Danish 1st Division

The 1st Division (1. Division) is the second highest football league in Denmark, also known as NordicBet Liga for sponsorship reasons. From 1945 to 1991 the 1. Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark. With the formation of the Danish Superliga, the 1st Division became the second tier of Danish football. While all the teams in the Superliga are full-time professional the 1. Division has a mixture of full-time professional and semi-professional teams.

1. Division
Founded1945
CountryDenmark
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams12 (from 2012–13)
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toSuperliga
Relegation to2nd Division
Domestic cup(s)Danish Cup
International cup(s)Europa League (via domestic cup)
Current championsVejle BK
(2019–20)
TV partnersTV3 Sport
WebsiteOfficial site
Current: 2020–21 Danish 1st Division
Danish football
league structure
Superliga (Tier 1)
1st Division (Tier 2)
2nd Divisions (Tiers 3)
Denmark Series (Tiers 4)
Copenhagen Series – Funen Series – Jutland Series – Zealand Series (Tiers 5)
Series 1 (Tiers 6)
Series 2 (Tiers 7)
Series 3 (Tiers 8)
Series 4 (Tiers 9)
Series 5 (Tiers 10)

The top-ranking teams each year win promotion to the Superliga, while the bottom finishers get relegated to the Danish 2nd Division.

TV3 Sport 1 broadcasts one match per week from the league.

History

After World War II the format of the top-flight football division in Denmark, the "Championship League", where reverted with the tournament now named the "1st Division".[1] There were 10 teams in the top division once again, playing each other twice, with the lowest team being relegated.[2] The 1953–54 season saw the first non-Copenhagen team win the Danish championship, when Køge Boldklub won the title.[3] The championship title was not reclaimed by a Copenhagen team in more than ten years, until Akademisk Boldklub (AB) won the 1967 season.

From 1958, the Danish championship was arranged through one calendar year,[1] and the 1956–57 season lasted 18 months with the teams playing each other thrice for a 27 games total.[4] From 1958 to 1974, the tournament was expanded to 12 teams,[1] playing each other twice for 22 games per season each, but now the bottom two teams faced relegation.[5] The number of teams was increased to 16 for the 1975 season,[1] which resulted in 30 games per season.[6] In 1986, the number of participants was altered once more, this time decreasing the number of teams to 14,[1] and the number of games to 26.[7]

In 1991, the Danish Superliga was created.[1] This meant the 1st Division became the second highest league. Together with the Superliga introduction the best Danish leagues changed back to autumn-spring seasons.

In 1996, the 1st Division had its first name sponsor, as the league received the official name "Faxe Kondi Divisionen" after main sponsor Faxe Brewery. The sponsor deal ended in 2001, but from 2004 to mid-2007 it was named "Viasat Sport Divisionen". The "Sport" was omitted upon the closing of the Viasat Sport-channels in Denmark, and the opening of TV 2 Sport. The sponsorship finally ended prior to the start of the 2010–11 season.

Former 1st Division sponsors and logos:

  • Viasat Divisionen
    (2007/08–2008/09)
    Sponsor: Viasat
  • 1. Division
    (01.07–31.12.2011)
    No league sponsor
  • Betsafe Liga
    (01.01.2012–19.02.2013)
    Sponsor: Betsafe/Betsson
  • NordicBet Liga
    (19.02.2013–31.12.2014)
    Sponsor: Betsson
  • 1. Division
    (01.01–30.06.2015)
    No league sponsor
  • Bet25 Liga
    (2015/16–season)
    Sponsor: Bet25
  • 1. Division
    (01.07.2016–02.03.2017)
    No league sponsor
  • NordicBet Liga
    (03.03.2017–present)
    Sponsor: Betsson

Current teams (2019–20)
Locations of the 2019–20 Danish 1st Division teams.
Club
 Finishing position
last season		 First season of
current spell in
1st Division
FC Fredericia6th2001–02
FC Roskilde9th2014–15
Fremad Amager5th2016–17
HB Køge7th2012–13
Hvidovre IF10th2018–19
Kolding IF2nd in 2nd Division2019–20
Nykøbing FC8th2016–17
Næstved BK4th2018–19
Skive IK1st in 2nd Division2019–20
Vejle BK14th in Superligaen2019-20
Vendsyssel FF12th in Superligaen2019-20
Viborg FF2nd2017–18

Previous winners

First tier until 1990, then second tier

Footnotes
  1. "Historien om Danmarksmesterskabet i fodbold" (in Danish). Danish Football Association. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  2. "Danmarksturneringen 1945 – 46". Peders fodboldstatistik. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  3. "Køges første DM-titel blev til på "Ungarsk Rapsodi"" (in Danish). Køge Boldklub. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  4. "Danmarksturneringen 1956 – 57". Peders fodboldstatistik. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  5. "Danmarksturneringen 1958". Peders fodboldstatistik. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  6. "Danmarksturneringen 1975". Peders fodboldstatistik. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  7. "Danmarksturneringen 1986". Peders fodboldstatistik. Archived from the original on 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-02-22.

Official website (in Danish)

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