Eliteserien

Eliteserien (Norwegian pronunciation: [ɛˈlîːtəˌsɛrjən]) is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 1. divisjon.

Eliteserien
Founded1937 (1937)
2017–present (as Eliteserien)
1990–2016 (as Tippeligaen)
1963–1989 (as 1. divisjon)
1948–1962 (as Hovedserien)
1937–1948 (as Norgesserien)
CountryNorway
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to1. divisjon
Domestic cup(s)Norwegian Cup
Mesterfinalen
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsBodø/Glimt (1st title)
(2020)
Most championshipsRosenborg (26 titles)
Most appearancesDaniel Berg Hestad (473)
Top goalscorerSigurd Rushfeldt (172 goals)
TV partnersDiscovery
WebsiteEliteserien
NFF
Norsk Toppfotball
Current: 2020 Eliteserien

Seasons run from March to November with each team playing 30 matches (playing each other home and away). Most games are played on Sunday evenings.

Eliteserien was founded in 1937 as Norgesserien (English: The League of Norway), and the first season was the 1937–38 season. The structure and name of Eliteserien, along with Norway's other football leagues, has undergone frequent changes. The top level was renamed Hovedserien in 1948, 1. divisjon (now used by the second level league in Norway) in 1963, then Tippeligaen (named for the main sponsor) in 2016. Starting with the 2017 season the league adopted the current Eliteserien, after NFF decided to totally drop any sponsor's names from the name of the league.[1] The broadcasting rights were in December 2015 secured by Discovery Networks who signed a six-year deal giving them rights to broadcast all the 240 games in Eliteserien from 2017 to 2023. The deal was worth NOK 2.4 billion.[2] The league generates NOK 400 million per year in domestic television rights.[2]

Seventeen clubs have won the title since the inception of the league in 1937: Rosenborg (26), Fredrikstad (9), Viking (8), Lillestrøm (5), Vålerenga (5), Molde (4), Brann (3), Larvik Turn (3), Lyn (2), Start (2), Strømsgodset (2), Fram Larvik (1), Freidig (1), Moss (1), Skeid (1), Stabæk (1) and Bodø/Glimt (1). In 2010, Rosenborg became, and still remain, the only club to complete an Eliteserien campaign without losing a single game. The record of most points in a season is 81 by Bodø/Glimt in 2020. Since its establishment as a one-group top flight in 1963, forty-seven clubs have competed in Eliteserien.

History

Early years (1937–1948)

Before 1937, there was no national league competition in Norway; only regional leagues and the Norwegian Cup. Starting in 1937–38, the various regional leagues in Southern Norway were aligned into eight districts, with a championship playoff between the winners to crown a national champion. This competition was called Norgesserien (English: The League of Norway). In the early years, the top flight teams were divided into eleven groups from eight districts. The league champion was decided in either a knockout tournament or a final between the winners of these groups. Fredrikstad was the first champions of the league, winning the 1937–38 season. They won the two-legged final against Lyn 4–0 on aggregate. Fredrikstad defended their title in the 1938–39 season. From the 1937–38 season and until the beginning of World War II, the teams were divided into eight district groups. There were plans at the time to merge the district leagues into a national competition, but because of World War II, this process was delayed until after the war, although also the first post-war season in 1947–48 had eleven district-based groups.

Hovedserien (1948–1962)

In 1948, Hovedserien (English: The Main League) was created, consisting of the 16 top teams from the district leagues, who were placed into two groups of eight, with the group winners playing a two-legged final for the national championship at the end of the season. This format was in place from the 1948–49 season until 1960–61, when it was decided to merge the two groups into a single top division, and have the season follow the calendar year from 1963 onwards. The 1950s were dominated by Fredrikstad FK and Larvik Turn. Fredrikstad won their latest league title in 1960–61, which secured their ninth title out of sixteen possible. Larvik Turn won Hovedserien three times in four seasons from 1955–56. The 1961–62 season was played during 15 months. The teams from the two groups in the 1960–61 top division were put in one group consisting of 16 teams. The 1961–62 season became a transitional season, where the 16 top-flight teams were placed in a single group, playing a season that went on for 15 months and one half of its teams were relegated. Officially still known as Hovedserien, the 1961–62 season is often referred to as Maratonserien ("The Marathon League") due to its unusual length.[3] The Maratonserien was won by Brann.

