The Danish Superliga (Danish: Superligaen, pronounced [ˈsuˀpɐliːˌkɛˀn̩]) is a professional association football league in Denmark and the highest level of the Danish football league system. The league is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams relegated. It is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Divisionsforeningen.

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 calendar 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.

This practice was abandoned before the 1995–96 season, when the number of teams competing was 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. From January 2015 the Danish Superliga would be known as Alka Superliga, as the Danish insurance company Alka became name sponsor.[1]

Logos used for naming rights agreements for the league:

Structure

From 1996 through 2016, the league included 12 clubs which played each other three times. The two teams with the fewest points at the end of the season were relegated to the Danish 1st Division and replaced by the top two teams of that division. During this era, each team played every other team at least once at home and once away plus once more either at home or away. The top six teams of the previous season played 17 matches at home and 16 away while the teams in 7th to 10th place plus the two newly promoted teams played 16 matches at home and 17 away.

Following the 2015–16 season, the league was expanded to 14 teams, accomplished by relegating only the last-place finisher in that season and promoting the top three teams from the 1st division. The 2016–17 season was the first for the new league structure. It began with the teams playing a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in 26 matches for each team. At that time, the league split into a six-team championship playoff and an eight-team qualifying playoff. All teams' table points and goals carry over fully into the playoffs.

In the championship playoff, each team plays the others home and away again. The top team at the end of the playoff is Superliga champion and enters the Champions League in the second qualifying round. The second-place team enters the Europa League in the first qualifying round. The third-place team advances to a one-off playoff match for another Europa League place. If the winner of the Danish Cup finishes in the top three, the match will instead involve the fourth-place team.

The qualifying playoff is split into two groups, with the teams that finished the regular season in 7th, 10th, 11th and 14th in one group and those finishing 8th, 9th, 12th and 13th in the other. Each group plays home-and-away within its group. The top two teams from each group then enter a knockout tournament, with each match over two legs. If the Danish Cup winner is among the top two finishers in either playoff group, it is withdrawn from the knockout playoff and its opponent automatically advances to the tournament final. The winner of that tournament faces the third-place (or fourth-place) team from the championship playoff in a one-off match, with the winner entering the Europa League in the first qualifying round.

The bottom two teams from each group then contest a relegation playoff with several steps, centered on a separate four-team knockout playoff, also consisting totally of two-legged matches:

  • The third-placed teams in each group play over two legs, with the winners remaining in the Superliga and the losers advancing to a playoff final against the third-place team from the 1st Division.
  • The bottom teams in each group play over two legs, with the winners advancing to a play-off final against the second-place team from the 1st Division, and the losers dropping to next season's 1st Division.
  • The winners of each play-off final play in the next season's Superliga.

In the 2019–20 season, the number of teams was reduced from 14 to 12 teams. It began with all 12 teams playing a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in 22 matches for each team. At that time, the league split into a six-team championship playoff and a six-team qualifying playoff. All teams' points and goals carried over fully from the regular season into the playoffs. In both playoff groups, six teams play a full home-and-away schedule, resulting in ten matches (32 for the full season). The two bottom teams in the qualifying playoff are relegated to 1st Division, while the team finishing 7th plays against the lowest placed team from the Championship playoff, who failed to qualify directly to European Football, in a single match, to decide the final European spot from Denmark.

Teams

Current teams (2025–26)

Club 2024–25
Position		 First season in
top division		 First season of
current spell in
top division
AGF 6th 1918–19 2015–16
Brøndby 3rd 1982 1982
Copenhagen 1st 1992–93 1992–93
FC Fredericia 2nd in 1st Division 2025–26 2025–26
Midtjylland 2nd 2000–01 2000–01
Nordsjælland 5th 2002–03 2002–03
OB 1st in 1st Division 1927–28 2025–26
Randers 4th 2004–05 2011–12
Silkeborg 7th 1988 2021–22
Sønderjyske 9th 2001–02 2024–25
Vejle 10th 1956-57 2023–24
Viborg 8th 1981 2021–22

Winners

Seasons

Season Champions Performance
Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1991 Brøndby261810622615+11
1991–92 Lyngby32[2]14923227+15
1992–93 Copenhagen32[2]148333123+8
1993–94 Silkeborg31[2]148242315+8
1994–95 AaB31[2]147433013+17
1995–96 Brøndby673320767132+39
1996–97 Brøndby683320856439+25
1997–98 Brøndby763324458133+48
1998–99 AaB6433171336537+28
1999–2000 Herfølge563316895249+3
2000–01 Copenhagen6333171245527+28
2001–02 Brøndby693320947428+46
2002–03 Copenhagen6133171065132+19
2003–04 Copenhagen683320855627+29
2004–05 Brøndby693320946123+38
2005–06 Copenhagen733322746227+35
2006–07 Copenhagen763323736023+37
2007–08 AaB713322566038+22
2008–09 Copenhagen743323556726+41
2009–10 Copenhagen683321576122+39
2010–11 Copenhagen813325627729+48
2011–12 Nordsjælland683321574922+27
2012–13 Copenhagen6533181146232+30
2013–14 AaB623318876038+22
2014–15 Midtjylland713322566434+30
2015–16 Copenhagen713321846228+34
2016–17 Copenhagen843625927420+54
2017–18 Midtjylland853627458039+41
2018–19 Copenhagen823626468637+49
2019–20 Midtjylland823626466129+32
2020–21 Brøndby613219495838+20
2021–22 Copenhagen683220845619+37
2022–23 Copenhagen593218596135+26
2023–24 Midtjylland633219676243+19
2024–25 Copenhagen633218956033+27
2025–26 AGF6732191036232+30

