Eliteserien (football)

Eliteserien
Founded 1937
2017–Present (as Eliteserien)
1990–2016 (as Tippeligaen)
1963–1989 (as 1. Divisjon)
1948–1962 (as Hovedserien)
1937–1948 (as Norgesserien)
Country Norway
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to OBOS Ligaen
Domestic cup(s) Norwegian Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
Current champions Rosenborg (24th title)
(2016)
Most championships Rosenborg (24 titles)
TV partners Discovery Networks Norway
Website NFF
Norsk Toppfotball
2017 Eliteserien

Eliteserien (Norwegian pronunciation: [e²liːtəserjən]) 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.

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). 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.

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 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 1961–62 season became a transitional season, where the 16 top-flight teams were placed in a single group, playing a season that lasted 18 months. Officially still known as Hovedserien, the 1961–62 season became informally known as Maratonserien (The Marathon League) because of its unusual length.

In 1963, a single top division containing ten teams was introduced, and the league was renamed 1. Divisjon (English: 1st Division). The league was expanded to 12 teams in 1972. In 1990, the league was renamed Tippeligaen, after Norsk Tipping which has been the main sponsor of the league since then.[1] However, unofficially the league was still known as 1. Divisjon by most people. And ahead of the 1991-season it was decided to let the second level league of Norwegian football "inherit" the name 1. divisjon to help Tippeligaen establish as a brand.[2] In 1995, Tippeligaen was expanded to 14 teams, and in 2009 it was further expanded to 16 teams.

Starting with the 2017 season the league will be called Eliteserien after NFF decided to totally drop the sponsor name from the name of the league after the 2016 season. [3]

An important note is that teams from Northern Norway were not allowed to gain promotion to the top division before 1972. In 1979 teams from Northern Norway were given the same promotion rights as the rest of the country.

Format

Competition

As of the 2017 season there are 16 clubs in the Eliteserien, seven of which are located in Eastern Norway, while seven clubs are from Western Norway, and one each are from 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 broken up into one game on Fridays, two games on Saturdays and five games on Sundays. 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"[4] and since it precedes a national holiday, games usually see higher attendance than other rounds.[5]

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 "Champions" is reserved for the Cup Winners. The two lowest placed teams are automatically relegated to the First Division and the top two teams from the First Division 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 First Division to stay in the top flight.

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 Norwegian Premier League 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.[6] The third placed team enters the first qualifying round of the Europa league. Norway also has an additional place in the first qualifying round of the Europa league for the 2013–2014 season due to its fair play ranking.

History

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

The league has enjoyed tremendous popularity in Norway. 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 until 2004. During the first years Rosenborg won with a substantial margin, only partly challenged by Bodø/Glimt, Molde, Lillestrøm and Brann. However, this was streadily 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.

The league has been professional since 1992.[7]

UEFA Rankings

UEFA association coefficients as of the end of the 2015–16 season, for league participation in the 2016–17 European football season (Previous year rank in italics):

Current members

Eliteserien title holders
Rosenborg BK Molde FK Strømsgodset IF Molde FK Rosenborg BK Stabæk Fotball SK Brann Rosenborg BK Vålerenga IF Fotball Rosenborg BK Viking FK Rosenborg BK

The following sixteen clubs are competing in the Eliteserien during the 2017 season.

Club
Finishing position
in 2016
First season in
top division
First season of
current spell in
top division
Aalesund 9th 1937–38 2007
Brann 2nd 1937–38 2016
Haugesund 4th 1997[note 1] 2010
Kristiansund 1st (1st Division) 2017 2017
Lillestrøm 12th 1937–38 1975
Molde 5th 1939–40 2008
Odd 3rd 1937–38 2009
Rosenborg 1st 1937–38 1979
Sandefjord 2nd (1st Division) 2006 2017
Sarpsborg 08 6th 2011 2013
Sogndal 11th 1982 2016
Stabæk 14th 1995 2014
Strømsgodset 7th 1938–39 2007
Tromsø 13th 1985 2015
Vålerenga 10th 1937–38 2002
Viking 8th 1937–38 1989
  1. FK Haugesund is the result of a merger between SK Haugar and Djerv 1919. These two clubs participated in the Norwegian Premier League in 1981 and 1988, respectively.