1. divisjon (1963–1989)

In 1963, a single top division containing ten teams was introduced, and the league was renamed 1. divisjon (English: 1st Division). The first regular one-league season was played spring-autumn and was won by title defenders Brann in 1963. The league was expanded to 12 teams in 1972. Teams from Northern Norway were not allowed to gain promotion to the top division before 1972, when Mjølner became the first team from Northern Norway to play in the top flight, and until 1979 were subject to stricter promotion rules than teams from the rest of the country. Viking won the league four consecutive seasons beginning in 1972. Lillestrøm won back-to-back titles in 1976 and 1977. In 1979 teams from Northern Norway were given the same promotion rights as the rest of the country. In the beginning of the 1980s, Vålerengen were the dominant team, with their titles from 1981, 1983 and 1984.

Recent years (1990–present)

The former logo of the league, Tippeligaen, which it was known as from 1990–2016.

In 1990, the league was renamed Tippeligaen, when Norsk Tipping became the main sponsor of the league.[4] When fans and media continued referring to the league as 1. divisjon, it was decided to let the second level league of Norwegian football "inherit" the name 1. divisjon in 1991, to help Tippeligaen establish as a brand.[5] Rosenborg of Trondheim won the first year the league bore the name Tippeligaen in 1990. Followed by a win by Viking of Stavanger in 1991. In 1992, Rosenborg started a run of 13 consecutive titles which lasted to the 2004 season. During the first years of Rosenborg's thirteen-year run, they won the league with substantial margins, only partly challenged by Bodø/Glimt, Molde, Lillestrøm and Brann. However, this was steadily narrowing down towards a dramatic finish in 2004, where the Trondheim team tied with Vålerenga of Oslo in game points and on goal difference, but finished ahead on number of goals scored. However, in 2005 the winning streak came to an end as Vålerenga clinched the title, one point ahead of Start of Kristiansand. Rosenborg was never in contention that season and would finish only 7th. In 2006, Rosenborg returned to the top of the league, coming back from 10 points behind Brann at the halfway point to clinch the title with a match to spare. Brann won the league in 2007, and Stabæk won their first-ever title in 2008. Rosenborg then returned for a two-year winning streak in 2009 and 2010. Molde's back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 makes it the only other club to win consecutive titles in the current format, and outside Rosenborg, the first team to do so since Vålerenga in 1983 and 1984.

In 2016 it was decided to change from the sponsorship name Tippeligaen to the non-sponsorship name Eliteserien, effecting from the 2017 season.[6] Rosenborg won the league four consecutive times from 2015 to 2018, before Molde ended their streak by winning the title in the 2019 season. Lillestrøm were relegated from the 2019 Eliteserien and ended their record spell with 45 consecutive top division seasons.

The league has been professional since 1992.[7] In 1995, Tippeligaen was expanded to 14 teams, and in 2009 it was further expanded to 16 teams.

Competition format

Competition

As of the 2020 season there are 16 clubs in the Eliteserien, seven of which are located in Eastern Norway, six are from Western Norway, and one each are from Southern Norway, Trøndelag and north of the Arctic Circle.

During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice, home and away, for a total of 30 games for each club, and a total of 240 games in a season. The season starts in March and lasts until early November. Rounds played during the weekends are usually broken up into two games on Saturdays, five games on Sundays and one game on either Fridays or Mondays. For the final two rounds, all games start simultaneously so that no club may gain an unfair advantage by knowing the results of other games in advance of kicking off their own.