Relegations

Season Relegated team(s)
1991Ikast
1991–92Vejle
1992–93Frem, B 1909
1993–94Viborg, B93
1994–95Fremad Amager
1995–96Ikast, Næstved
1996–97Viborg, Hvidovre
1997–98Ikast, OB
1998–99Aarhus Fremad, B93
1999–00Vejle, Esbjerg
2000–01Herfølge, SønderjyskE
2001–02Vejle, Lyngby
2002–03Silkeborg, Køge
2003–04Frem, AB
2004–05Herfølge, Randers
2005–06SønderjyskE, AGF
2006–07Vejle, Silkeborg
2007–08Viborg, Lyngby Boldklub
2008–09Horsens, Vejle
2009–10AGF, Køge
2010–11Randers, Esbjerg
2011–12Lyngby Boldklub, Køge
2012–13Horsens, Silkeborg
2013–14AGF, Viborg
2014–15Vestsjælland, Silkeborg
2015–16Hobro
2016–17Viborg, Esbjerg
2017–18Lyngby, Silkeborg, Helsingør
2018–19Vendsyssel, Vejle
2019–20Hobro, Silkeborg, Esbjerg
2020–21Horsens, Lyngby
2021–22Vejle, SønderjyskE
2022–23Horsens, AaB
2023–24Hvidovre, OB
2024–25Lyngby, AaB
2025–26Fredericia, Vejle

Notable players

Top goalscorers

Season Tally Top scorer(s)
199111[3]Bent Christensen (Brøndby)
1991–9217Peter Møller (AaB)
1992–9322
1993–9418Søren Frederiksen (Viborg)
1994–9524Erik Bo Andersen (AaB)
1995–9620Thomas Thorninger (AGF)
1996–9726Miklos Molnar (Lyngby)
1997–9828Ebbe Sand (Brøndby)
1998–9923Heine Fernandez (Viborg)
1999–0016Peter Lassen (Silkeborg)
2000–0121Peter Graulund (Brøndby)
2001–0222Peter Madsen (Brøndby) and Kaspar Dalgas (OB)
2002–0318Søren Frederiksen (Viborg) and Jan Kristiansen (Esbjerg)
2003–0419Steffen Højer and Mwape Miti (both OB), Mohamed Zidan (Midtjylland) and Tommy Bechmann (Esbjerg)
2004–0520Steffen Højer (OB)
2005–0616Steffen Højer (Viborg)
2006–0719Rade Prica (AaB)
2007–0817Jeppe Curth (AaB)
2008–0916Morten Nordstrand (Copenhagen) and Marc Nygaard (Randers)
2009–1018Peter Utaka (OB)
2010–1125Dame N'Doye (Copenhagen)
2011–1218
2012–1318Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen)
2013–1418Thomas Dalgaard (Viborg)
2014–1517Martin Pusic (Esbjerg/ Midtjylland)
2015–1618Lukas Spalvis (AaB)
2016–1723Marcus Ingvartsen (Nordsjælland)
2017–1822Pål Alexander Kirkevold (Hobro)
2018–1929Robert Skov (Copenhagen)
2019–2018Ronnie Schwartz (Silkeborg/Midtjylland)
2020–2119Mikael Uhre (Brøndby)
2021–2217Nicklas Helenius (Silkeborg)
2022–2315Patrick Mortensen (AGF) and Gustav Isaksen (Midtjylland)
2023–2415German Onugkha (Vejle)
2024–2520Patrick Mortensen (AGF)
2025–2617Franculino Djú (Midtjylland)

All-Time top scorer(s)

As of the end of the 2025–26 season[4]
Rank Player Goals Club(s)
1 Denmark Morten Rasmussen 142 AaB, AGF, Brøndby, Midtjylland
2 Denmark Søren Frederiksen 139 AaB, Silkeborg, Viborg
3 Denmark Peter Møller 135 AaB, Brøndby, Copenhagen
4 Denmark Heine Fernandez 125 AB, Copenhagen, Silkeborg, Viborg
5 Denmark Steffen Højer 124 AaB, OB, Viborg
6 Denmark Patrick Mortensen 113 AGF, Brøndby, Lyngby
7 Denmark Frank Kristensen 108 Ikast, Midtjylland, Randers
8 Denmark Peter Graulund 107 AGF, Brøndby, Vejle
9 Denmark Søren Andersen 101 AaB, AGF, OB
10 Denmark Nicklas Helenius 96 AaB, AGF, Silkeborg, OB
Bold denotes players still playing in the Superliga.

