 · 1994–95 · 1995–96 · 1996–97 · 1997–98 · 1998–99 · 1999–2000 · 2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03 · 2003–04 · 2004–05 · 2005–06 · 2006–07 · 2007–08 · 2008–09 · 2009–10 · 2010–11
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List of clubs · List of venues (by capacity) · List of competitions · List of Players of the Year
Danish Superliga venues · 2010–11
Blue Water Arena · Brøndby Stadium · CASA Arena Horsens · Energi Nord Arena · Essex Park Randers · Farum Park · Haderslev Fodboldstadion · Lyngby Stadion · MCH Arena · Parken Stadium · Silkeborg Stadion · TRE-FOR Park
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