The 16 May round, which is played the day before Norway's Constitution Day, 17 May, is one of the most anticipated rounds of the season. It is often referred to as the "national day of football"[8] and since it precedes a national holiday, games usually see higher attendance than other rounds.[9]

Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, goals scored, and then head to head records used to separate teams on equal points. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned "League Winner". The title of "Norwegian Champions" is reserved for the winners of the Norwegian Football Cup. The two lowest placed teams are automatically relegated to the 1. divisjon and the top two teams from the 1. divisjon take their place. The fourteenth placed team in Eliteserien is also in danger of being relegated and must enter play-offs against one team from the 1. divisjon to stay in the top flight.

Changes in competition format

From To Group(s) Teams Match-weeks Season Start Season End Championship play-offs
1937–38 11 74 10–12 Autumn Spring Play-off with 11 teams
1938–39 75 10–14
1947–48 74 10–12 Play-off with 8 teams
1948–49 1960–61 2 16 14 Play-off final with 2 teams
1961–62 1 30 Summer Next autumn
1963 1971 10 18 Spring Autumn
1972 1994 12 22
1995 2008 14 26
2009 Present 16 30

Eliteserien teams in international competition

Rosenborg (11 times) and Molde (once) are the only Norwegian clubs to participate in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Rosenborg reached the quarterfinal in the 1996–97 season. They were eliminated by runners-up Juventus with 1–3 on aggregate. In the 1968–69 season, Lyn lost the European Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinal against runners-up Barcelona with 4–5 on aggregate. Brann lost the quarterfinal against Liverpool in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Vålerenga lost the quarterfinal against Chelsea in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with 2–6 on aggregate. Rosenborg (twice), Brann and Molde have reached the round of 32 in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League. In addition, Tromsø (twice), Viking (once) and Sarpsborg 08 (once) have participated in the UEFA Cup/Europa League group stage.

Clubs

Current members

The following sixteen clubs are competing in the Eliteserien during the 2020 season.

Club Position
in 2019
First season in
top division
Seasons
in
top division
First season of
current spell in
top division
Top
division
titles
Last top
division
title
Aalesund1st (1. divisjon)20031720200n/a
Bodø/Glimt2nd1977[lower-alpha 1]2520180n/a
Brann9th1937–3863201632007
Haugesund7th1997[lower-alpha 2]1420100n/a
Kristiansund6th2017420170n/a
Mjøndalen13th1937–382120190n/a
Molde1st1939–4044200842019
Odd4th1937–383920090n/a
Rosenborg3rd1937–38571979262018
Sandefjord2nd (1. divisjon) 2006920200n/a
Sarpsborg 0812th2011920130n/a
Stabæk8th199524201412008
Start3rd (1. divisjon)1937–3842202021980
Strømsgodset11th1938–3933200722013
Vålerenga10th1937–3860200252005
Viking5th1937–3870201981991
Notes
  1. Northern Norwegian teams were not allowed to qualify for the top flight division before 1972.
  2. FK Haugesund is the result of a merger between SK Haugar and Djerv 1919. These two clubs participated in the Norwegian top flight in 1981 and 1988, respectively.

List of champions

Below is a list of the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the Norwegian top flight since its beginning in 1937–38. (The Norwegian Cup has been played since 1902, and is still officially known as the Norwegian Championship, presented with "The King's Cup".) During 1937–1948 the name of the league was Norgesserien ("The League of Norway"), 1948–1962 Hovedserien ("The Main League"), 1963–1989 1. divisjon ("1st Division"), and from 1990 Tippeligaen (sponsored name) or Eliteserien ("The Elite League", a generic name).

From 1937 until 1948, the championship was decided through a playoff between the winners of the various regional leagues in Southern Norway. From 1948 until 1961, the 16-team league was divided into two groups, and decided by a final match between the group winners. Since then it has been a round-robin decided through a league table. Bronze finals were played in 1960 and 1961; before that no bronze medals were awarded. Note that clubs from Northern Norway (including Bodø/Glimt and Tromsø IL), allegedly due to travel distance, were not allowed in the top division until 1972, but a separate Northern Norwegian Cup was played. Furthermore, northern Norwegian teams had stricter promotion rules until 1979. The league did not play during the period 1940–1946 because of the World War II.

See below for a list of medalists by club.