List of champions

Below is a list of the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the Norwegian Premier League since its beginning in 1937–38. (The Norwegian football 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), due to travel distance, were not allowed in the top division until 1972, but a separate Northern Norwegian Cup was played. The league did not play during the period 1940–1946 because of the 2nd World War.

See below for a list of medalists by club name.

Medalists by year

The following medals have been awarded:

Season Gold Silver Bronze Name of League
1937–38 Fredrikstad Lyn Norgesserien
1938–39 Fredrikstad Skeid Norgesserien
1939–40
Abandoned because of World War II.
Norgesserien
1940–47
No League Championship.
1947–48 Freidig Sparta Norgesserien
1948–49 Fredrikstad Vålerenga Hovedserien
1949–50 Fram Larvik Fredrikstad Hovedserien
1950–51 Fredrikstad Odd Hovedserien
1951–52 Fredrikstad Brann Hovedserien
1952–53 Larvik Turn Skeid Hovedserien
1953–54 Fredrikstad Skeid Hovedserien
1954–55 Larvik Turn Fredrikstad Hovedserien
1955–56 Larvik Turn Fredrikstad Hovedserien
1956–57 Fredrikstad Odd Hovedserien
1957–58 Viking Skeid Hovedserien
1958–59 Lillestrøm Fredrikstad Hovedserien
1959–60 Fredrikstad Lillestrøm Eik-Tønsberg Hovedserien
1960–61 Fredrikstad Eik-Tønsberg Vålerenga Hovedserien
1961–62 Brann Steinkjer Fredrikstad Hovedserien
1963 Brann Lyn Skeid 1. Divisjon
1964 Lyn Fredrikstad Sarpsborg 1. Divisjon
1965 Vålerenga Lyn Sarpsborg 1. Divisjon
1966 Skeid Fredrikstad Lyn 1. Divisjon
1967 Rosenborg Skeid Lyn 1. Divisjon
1968 Lyn Rosenborg Viking 1. Divisjon
1969 Rosenborg Fredrikstad Strømsgodset 1. Divisjon
1970 Strømsgodset Rosenborg HamKam 1. Divisjon
1971 Rosenborg Lyn Viking 1. Divisjon
1972 Viking Fredrikstad Strømsgodset 1. Divisjon
1973 Viking Rosenborg Start 1. Divisjon1
1974 Viking Molde Vålerenga 1. Divisjon
1975 Viking Brann Start 1. Divisjon
1976 Lillestrøm Mjøndalen Brann 1. Divisjon
1977 Lillestrøm Bodø/Glimt Molde 1. Divisjon
1978 Start Lillestrøm Viking 1. Divisjon
1979 Viking Moss Start 1. Divisjon
1980 Start Bryne Lillestrøm 1. Divisjon
1981 Vålerenga Viking Rosenborg 1. Divisjon
1982 Viking Bryne Lillestrøm 1. Divisjon
1983 Vålerenga Lillestrøm Start 1. Divisjon
1984 Vålerenga Viking Start 1. Divisjon
1985 Rosenborg Lillestrøm Vålerenga 1. Divisjon
1986 Lillestrøm Mjøndalen Kongsvinger 1. Divisjon
1987 Moss Molde Kongsvinger 1. Divisjon
1988 Rosenborg Lillestrøm Molde 1. Divisjon
1989 Lillestrøm Rosenborg Tromsø 1. Divisjon
1990 Rosenborg Tromsø Molde Tippeligaen
1991 Viking Rosenborg Start Tippeligaen
1992 Rosenborg Kongsvinger Start Tippeligaen
1993 Rosenborg Bodø/Glimt Lillestrøm Tippeligaen
1994 Rosenborg Lillestrøm Viking Tippeligaen
1995 Rosenborg Molde Bodø/Glimt Tippeligaen
1996 Rosenborg Lillestrøm Viking Tippeligaen
1997 Rosenborg Brann Strømsgodset Tippeligaen
1998 Rosenborg Molde Stabæk Tippeligaen
1999 Rosenborg Molde Brann Tippeligaen
2000 Rosenborg Brann Viking Tippeligaen
2001 Rosenborg Lillestrøm Viking Tippeligaen
2002 Rosenborg Molde Lyn Tippeligaen
2003 Rosenborg Bodø/Glimt Stabæk Tippeligaen
2004 Rosenborg Vålerenga Brann Tippeligaen
2005 Vålerenga Start Lyn Tippeligaen
2006 Rosenborg Brann Vålerenga Tippeligaen
2007 Brann Stabæk Viking Tippeligaen
2008 Stabæk Fredrikstad Tromsø Tippeligaen
2009 Rosenborg Molde Stabæk Tippeligaen
2010 Rosenborg Vålerenga Tromsø Tippeligaen
2011 Molde Tromsø Rosenborg Tippeligaen
2012 Molde Strømsgodset Rosenborg Tippeligaen
2013 Strømsgodset Rosenborg Haugesund Tippeligaen
2014 Molde Rosenborg Odd Tippeligaen
2015 Rosenborg Strømsgodset Stabæk Tippeligaen
2016 Rosenborg Brann Odd Tippeligaen

