Organising body | Norges Fotballforbund |
---|---|
Founded | 2009 2009–2010 (as Superfinalen) 2017–2018 (as Mesterfinalen) |
First season | 2009 |
Folded | 2019 |
Country | Norway |
Number of teams | 2 |
Last champions | Rosenborg (3rd title) |
Most championships | Rosenborg (3 titles) |
TV partners | Discovery Networks Norway |
Mesterfinalen (English: Champions Final), also known as UNICEF Mesterfinalen due to its cooperation with UNICEF, is a Norwegian association football competition contested between the champions of the previous Eliteserien season and the holders of the Norwegian Football Cup. If the same team is both reigning League and Cup champions, the silver medalist from the league provides the opposition. [1] The competition was founded in 2009, then known as Superfinalen (English: Super Final). Superfinalen was not arranged between 2011 and 2016 before it was rebranded and again arranged in 2017. The fixture is a recognised competitive football super cup.
There have previously been attempts at a Supercup, and before that, pre-season friendlies between the reigning league and cup champions. For instance, the 2002 pre-season match between Rosenborg and Viking was played between the reigning league and cup champions, although it had no official status. The Superfinalen was introduced in 2009 as the first attempt to make an official tournament, but the tournament folded in 2010 after two finals. Ahead of the 2011 season, Norges Fotballforbund and Norsk Toppfotball stated that Superfinalen would be discontinued, stating that the championship was interesting neither from sports nor from a commercial aspect. However, the two would-be qualified teams, league winner Rosenborg and cup winner Strømsgodset, were free to play a pre-season friendly, although it would not be regarded as an official match. [2]
In 2016, after Discovery Communications and TVNorge acquired the rights for the Eliteserien a new attempt was made to arrange a Supercup starting in 2017 under the name UNICEF Mesterfinalen. [3] The first final was played between reigning League and Cup champions Rosenborg and the league runners-up Brann at Brann Stadion. [4]
The first edition was contested between Stabæk and Vålerenga at Telenor Arena in Bærum on 8 March 2009. [5] It was the first official match to take place at Stabæk's new home ground. Stabæk qualified as winners of the 2008 Tippeligaen, where they finished six points ahead of Fredrikstad. [6] Vålerenga qualified as winners of the 2008 Norwegian Football Cup, where they had won the final 4–1 against Stabæk. As such, Superfinalen became a replay of the previous year's cup final. [7] Stabæk won the match 3–1 after goals by Daniel Nannskog, Daigo Kobayashi and Pálmi Rafn Pálmason. Mohammed Abdellaoue scored for the losing side. Martin Andresen, playing coach for Vålerenga, received two yellow cards. [5]
The 2010 edition was contested between Rosenborg BK and Aalesund FK at Color Line Stadion in Ålesund on 7 March 2010. Rosenborg qualified as winners of the 2009 Tippeligaen, where they finished 13 points ahead of Molde. [8] Aalesund qualified as winners of the 2009 Norwegian Football Cup, where they beat Molde in a penalty shootout in the final. [9] Rosenborg won the match 3–1 after leading 2–0 at halftime. Kris Stadsgaard and Rade Prica scored the goals in the first half, and Trond Olsen increased Rosenborg's lead to 3–0 before Aalesund pulled one back, courtesy of Peter Orry Larsen. [10]
The 2017 edition was contested between SK Brann and Rosenborg BK at Brann Stadion in Bergen on 29 March 2017. [12] Rosenborg qualified as winners of the 2016 Tippeligaen, where they finished 15 points ahead of Brann. [13] Brann qualified as runners-up in the Tippeligaen, this because Rosenborg won the 2016 Norwegian Football Cup. Rosenborg won the match 2–0 after leading 1–0 at halftime. Milan Jevtovic scored the goal in the first half, and Tore Reginiussen increased Rosenborg's lead to 2–0 in the 90th minute.
Brann | 0–2 | Rosenborg |
---|---|---|
Report | Jevtović 32' Reginiussen 90+4' |
The 2018 edition was contested between Lillestrøm SK and Rosenborg BK at Åråsen Stadion in Lillestrøm on 25 April 2018. Initially the game was scheduled for 5 March 2018, but the game was cancelled due to the winterly conditions at Åråsen Stadion. [14] Rosenborg qualified as winners of the 2017 Eliteserien, where they finished 7 points ahead of Molde. [15] Lillestrøm qualified as winners of the 2017 Norwegian Football Cup where they defeated Sarpsborg 08 3–2 in the final. Rosenborg won the 2018 Mesterfinalen with the score 0–1. [16] After a goalless first half, Nicklas Bendtner scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute.
Lillestrøm | 0–1 | Rosenborg |
---|---|---|
Report | Bendtner 52' |
The 2019 edition was to be contested between Rosenborg BK and Molde FK at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Rosenborg qualified as winners of the 2018 Eliteserien, where they finished 5 points ahead of Molde. [17] Molde qualified as runners-up in Eliteserien as Rosenborg also won the 2018 Norwegian Football Cup, but due to extreme weather conditions the games was cancelled 2 days prior to the scheduled matchday. [18]
Ground | Hosts | Years |
---|---|---|
Telenor Arena, Bærum | 1 | 2009 |
Color Line Stadion, Ålesund | 1 | 2010 |
Brann Stadion, Bergen | 1 | 2017 |
Åråsen Stadion, Lillestrøm | 1 | 2018 |
The fixture is usually played at the home ground of one of the teams competing. The first exception would have been the 2019 final, when defending league champions Rosenborg decided that the final should be held at Ullevaal Stadion. In total there have been five host grounds. The first ground to host the fixture was Telenor Arena in 2009. The 2009 final is the only game hosted by the league champions.