Medalists by year

The following medals have been awarded:

Season Gold Silver Bronze
Norgesserien (1937–1948)
1937–38 Fredrikstad (1) Lyn
1938–39 Fredrikstad (2) Skeid
1939–40 Abandoned because of World War II.
1940–47 No League Championship.
1947–48 Freidig (1) Sparta
Hovedserien (1948–1962)
1948–49 Fredrikstad (3) Vålerenga
1949–50 Fram Larvik (1) Fredrikstad
1950–51 Fredrikstad (4) Odd
1951–52 Fredrikstad (5) Brann
1952–53 Larvik Turn (1) Skeid
1953–54 Fredrikstad (6) Skeid
1954–55 Larvik Turn (2) Fredrikstad
1955–56 Larvik Turn (3) Fredrikstad
1956–57 Fredrikstad (7) Odd
1957–58 Viking (1) Skeid
1958–59 Lillestrøm (1) Fredrikstad
1959–60 Fredrikstad (8) Lillestrøm Eik-Tønsberg
1960–61 Fredrikstad (9) Eik-Tønsberg Vålerenga
1961–62 Brann (1) Steinkjer Fredrikstad
1. divisjon (1963–1989)
1963 Brann (2) Lyn Skeid
1964 Lyn (1) Fredrikstad Sarpsborg
1965 Vålerenga (1) Lyn Sarpsborg
1966 Skeid (1) Fredrikstad Lyn
1967 Rosenborg (1) Skeid Lyn
1968 Lyn (2) Rosenborg Viking
1969 Rosenborg (2) Fredrikstad Strømsgodset
1970 Strømsgodset (1) Rosenborg HamKam
Season Gold Silver Bronze
1971 Rosenborg (3) Lyn Viking
1972 Viking (2) Fredrikstad Strømsgodset
19731 Viking (3) Rosenborg Start
1974 Viking (4) Molde Vålerenga
1975 Viking (5) Brann Start
1976 Lillestrøm (2) Mjøndalen Brann
1977 Lillestrøm (3) Bodø/Glimt Molde
1978 Start (1) Lillestrøm Viking
1979 Viking (6) Moss Start
1980 Start (2) Bryne Lillestrøm
1981 Vålerenga (2) Viking Rosenborg
1982 Viking (7) Bryne Lillestrøm
1983 Vålerenga (3) Lillestrøm Start
1984 Vålerenga (4) Viking Start
1985 Rosenborg (4) Lillestrøm Vålerenga
1986 Lillestrøm (4) Mjøndalen Kongsvinger
1987 Moss (1) Molde Kongsvinger
1988 Rosenborg (5) Lillestrøm Molde
1989 Lillestrøm (5) Rosenborg Tromsø
Tippeligaen (1990–2016)
1990 Rosenborg (6) Tromsø Molde
1991 Viking (8) Rosenborg Start
1992 Rosenborg (7) Kongsvinger Start
1993 Rosenborg (8) Bodø/Glimt Lillestrøm
1994 Rosenborg (9) Lillestrøm Viking
1995 Rosenborg (10) Molde Bodø/Glimt
1996 Rosenborg (11) Lillestrøm Viking
1997 Rosenborg (12) Brann Strømsgodset
1998 Rosenborg (13) Molde Stabæk
1999 Rosenborg (14) Molde Brann
Season Gold Silver Bronze
2000 Rosenborg (15) Brann Viking
2001 Rosenborg (16) Lillestrøm Viking
2002 Rosenborg (17) Molde Lyn
2003 Rosenborg (18) Bodø/Glimt Stabæk
2004 Rosenborg (19) Vålerenga Brann
2005 Vålerenga (5) Start Lyn
2006 Rosenborg (20) Brann Vålerenga
2007 Brann (3) Stabæk Viking
2008 Stabæk (1) Fredrikstad Tromsø
2009 Rosenborg (21) Molde Stabæk
2010 Rosenborg (22) Vålerenga Tromsø
2011 Molde (1) Tromsø Rosenborg
2012 Molde (2) Strømsgodset Rosenborg
2013 Strømsgodset (2) Rosenborg Haugesund
2014 Molde (3) Rosenborg Odd
2015 Rosenborg (23) Strømsgodset Stabæk
2016 Rosenborg (24) Brann Odd
Eliteserien (2017–)
2017 Rosenborg (25) Molde Sarpsborg 08
2018 Rosenborg (26) Molde Brann
2019 Molde (4) Bodø/Glimt Rosenborg
2020 Bodø/Glimt (1) Molde Vålerenga

Note: 1 First season when North Norwegian teams were allowed to play in the top division.