Note: 1 First season when North Norwegian teams was allowed to play in the Top Division.

Medalists by club name

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

Club Founded Gold Silver Bronze Last merits
Rosenborg 1917–05–19 24 7 3 Gold 2016, 2015, Silver 2014
Fredrikstad 1903–04–07 9 9 1 Gold 1960–61, Silver 2008
Viking 1899–08–10 8 2 8 Gold 1991, Bronze 2007
Lillestrøm 1917–04–02 5 8 3 Gold 1989, Silver 2001
Vålerenga 1913–07–29 5 3 4 Gold 2005, Silver 2010
Molde 1911–06–19 3 7 3 Gold 2014
Brann 1908–09–26 3 6 3 Gold 2007, Silver 2016
Larvik Turn 1906–01–15 3 Gold 1955–56
Lyn 1896–03–03 2 4 4 Gold 1968, Silver 1971, Bronze 2005
Strømsgodset 1907–02–10 2 2 3 Gold 2013, Silver 2015
Start 1905–09–19 2 1 7 Gold 1980, Silver 2005
Skeid 1915–01–01 1 5 1 Gold 1966, Silver 1967
Stabæk 1912–03–16 1 1 4 Gold 2008, Bronze 2015
Moss 1906–08–28 1 1 Gold 1987
Fram Larvik 1894–01–15 1 Gold 1949–50
Freidig 1903–10–13 1 Gold 1947–48
Bodø/Glimt 1916–09–19 3 1 Silver 2003
Tromsø 1920–09–15 2 3 Silver 2011
Odd 1894–03–31 2 2 Bronze 2014, Bronze 2016
Bryne 1926–04–10 2 Silver 1982
Mjøndalen 1910–08–22 2 Silver 1986
Kongsvinger 1892–01–31 1 2 Silver 1992
Eik-Tønsberg 1928–03–14 1 1 Silver 1960–61
Sparta 1928–11–23 1 Silver 1947–48
Steinkjer 1910–05–29 1 Silver 1961–62
Sarpsborg 1903–05–08 2 Bronze 1965
HamKam 1918–08–10 1 Bronze 1970
Haugesund 1993–10–28 1 Bronze 2013
TOTAL
70 70 56

Attendance

Up to 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 1977 and 2007, and were at their lowest in 1986.[8]

Year Total Average
1985 581 177 4 403
1986 426 349 3 229
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
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
2011 1 919 325 7 994
2012 1 680 822 7 003
2013 1 637 716 6 824[9]
2014 1 670 706 6 961[10]
2015 1 610 684 6 711
2016 1 669 435 6 985

Individual all-time records

  

Foreign players

See also

Notes and references

  1. Johansen, Magne (October 26, 1989). "Tippemillionene". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 35.
  2. Dehlin, Håkon (December 7, 1990). "Alle rykker opp". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 26.
  3. Fotballforbund, Norges. "Tippeligaen endrer navn til Eliteserien i 2017". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  4. In Norwegian "fotballens nasjonaldag"
  5. Per Svein (16 May 2011). "Nok en 16. Mai kamp i Bergen" (in Norwegian). IK Start. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. Access list for European Cup Football 2013/2014, xs4ll.nl, accessed 13 July 2013
  7. Sæther, Esten O. (7 August 2009). "Alle heiet underveis". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  8. "Norwegian attendances". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. "altomfotball.no: Eliteserien, 2014 - Statistikk". Retrieved 1 January 2017.

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