A-Liga

Last updated
A-Liga
Organising body DBU
Founded1974;51 years ago (1974)
First season 1975
Country Denmark
Confederation UEFA
Divisions2 (1975–1980)
1 (1981–present)
Number of clubs20 (1975–1980)
12 (1981–1992)
8 (1993–present)
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to B-Liga
Domestic cup(s) DBU KvindePokalen
(1992–present)
International cup(s) UEFA Women's Champions League
Current champions Fortuna Hjørring (12th title)
(2024–25)
Most championships Brøndby IF
Fortuna Hjørring
(12 titles)
Broadcaster(s) TV 2 [1] (2025–)
Website a-liga.dk
Current: 2025–26 A-Liga

A-Liga [2] (formerly Gjensidige Kvindeliga and Elitedivisionen) is the top-flight league for women's football in Denmark. The league is overseen by the Danish Football Association (DBU) as part of the nationwide Danmarksturneringen i kvindefodbold (Kvinde-DM) and is the top division of the Danish football league system. [3] It is semi-professional. [4] Clubs in the league must meet certain criteria concerning appropriate facilities and finances. [5] All of the league's clubs qualify for the proper rounds of the DBU KvindePokalen. The top teams of each season qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Contents

The division has changed its name on several occasions. It began as Danmarksturneringen i damefodbold (1975 until 1980), then Dame 1. division (1981 until 1992), Elitedivisionen (1993 until 2015–16) and Kvindeligaen (2016–17 until 2024–25). [6] [7] Due to sponsorship arrangements, it was known as 3F Ligaen for fourteen seasons (2005–06 until 2018–19) and from 2019–2025 as Gjensidige Kvindeligaen. [8] [9] In 2025, the pyramid was renamed, with the top flight now called A-Liga, and the corresponding lower levels B-Liga and C-Liga, respectively.

According to FIFA's 2023 Women's Benchmarking Report, the league in 2021-22 drew an average of 388 fans per game, 57% of players had signed compensated player contracts (of whom, the average annual salary was between $10-15k USD), and 29% of players made their primary living from football. [10] The league's status as semi-professional presented challenges for its return-to-play from the 2019–2020 COVID-19 pandemic, as initially in Denmark only fully professional sports were allowed to resume. [11] A rise in interest and participation in women's football has driven increased investment into the league in recent years, although the best players in Denmark still often depart for fully professional clubs abroad. [12]

In March 2025, TV 2 announced that they had secured the broadcasting rights to the league, running until 2031. [1]

Format

The main round of the league is played in autumn as a double round-robin tournament between the 8 participating teams, where each team plays against each other both at home and away. The six best placed teams qualify for the spring championship play-offs, another double round-robin tournament among the six participating teams. The scores from the main league round carry over into the championship play-offs.

The two bottom ranked teams instead play in qualification play-offs, a double round-robin tournament with the top four teams of 2025–26 B-Liga for two spots in 2026–27 A-Liga. The scores from the main league round are not carried over into the qualification play-offs.

Variations

From 1994 to 2005/06 the league consisted of 8 teams playing each other 3 times and the best team then was awarded the championship. The last team was relegated with the second-to-last team facing the second team of the 1st Division in play-offs. 2006/07 was a transition year, because the league was extended to 10 teams. The last team after the season played a relegation match against the third placed team of the 1. division, for a place in Elitedivisionen. The top two teams of the 1. division were automatically promoted.

From 2007/08 to 2012/13 the league consisted of 10 teams. Those 10 teams played a double round robin as a regular season. After that there are 2 Playoff Groups. Place 1 to 4 of the regular season play the Championship Playoff. Place 5 to 10 play the Relegation Playoff. In the Playoffs, the points accumulated over the regular season are divided by 2 (rounding up if necessary). Those points are the starting points for the playoffs. The Championship group plays another round robin (6 matches each) with the winner being awarded the championship title. The Relegation Group plays a single round robin (5 matches each) after which, the bottom two clubs are relegated.

The 2013/14 season again was played only with eight teams. The top six after the regular season play a championship league, the seventh and the eight placed teams play in a qualification league determining whether they keep their spots or get relegated.

