Danish 2nd Division

Danish 2nd Division
Country	Denmark
Confederation	UEFA
Founded	1946
Divisions	3
Number of teams	24
Promotion to	1st Division
Relegation to	Denmark Series
Levels on pyramid	3
Domestic cup(s)	Danish Cup
Current champions	Hvidovre IF (2017–18)
TV	Kanal Sport
Website	Official website
2023–24

The 2nd Division is the third tier Danish football league, just after the 1st Division.

It was founded in 1945, after World War II, as the second-best Danish football division. When the Danish Superliga was founded in 1991, the 2nd Division became the third level league. From 1991 to 1997 the league was played as half-year seasons, as the lower league played spring-autumn tournaments, and the higher leagues played autumn-spring.

History

The third tier of Danish football has undergone many changes as a buffer zone between the elite classes and amateur clubs. The division, that we today know as the Danish 2nd Division was back in days called the 3rd Division. It started already back in 1936 when III Series was created with two geographically divided constituencies, which included four teams each. Out of the eight teams, there was one who gained promotion to Serie II.

In the years 1945–46, the third Division with 10 teams was grounded. One team gained promotion to 2nd Division, and one relegated to the Denmark Series. A change was made in 1951. The 3rd Division was expanded to 12 teams and to teams was relegated to a newly created Qualification Series – the new buffer between the Denmark Series and local leagues.

The structure was changed again in 1966. Two geographical circles with 12 teams each were created. Only one team could be promoted and two teams be relegated. When we reached the 1975’s, the number of teams in the league got expanded and the 3rd Division rolled into one row with 16 teams, where two teams could be promoted to the 2nd Division and teams relegated to the Denmark Series.

From 3rd Division to 2nd Division

The Danish Superliga got a new name in 1991, and at the same time, was the second best division at the time, renamed to 1st Division instead of 2nd Division. The same story happened with the 3rd Division, that changed the name to the 2nd Division – as we know it today. The new 2nd Division consisted now of a West and an East pool.

In 1997, the 2nd Division changes back to the old structure with a Qualification Series, but only three years later, they changed it back to have a West and East pool.

From 2005, the 2nd Division was changed to have 14 teams each in the East and West pools, with three teams to promote. In addition, was there allowed access to have up to eight reserve teams of the Danish Superliga clubs, in the 2nd Division. The number of teams in the 2nd Division was increased to 16 teams in 2008. But in 2010 they removed the access to have reserve teams in the 2nd Division since they had grounded a Reserve League. This led to a real extension of the 2nd Division, leaving the 2nd Division back with only 8 teams in 2010.

The 2nd Division did change again in 2015, that reduced the number of teams in the 2nd Division from 32 to 24. 3 pools with each 8 teams was created, where the four top finishers in each pool would be playing for promotion to the 1st Division, with promotion for the two best-placed teams. Also, there would be a relegation pool for the 12 teams that end up as 5–8 in one of their 3 pools, where the 9–12th places relegated to the Denmark Series.

Current teams in the 2017–18 Danish 2nd Divisions

Group 1 Akademisk Boldklub B.93 Brønshøj BK Skovshoved IF BK Frem Hillerød Fodbold Næstved Boldklub Hvidovre IF

Group 2 Kolding IF Dalum IF Greve IF BK Marienlyst Næsby BK Avarta Middelfart G&BK HIK

Group 3 FC Sydvest IF Lyseng Kjellerup IF Aarhus Fremad Odder IGF VSK Aarhus Jammerbugt FC Ringkøbing IF

Winners

Second tier until 1991

Season	Winner
1945–46	ØB
1946–47	OB
1947–48	B 1909
1948–49	Esbjerg fB
1949–50	B 1909
1950–51	Skovshoved IF
1951–52	KB
1952–53	AGF
1953–54	B 1909
1954–55	AIA, Aarhus
1955–56	Vejle Boldklub
1956–57	OB
1958	B 1903
1959	B 1913
1960	Køge BK
1961	Brønshøj BK
1962	AaB
1963	BK Frem
1964	Hvidovre IF
1965	AB
1966	Horsens fS
1967	B 1913
1968	B 1903
1969	Randers Sportsklub Freja
1970	B 1909
1971	AGF
1972	AB
1973	Holbæk B&I
1974	Vanløse IF
1975	Kastrup Boldklub
1976	Frederikshavn fI
1977	Næstved IF
1978	AaB
1979	Køge BK
1980	Viborg FF
1981	Brøndby IF
1982	BK Frem
1983	KB
1984	B 1903
1985	KB
1986	Hvidovre IF
1987	Silkeborg IF
1988	B 1913
1989	KB
1990	B 1909

From 1991 to 1997 the Danish 2nd Division was spilted into two groups, East and West.

Season	Winner
1997–98	B 1909
1998–99	Randers Sportsklub Freja
1999–00	B 1913
2000–01	Kolding IF
2001–02	BK Skjold
2002–03	FC Nordjylland
2003–04	HIK
2004–05	Kolding FC

From 2005 to 2015 the Danish 2nd Division was split into two groups, East and West.

Season	Winner
2015–16	Akademisk Boldklub
2016–17	Thisted FC
2017–18	Hvidovre IF

External links

• 2nd Division laws and rules