Football in Denmark

Association football is the most popular sport in Denmark, with 331,693 players and 1,647 clubs registered (as of 2016) under the Danish FA. The game was introduced into Denmark by British sailors.

Men's league system

The top four levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association. The top 3 are collectively called Danmarksturneringen (literally: the Denmark Tournament or Danish Championship), and share a common set of rules more geared towards professional football.

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
1	Superligaen 14 clubs
2	1st division 12 clubs
3	2nd Division (Danish 2nd Division Pool 1) 8 clubs			2nd Division (Danish 2nd Division Pool 2) 8 clubs			2nd Division (Danish 2nd Division Pool 3) 8 clubs
4	Denmark Series (Pool 1) 10 clubs	Denmark Series (Pool 2) 10 clubs	Denmark Series (Pool 3) 10 clubs	Denmark Series (Pool 4) 10 clubs
5–	Lower divisions

Until the 2004–05 season, there was only one 2nd division and, until 2015–16 season, three Denmark Series (Danmarksserie(r)).

Second squads are generally only allowed to reach the Denmark Series, however 8 second squads of the Superliga teams are allowed to participate in the 2nd Division. If the first squad of a team is relegated from the Superliga to the 1st Division, its second squad will be relegated to the Denmark Series. If a second squad finishes in a promotion spot and is not eligible for the promotion, the next eligible team will be promoted. Therefore, both 2nd Divisions and Denmark Series can be won by the same team more than once in a row, unlike 1st Division where the winner will always be part of next season's Superliga.

From the 2010–11 season the clubs in the Superliga will have their own reserve competition, where there are also the recent relegators and four wild cards participating. The Superliga clubs' other teams will be playing no higher than in the Denmark Series.

Lower divisions' format

The lower divisions are controlled by the regional associations.

The format is generally two (regional name) series (example: Funen's series (Fynsserien)), followed by Serie 1, Serie 2 and so forth. The number of lower series vary from 3 in LFBU to 6 in JBU.

The following table pictures the JBU structure as of the 2016–17 season.

Level	League(s)/Division(s)
–4	Higher divisions
5	Jyllandsserien, pool 1 8 clubs				Jyllandsserien, pool 2 8 clubs				Jyllandsserien, pool 3 8 clubs				Jyllandsserien, pool 4 8 clubs
6	Serie 1, pools 5–10 (6) 8 clubs per pool
7	Serie 2, pools 11–22 (12) 8 clubs per pool
8	Serie 3, pools 23–46 (24) 8 clubs per pool
9	Serie 4, pools 47–82 (36) 8 clubs per pool
10	Serie 5, pools 83–154 (72) 6 clubs per pool
11	Serie 6, pools 155–201 (47) 6 clubs per pool

Competition records

European Cup

The following teams have advanced to elimination rounds in the European Cup.

• Quarter-finals: AGF Aarhus (1960–61), Brøndby IF (1986–87)

UEFA Champions League

The following teams have advanced to elimination rounds in the UEFA Champions League.

• Group stage: Aalborg BK (1995–96, 2008–09), Brøndby IF (1998–99), F.C. Copenhagen (2006–07, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2016–17), FC Nordsjælland (2012–13)
• Round of 16: F.C. Copenhagen (2010–11)

UEFA Cup/Europa League

The following teams have advanced to elimination rounds in the UEFA Cup (now Europe League).

• Semi-finals: Brøndby IF (1990–91)
• Quarter-finals: Boldklubben 1903 (1991–92), Odense BK (1994–95), Brøndby IF (1996–97)
• Round of 16: Aalborg BK (2008–09)

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

The following teams have advanced to elimination rounds in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

• Quarter-finals: B1909 (1962–63), Randers Freja (1968–69), Vejle BK (1977–78), AGF Aarhus (1988–89)

External links

• (Danish) Danish Football Association
• (Danish) Jutland Football History
• (Danish) Peders fodboldstatistik, extensive match database
• (Danish) www.haslund.info, season by season results and tables
• (English) League321.com - Danish Football League Tables, Records & Statistics Database.

Football in Denmark

League competitions The DFA Cup competitions Superliga Denmark (U-21) Danish Cup 1st Division List of clubs 2nd Division List of stadiums 3rd Division List of leagues (Denmark Series · Copenhagen Series · Funen Series · Jutland Series · Zealand Series)