Medalists by club

Eliteserien title holders
Molde FKRosenborg BKMolde FKStrømsgodset ToppfotballMolde FKRosenborg BKStabæk FotballSK BrannRosenborg BKVålerenga IF FotballRosenborg BKViking FKRosenborg BKLillestrøm SKRosenborg BKMoss FKLillestrøm SKRosenborg BKVålerenga IF FotballViking FKVålerenga IF FotballIK StartViking FKIK StartLillestrøm SKViking FKRosenborg BKStrømsgodset ToppfotballRosenborg BKLyn FotballRosenborg BKSkeid FotballVålerenga IF FotballLyn FotballSK Brann

The following clubs have won one or more Eliteserien medals since 1937–38:

Club Founded Gold Silver Bronze Last merits
Rosenborg 1917–05–192674Gold 2018, Bronze 2019
Fredrikstad 1903–04–07991Gold 1960–61, Silver 2008
Viking 1899–08–10828Gold 1991, Bronze 2007
Lillestrøm 1917–04–02583Gold 1989, Silver 2001
Vålerenga 1913–07–29535Gold 2005, Silver 2010, Bronze 2020
Molde 1911–06–194103Gold 2019, Silver 2020
Brann 1908–09–26364Gold 2007, Silver 2016, Bronze 2018
Larvik Turn 1906–01–153Gold 1955–56
Lyn 1896–03–03244Gold 1968, Silver 1971, Bronze 2005
Strømsgodset 1907–02–10223Gold 2013, Silver 2015
Start 1905–09–19217Gold 1980, Silver 2005
Skeid 1915–01–01151Gold 1966, Silver 1967
Bodø/Glimt 1916–09–19141Silver 2019, Gold 2020
Stabæk 1912–03–16114Gold 2008, Bronze 2015
Moss 1906–08–2811Gold 1987
Fram Larvik 1894–01–151Gold 1949–50
Freidig 1903–10–131Gold 1947–48
Tromsø 1920–09–1523Silver 2011
Odd 1894–03–3122Silver 1956–57, Bronze 2016
Bryne 1926–04–102Silver 1982
Mjøndalen 1910–08–222Silver 1986
Kongsvinger 1892–01–3112Silver 1992
Eik-Tønsberg 1928–03–1411Silver 1960–61
Sparta 1928–11–231Silver 1947–48
Steinkjer 1910–05–291Silver 1961–62
Sarpsborg 1903–05–082Bronze 1965
HamKam 1918–08–101Bronze 1970
Haugesund 1993–10–281Bronze 2013
Sarpsborg 08 2008–01–151Bronze 2017
TOTAL 747460

Honoured clubs

Clubs in European football are commonly honoured for winning multiple league titles and a representative golden star is sometimes placed above the club badge to indicate the club having won 10 league titles. In Norway the star symbolizes 10 Eliteserien titles. Rosenborg was the first team to introduce a star when they won their 10th title in 1995. No club has introduced a star since 2006, when Rosenborg won their 20th league title to put a second star on their badge. The clubs closest to their first are Fredrikstad with 9 Eliteserien titles and Viking with 8 Eliteserien titles. The following table is ordered after number of stars followed by number of Eliteserien titles.

Statistics updated as of the end of the 2019 season
Club Eliteserien titles Stars Introduced 1st star Introduced 2nd star
Rosenborg 26 1995 2006

Sponsorship

From 1990 to 2016, Eliteserien had title sponsorship rights sold to Norsk Tipping.