In August 2025, it was announced that the 2026–2027 season would be expanded to include 10 teams. [13]

Clubs

Champions

The list also includes the national champions of 1973 and 1974 that were crowned before the official establishment of a nationwide top-flight division in 1975. [14] [15]

RankClubChampionsRunners-upWinning seasons
1 Fortuna Hjørring 1222 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2024–25
2 Brøndby IF 1210 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19
3 IK Skovbakken [a] 106 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996–97, 1997–98
4 B 1909 55 1981, 1983, 1985, 1992, 1993
5 Ribe BK [b] 51 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979
6 BK Femina 34 1975, 1977, 1980
7 HB Køge 30 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
8 Odense Boldklub Q [c] 20 1999–2000, 2000–01
9 FC Nordsjælland 11 2023–24
— BK Stjernen Svendborg 02
— Kolding IF [d] 01
— BK Rødovre 01
  1. ↑ In January 2002, halfway through the 2001–02 season, Hjortshøj-Egaa IF's two elite women's squads, playing in the national and regional top-flight leagues, merged with IK Skovbakken's women's youth department for economic reasons, transferring the league licenses from Hjortshøj-Egaa IF to IK Skovbakken Kvindefodbold. In July 2017, the women's football department of IK Skovbakken Fodbold merged with the women's football departments of Vejlby IK, becoming part of VSK Aarhus. The founding clubs' association football departments ceased to exist.
  2. ↑ Ribe BK&GF changed their name to Ribe BK in October 1993 due to Nørremarkens BK being merged into the club.
  3. ↑ The women's football department at Odense BK was detached from the club at the end of the 2015–16 season. In March 2016, the women's elite department, OB Kvinde Elite, was refounded as a separate association football club named Odense Q, assuming the league license of Odense BK beginning from the 2016–17 season. Odense Sport & Event bought Odense Q in June 2023. From the 2023–24 season, the team was integrated in the OS&E setup under the name Odense Boldklub Q.
  4. ↑ In mid-1996, Kolding BK's women's department was closed following a merger with Kolding IF. In 2000, Kolding BK once again fielded a senior 11-a-side, under the banner of Kolding IF. In the summer of 2006, Kolding BK took over the administration of Kolding IF's senior women's team, which continued to play under the Kolding BK banner. The then youth superstructure, known as KoldingQ, embraced Kolding BK's first senior women's team in August 2009, while the senior reserve teams continued playing under the Kolding BK banner. In July 2019, KoldingQ became a separate entity encompassing teams for seniors, under-18 and under-16. In September 2021, it was revealed that KoldingQ would merge and become part of Kolding IF, which occurred at the end of October 2021 – the first match under the Kolding IF Women banner was played on 1 November 2021.

2025–26 season

Club 24–25 FirstTotalRecent#TitlesLatest title
Brøndby IF 4th1996–199730——122018–2019
Fortuna Hjørring 1st197552TBATBA122024–2025
HB Køge 3rd2019–20207——32022–2023
Kolding IF 8th1975302008–2009180—
FC Midtjylland 1st (B-Liga)2025–20261——0—
FC Nordsjælland 2nd2019–202072019–2020—12023–2024
Odense Boldklub Q 5th1990292024–2025222000–2001
Aarhus GF 6thTBA51TBATBA0—

Top flight seasons

As of the 2025–26 season

74 teams have played in the top flight since its inaugural season in 1975. However, several teams have merged over the years to form the current clubs, the combined results of which will be displayed where noted. The teams in bold compete in A-Liga currently, while the teams in italics are now defunct.

Incomplete

#ClubLatest
52 Fortuna Hjørring 2026
51 AGF Fodbold [a] 2026
36 BSF [b] 2020
30 Brøndby IF 2026
30 Kolding IF [c] 2026
29 OB Q [d] 2026
28 Vejle BK 2018
26 BK Rødovre
20 Boldklubben 1909 1994
15 Hillerød Fodbold
14 BK Femina 2000
13 Ringsted IF
11 BK Stjernen
10 B52/Aalborg FC
10 Sydmors IF 1993
9 Sundby BK 2023
9 Varde IF 2018
9 Vorup BK 2000
7 FC Nordsjælland [e] 2026
7 AaB 2024
6 HB Køge 2026
1 FC Midtjylland 2026
  1. ↑ Represented by VSK Aarhus from 2016-2020 (a merger between IK Skovbakken and Vejlby IK); IK Skovbakken from 2002–2016; and from the '80s to 2002 by HEI Aarhus.
  2. ↑ 26 seasons in the top-flight as Skovlunde IF.
  3. ↑ Includes seasons as Kolding BK and Kolding Q.
  4. ↑ This is the combined total of OB, Odense Q, and the current OB Q constellation, the two latter derived from the original OB team.
  5. ↑ From 1994–2020, the club competed as Farum BK.