Club | Winners | Runners-up | Cup-winning years | Years as runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rosenborg | 3 | – | 2010, 2017, 2018 | – |
Stabæk | 1 | – | 2009 | – |
Aalesund | – | 1 | – | 2010 |
Vålerenga | – | 1 | – | 2009 |
Brann | – | 1 | – | 2017 |
Lillestrøm | – | 1 | – | 2018 |
City | Won | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Trondheim | 3 | Rosenborg (3) |
Bærum | 1 | Stabæk (1) |
Eliteserien 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. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Norwegian First Division.
The 2006 Tippeligaen was the 62nd completed season of top division football in Norway. The season began on April 9, 2006 and ended on November 5, 2006. Rosenborg became champions on October 29, with one round to go, by defeating Viking at home. The other main contenders for the title were Brann and Lillestrøm, the former securing their place as runners-up on the same day.
The 2008 season was Lillestrøm SK's 18th season in the Tippeligaen, and their 33rd consecutive season in the top division of Norwegian football.
The 2009 season was Lillestrøm SK's 19th season in the Tippeligaen, and their 34th consecutive season in the top division of Norwegian football.
The 2011 Tippeligaen was the 67th completed season of top division football in Norway. The competition began on 20 March 2011 and ended on 27 November 2011. Rosenborg were the defending champions, having secured their twenty-second League Championship on 24 October 2010. Sogndal, Sarpsborg 08 and Fredrikstad entered as the three promoted teams from the 2010 1. divisjon. They replaced Hønefoss, Kongsvinger and Sandefjord who were relegated to the 2011 1. divisjon.
The 2008 season was Molde's 32nd season in the top flight of Norwegian football. They competed in Tippeligaen where they finished in 9th position and the Norwegian Cup where they were knocked out by Stabæk in the semi-finals.
The 2013 season was Lillestrøm's 37th consecutive year in Tippeligaen and their second with Magnus Haglund as manager. They finished 10th in the league and were knocked out of the cup at the Semi-Final stage by Molde.
The 2013 Norwegian Football Cup was the 108th season of the Norwegian annual knockout football tournament. It began with qualification matches in March 2013. The first round was played 17 April 2013 and the tournament ended with the final on 24 November 2013, which Molde won by beating Rosenborg 4–2.
The 2014 Tippeligaen was the 70th completed season of top division football in Norway. The competition began on 28 March 2014, two weeks later than in the previous season. A three-week summer-break in June was scheduled due to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the decisive match was played on 9 November 2014. Strømsgodset were the defending champions. Bodø/Glimt and Stabæk joined as the promoted clubs from the 2013 1. divisjon. They replaced Tromsø and Hønefoss who were relegated to the 2014 1. divisjon.
The 2016 Tippeligaen was the 72nd completed season of top-tier football in Norway. The competition began on 11 March 2016. Due to the 2016 UEFA European Championship, there was a break between the rounds played on 29 May and 3 July. The decisive matches of the home-and-away season were played on 6 November 2016. A promotion/relegation play-off between the third-from-bottom team of the Tippeligaen and the winner of the promotion play-offs of the 2016 1. divisjon was contested on 30 November and 4 December 2016.
The 2017 season is Aalesund's tenth consecutive season in the Tippeligaen.
The 2018 Mesterfinalen was the second edition of Mesterfinalen and the 4th Norwegian super cup overall. Mesterfinalen is the annual game between the League champions and the Cup champions in Norway, or the second-placed team in Eliteserien if the same team are both reigning League and Cup champions. The final was played on 26 April between league champions and defending Mesterfinalen champions Rosenborg and the Cup champions Lillestrøm. The match was due to be played 5 March, but due to weather conditions it was moved to 26 April.
The 2018 Eliteserien was the 74th completed season of top-tier football in Norway. This was second season of Eliteserien as rebranding from Tippeligaen.
The 1998 season was Molde's 23rd season in the top flight of Norwegian football. This season Molde competed in Tippeligaen, the Norwegian Cup and the UEFA Cup. From 13 April to 22 August, Molde were unbeaten in 26 consecutive matches in all competitions; a club record.
The 1997 season was Molde's 22nd season in the top flight of Norwegian football. This season Molde competed in Tippeligaen and the Norwegian Cup.
The top tier of Norwegian football has existed as a one-league top flight since 1963. The league was renamed Eliteserien for the start of the 2017 season. The following page details the football records and statistics of the Norwegian top flight since 1963.
The 2019 Eliteserien was the 75th season of top-tier football in Norway. This was third season of Eliteserien as rebranding from Tippeligaen.
The 2021 Eliteserien was the 77th completed season of top-tier football in Norway. This was fifth season of Eliteserien as rebranding from Tippeligaen.
The 2023 Eliteserien was the 79th season of top-tier football in Norway. This was the seventh season of Eliteserien after rebranding from Tippeligaen. Bodø/Glimt were crowned the champions at the end of the season, winning their 3rd Norwegian league title.