Period Sponsor Name
1937–1948No sponsorNorgesserien
1948–1962Hovedserien
1963–19891. divisjon
1990–2016Norsk TippingTippeligaen
2017–No sponsorEliteserien

Eliteserien has a number of official partners and suppliers. The official ball supplier for the league is Select who on 27 October 2017 signed the first ever contract to deliver official balls for Eliteserien.[10] The three-year[11] deal began from the start of the 2018 season.

Broadcasters

All matches are aired live on Discovery's Eurosport, with four matches per week aired live on TVNorge (Norway only) from 2017 until 2023.[12] From 2020, the coverage is also available for all European countries (excluding the Balkans).[13]

In Balkans, the league is currently aired on Arena Sport.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland matches are aired live on Eurosport.

Stadiums

A 2007 match at Brann Stadion between Brann and Strømsgodset.

Since the competition format was changed to a one-group top flight in 1963, Eliteserien football has been played in 56 stadiums. As of the start of the 2020 season, Ullevaal Stadion has hosted the most matches in the top flight with 697. Since the opening of Vålerenga's new stadium Intility Arena in August 2017, no clubs in Eliteserien use Ullevaal Stadion as their home ground. Two stadiums that have seen Eliteserien football (1963–) have now been demolished.

The stadiums for the 2020 season show a large disparity in capacity: Lerkendal Stadion, the home of Rosenborg, has a capacity of 21,405 with Consto Arena, the home of Mjøndalen, having a capacity of 4,200. The combined total capacity of Eliteserien in the 2020 season is 170,677 with an average capacity of 10,667.

The Eliteserien's record average attendance was set during the 2007 season. This record attendance recorded an average attendance of 10,521 with a total attendance of just under 2 million. The 2 million mark was crossed after the 2009 league extension to sixteen teams. 2,151,219 was the total attendance in 2009, which is the record total attendance.

Managers

Managers or head coaches in the Eliteserien are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and player acquisition. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the structure of the club and the relationship of the manager with fans. Managers are required to have a UEFA Pro Licence which is the final coaching qualification available, and follows the completion of the UEFA 'B' and 'A' Licences.[14] The UEFA Pro Licence is required by every person who wishes to manage a club in the Eliteserien on a permanent basis.

In the 2019 season, only one manager or head coach was sacked. On 2 December 2019, Jörgen Lennartsson of Lillestrøm was sacked after the final round of the season after the team finished in 14th place.[15] He was replaced by Tom Nordlie ahead of the relegation play-offs.[16] Bjørn Petter Ingebretsen of Strømsgodset resigned on 15 May due to health problems[17] and Henning Berg of Stabæk was signed by Cypriot club AC Omonia on 6 June.[18] In the 2020 season, only one manager or head coach has left his position; Eirik Horneland left Rosenborg on a mutual consent on 26 June 2020.[19]

Former Rosenborg and Moss head coach Nils Arne Eggen was the most successful head coach or manager in the history of Eliteserien.
Managers winning multiple times
Manager Club(s) Wins Winning years
Nils Arne Eggen Rosenborg, Moss 15 1971, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992,
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010
Kåre Ingebrigtsen Rosenborg 4 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Oddvar Hansen Brann 2 1961–62, 1963
Karsten Johannessen Start 1978, 1980
Kjell Schou-Andreassen Viking 1972, 1982
Gunder Bengtsson Vålerenga 1983, 1984
Erik Hamrén Rosenborg 2009, 2010
Ole Gunnar Solskjær Molde 2011, 2012
Vålerenga's head coach Dag-Eilev Fagermo is the longest serving manager among the current managers in Eliteserien as he coached Odd for twelve consecutive seasons before he went on to his current position at Vålerenga.
Current managers
Nat. Name Club Appointed Time as manager
Vegard HansenMjøndalen1 January 200615 years, 33 days
Christian MichelsenKristiansund6 February 20146 years, 363 days
Kjetil KnutsenBodø/Glimt17 November 20173 years, 78 days
Bjarne BerntsenViking19 December 20173 years, 46 days
Martí CifuentesSandefjord31 May 20182 years, 248 days
Erling MoeMolde19 December 20182 years, 46 days
Jostein GrindhaugHaugesund8 January 20192 years, 26 days
Jóhannes HarðarsonStart3 April 20191 year, 306 days
Jan JönssonStabæk11 June 20191 year, 237 days
Henrik PedersenStrømsgodset20 June 20191 year, 228 days
Mikael StahreSarpsborg 0813 January 20201 year, 21 days
Dag-Eilev FagermoVålerenga31 January 20201 year, 3 days
Jan Frode NornesOdd11 March 2020329 days
Kåre IngebrigtsenBrann8 August 2020179 days
Lars Arne NilsenAalesund25 August 2020162 days
Åge HareideRosenborg1 September 2020155 days