Hall of Fame members

The Danish Football Association Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to celebrate the achievements and contributions of outstanding Danish players and staff. [16] Four players who have played in the Danish top tier A-Liga, as well as one former A-Liga coach, have been inducted into the Danish Football Hall of Fame thus far. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

RecipientYearClub(s)
Lone Smidt Nielsen 2016 B1909 (1978–85; 1987–1990), Kolding IF (1976–1978)
Katrine Pedersen 2022 Hjortshøj-Egå (HEI)/IK Skovbakken (1994–2002)
Helle Jensen 2024 B52/Aalborg FC, B1909 (1989–1994), Fortuna Hjørring (1994–2000)
Merete Pedersen Vejle BK, OB
Poul Højmose 2025 Hjortshøj-Egå (HEI)

See also

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 "TV 2 sikrer sig rettighederne til Kvindeligaen - TV 2". sport.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
    2. ↑ DBU. "A-liga". DBU (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-08-09.
    3. ↑ "Propositioner for Danmarksturneringen i kvindefodbold (Kvinde-DM) (2020–21)". www.dbu.dk (in Danish). Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU). June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
    4. ↑ "Women's Euro 2025 team guides: Denmark". The Guardian. 2025-06-26. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-08-10.
    5. ↑ "DBUs Klublicenssystem : Licensmanual for Kvindeligaen 2021/2022" (PDF). www.dbu.dk (in Danish). Danish Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
    6. ↑ Pedersen, Christine Møller (6 February 2016). "Kvindeligaen: DBU ændrer slutspillet i den bedste række" (in Danish). DR.dk. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022. Udover ændringen af slutspillet skifter den bedste danske liga, Elitedivisionen, nu navn til Kvindeligaen.
    7. ↑ "Ny turneringsstruktur for pige- og kvindefodbold" (in Danish). Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU). 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022. Fakta: Ændringerne i strukturen for kvinde- og pigehold,- hvis ikke andet nævnt, gældende fra sæson 16/17. 3F-ligaen: Formel ændring af navnet "Elitedivision" til "Kvindeliga"
    8. ↑ Import (30 June 2005). "Elitedivisionen bliver til 3F Ligaen" (in Danish). Tipsbladet.dk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
    9. ↑ Sønnichsen, Thomas; Ipsen, Christian (30 July 2019). "Den danske kvindeliga indgår historisk aftale med ny sponsor" (in Danish). TV2 Sport. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
    10. ↑ "'Setting the Pace' FIFA Benchmarking Report (3rd Edition)". FIFA. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
    11. ↑ Frigaard, Anders Melchior (8 May 2020). "Kvindeligaen kan måske genoptages: Afventer svar fra regeringen" (in Danish). DR / www.dr.dk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
    12. ↑ Tejwani, Karan (2022-05-10). "Analysing The Rise of Women's Football in Denmark". Breaking The Lines. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
    13. ↑ "Danmarks bedste række udvides - TV 2". sport.tv2.dk (in Danish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
    14. ↑ Bernd Timmermann (4 January 2006). "Denmark (Women) 1999". RSSSF . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
    15. ↑ "Gjensidige Kvindeligaen". www.dbu.dk (in Danish). Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU). 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
    16. ↑ DBU. "Fodboldens Hall of Fame". DBU (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-06-23.
    17. ↑ "Lone Smidt Nielsen". DBU (in Danish). 2019-07-25. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
    18. ↑ "Katrine Søndergaard Pedersen". DBU (in Danish). 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
    19. ↑ "Helle Jensen". DBU (in Danish). 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
    20. ↑ "Merete Pedersen". DBU (in Danish). 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
    21. ↑ "Poul Højmose". DBU (in Danish). 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
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