Most capped players

As of the end of the 2025–26 season[5]
Rank Player Appearances Club(s)
1 Denmark Rasmus Würtz 452 AaB, Copenhagen, Vejle
2 Denmark Jesper Hansen 444 AGF, Lyngby, Midtjylland, Nordsjælland
3 Denmark Nicolai Larsen 419 AaB, Nordsjælland, Silkeborg, Vejle
4 Denmark Rasmus Falk 410 Copenhagen, OB
5 Denmark Hans Henrik Andreasen 397 Esbjerg, Hobro, OB
6 Denmark Per Nielsen 394 Brøndby
7 Denmark Jakob Poulsen 390 AGF, Esbjerg, Midtjylland
8 Denmark Jimmy Nielsen 374 AaB, Vejle
9 Denmark Mogens Krogh 370 Ikfast, Brøndby
Denmark Nicolai Stokholm 370 AB, OB, Nordsjælland
Bold denotes players still playing in the Superliga.
Italics denotes players still active in professional football.

Most capped foreign players

As of the end of the 2025–26 season[6]
Rank Player Appearances Club(s)
1 Poland Arkadiusz Onyszko 363 Midtjylland, OB, Viborg
2 Philippines Jerry Lucena 334 AGF, Esbjerg
3 Morocco Karim Zaza 322 AaB, Brøndby, Copenhagen, OB
4 Nigeria Rilwan Hassan 296 Midtjylland, Sønderjyske
5 Faroe Islands Todi Jónsson 243 Copenhagen, Lyngby
6 Sweden Pierre Bengtsson 242 Copenhagen, Nordsjælland, Vejle
7 Zambia Andrew Tembo 218 OB
8 Germany Kolja Afriyie 212 Esbjerg, Midtjylland
9 Germany Björn Kopplin 208 Brøndby, Hobro, Randers
10 Nigeria Izunna Uzochukwu 201 Midtjylland, OB

Attendances

Season Average Total Max Min
19913,937354,34813,935712
1991–924,428646,51016,5001,014
1992–935,023733,29922,862484
1993–944,739691,85526,679475
1994–955,930865,75536,623487
1995–965,6891,126,41439,640704
1996–975,3181,052,92228,491585
1997–985,5191,092,68833,124939
1998–994,974984,87437,940180
1999–20005,8381,155,91728,8181,493
2000–015,8371,155,66240,2811,003
2001–025,7271,133,92040,186314
2002–037,3071,446,75240,254800
2003–047,9801,580,01141,0051,011
2004–058,5891,700,53240,654843
2005–067,9571,575,39941,2011,307
2006–078,1081,605,36740,4631,799
2007–088,4991,682,79132,1531,035
2008–098,8151,745,30832,8561,609
2009–108,3151,646,40530,191707
2010–117,0491,395,61628,3871,017
2011–127,1031,406,46225,6511,059
2012–136,7601,338,46533,2150[a]
2013–147,9291,570,02732,8461,656
2014–156,9321,372,51132,5261,201
2015–167,2531,436,18829,1781,327
2016–176,0021,500,38026,6861,044
2017–185,8801,469,98028,410568
2018–196,5811,618,96533,1341,012
2019–204,7641,152,83229,3100[b]
2020–211,193229,13610,9660[c]
2021–228,6361,658,07835,4631,702
2022–2310,2891,975,45435,8202,507
2023–2410,1731,993,47234,9171,530
2024–2510,0001,929,97935,9723,075
2025–269,2851,792,06834,4421,771
  1. ↑ Brøndby IF got a two matches ban on spectators due to unrest at a cup game against FC København.[7]
  2. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic some games were played without spectators and some games were played with a reduced amount allowed.[8]
  3. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic some games were played without spectators and some games were played with a reduced amount allowed.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Officielt: Superligaen bliver til Alka Superligaen". 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tally includes points carried over from the first half of the season.
  3. ↑ Season was only 18 games
  4. ↑ "Superliga All-Time Top Scorers". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Superliga Appearance Records". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Udlændinge med flest spillede kampe, all-time". superstats.dk. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Davidsen, Martin (25 March 2013). "DIF slår fast: Brøndby uden tilskuere i to kampe". Tipsbladet. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Muminovic, Arnela (5 June 2020). "Regeringen vil tillade 500 tilskuere til Superliga-kampe". Danmarks Radio. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Paaske, Søren (15 September 2020). "Nye corona-restriktioner: Færre tilskuere til Superliga-kampe". BT. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Superliga