Statistics

League ranking and European qualification

In the UEFA coefficient, UEFA's rankings of European leagues based on their performances in European competitions over a five-year period, the league ranked 27th at the end of the 2012–2013 European season, its lowest ranking since 1993. The league's highest ranking, tenth place, came in 1998. The winners of the previous calendar year's Eliteserien enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, while the cup winners and second placed team enter the second qualifying round of the Europa League.[20] The third placed team enters the first qualifying round of the Europa league. Norway also had an additional place in the first qualifying round of the Europa League for the 2013–2014 season due to its fair play ranking.

The following data indicates Norwegian coefficient rankings between European football leagues.[21]

Attendance

From 1963 to 1971, the league consisted of ten teams (90 matches a year). Between 1972 and 1994, the league consisted of 12 teams (132 matches a year). The number was raised to 14 teams (182 matches a year) in 1995 and to 16 teams (240 matches a year) in 2009. Attendances reached peaks in 1963, 1968, 1977 and 2007, and were at their lowest in 1986.[24]

The record for highest average home attendance for a club was set by Rosenborg in 2007 (19,903 over 13 home matches). 12 October 1985 saw the record for highest attendance at a match, with 28,569 in the game between Rosenborg and Lillestrøm at Lerkendal Stadion. The highest ever average attendance for Eliteserien as a whole was set in 2007 with 10,521.

Year Total Average
1963 708 368 7 871
1964 556 699 6 186
1965 453 044 5 034
1966 413 250 4 592
1967 562 472 6 250
1968 700 013 7 778
1969 683 120 7 590
1970 507 243 5 636
1971 592 031 6 578
1972 743 966 5 636
1973 737 863 5 590
1974 759 004 5 750
Year Total Average
1975 893 874 6 772
1976 856 428 6 488
1977 968 683 7 339
1978 730 419 5 533
1979 823 387 6 238
1980 671 176 5 085
1981 776 191 5 880
1982 603 036 4 569
1983 729 373 5 526
1984 568 765 4 309
1985 581 177 4 403
1986 426 349 3 229
Year Total Average
1987 469 030 3 553
1988 576 257 4 365
1989 624 679 4 732
1990 647 489 4 905
1991 706 508 5 352
1992 671 903 5 083
1993 731 565 5 542
1994 688 589 5 216
1995 841 717 4 624
1996 841 368 4 622
1997 772 197 4 242
1998 959 317 5 270
Year Total Average
1999 983 630 5 404
2000 1 024 722 5 639
2001 1 013 264 5 567
2002 1 092 359 6 002
2003 1 198 798 6 587
2004 1 458 258 8 012
2005 1 727 101 9 489
2006 1 655 572 9 097
2007 1 914 907 10 521
2008 1 785 815 9 812
2009 2 151 219 8 956
2010 1 947 236 8 117
Year Total Average
2011 1 919 325 7 994
2012 1 680 822 7 003
2013 1 637 716 6 824[25]
2014 1 670 706 6 961[26]
2015 1 610 684 6 711
2016 1 669 435 6 985
2017 1 607 772 6 699
2018 1 407 693 5 865
2019 1 379 861 5 773

Players

Individual records

  

Most appearances

Daniel Berg Hestad is the player with most appearances.
As of 30 July 2020[27]
Number Player Years Matches
1 Daniel Berg Hestad 1993–2016 473
2 Morten Berre 1996–2015 452
3 Frode Kippe 1997–2019 441
4 Roar Strand 1989–2010 439
5 Øyvind Storflor 1999–2019 421
6 Espen Hoff 1999–2016 406
7 Steffen Hagen 2004–present 367
8 Christer Basma 1993–2008 350
9 Ola By Rise 1977–1995 346
10 Runar Berg 1990–2009 345
Sigurd Rushfeldt is the league's top scorer.

Most goals scored

As of Start of the 2020 season[28]
Number Player Years Goals Matches Average
1 Sigurd Rushfeldt 1992–2011 172 299 0.58
2 Harald Martin Brattbakk 1990–2005 166 255 0.65
3 Petter Belsvik 1989–2003 159 292 0.54
4 Odd Iversen 1967–1982 158 225 0.70
5 Per Kristoffersen 1956–1968 145 194 0.75
6 Frode Johnsen 1999–2015 132 301 0.45
7 Thorstein Helstad 1995–2013 116 234 0.50
Bengt Sæternes 1996–2011 116 280 0.41
9 Jostein Flo 1987–2001 114 213 0.54
10 Arild Sundgot 1995–2011 111 325 0.34

Foreign players

Awards

Trophy

The winners of Eliteserien win two trophies. One small trophy in silver which they keep and one bigger trophy which are held only by reigning champions.[29] The big trophy was introduced in 2012 and all winners from 2012 and onwards will get its club's name engraved on it. The ribbons that drape the handles are presented in the team colours of the league champions that year.

See also

Notes and references

  1. Fotballforbund, Norges. "Tippeligaen endrer navn til Eliteserien i 2017". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  2. "Discovery sikrer seg Tippeligaen i seks år – Betaler 2,4 milliarder". vg.no. Verdens Gang. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  3. "Eliteserien" (in Norwegian). Eliteserien. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. Johansen, Magne (26 October 1989). "Tippemillionene". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 35.
  5. Dehlin, Håkon (7 December 1990). "Alle rykker opp". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 26.
  6. "Tippeligaen endrer navn til Eliteserien i 2017" [Tippeligaen changes name to Eliteserien in 2017]. NFF. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  7. Sæther, Esten O. (7 August 2009). "Alle heiet underveis". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  8. In Norwegian "fotballens nasjonaldag"
  9. Per Svein (16 May 2011). "Nok en 16. Mai kamp i Bergen" (in Norwegian). IK Start. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  10. "Historisk avtale: Nå skal alle spille med denne ballen". eurosport.no (in Norwegian). Eurosport. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  11. "FELLES LIGABALL I ELITESERIEN OG TOPPSERIEN". eliteserien.no (in Norwegian). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  12. "Football news - Eurosport to screen Norway's Eliteserien across Europe". Eurosport. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. "Football news - Eurosport to screen Norway's Eliteserien across Europe". Eurosport. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. White, Duncan (5 December 2005). "The Knowledge". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  15. "Lennartsson fikk sparken i LSK – Nordlie nærmer seg LSK". www.vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  16. "Tom Nordlie ny LSK-trener: – Utrolig god motivator". www.vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  17. "Strømsgodset-treneren trekker seg: – Helsen Kommer først" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  18. "Henning Berg forlater Stabæk: -Beklagelig at det skjer nå" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  19. "Horneland er ferdig som Rosenborg-trener" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  20. Access list for European Cup Football 2013/2014, xs4ll.nl, accessed 13 July 2013
  21. "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  22. "UEFA Country Ranking 2020 – kassiesA – Xs4all". Kassiesa.home.xs411.nl. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  23. "Club coefficients". uefa.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  24. "Norwegian attendances". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  25. Torjusen, Thomas (12 November 2013). "Publikumsøkning for alle medaljelagene" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  26. "altomfotball.no: Eliteserien, 2014 – Statistikk". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  27. "Norway - Most matches played in Norwegian top division". www.rsssf.com.
  28. "Norway - All-Time Topscorers". www.rsssf.com.
  29. "Denne blir det umulig å vinne til odel og eie". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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