Football in Norway
Encyclopedia
Football is the most popular sport in Norway
in terms of active membership (by television viewership football comes third, behind biathlon
and cross-country skiing
). The Football Association of Norway was founded in 1902 and the first international match was played in 1908. There are 1,822 registered football clubs and about 25,000 teams. There are 393,801 (104,597 of them are girls/women) registered football players. http://www.fotball.no/t2.aspx?p=53275&cat=51832 That means that 8.5 % of the population play organized Football.
in Bergen
, Nygaards Bataljon, in 1883. In 1885 the first Norwegian club however, Idrætsforeningen Odd, was founded in Skien
. The footballing interest was unfortunately very low, and was put on ice after a few months. However, the football club, Odd Grenland, Started up with football again in 1894, and are now Norways oldest football club. The Football Association of Norway (the NFF
), was founded in 1902, and quickly established a cup competition. After the NFF joined FIFA
in 1908, Norway
had its first ever international match, away against Sweden
in Gothenburg
, despite Norway taking the lead after a mere 45 seconds, Sweden went on to win 11-3. In 1911 Norway hosted its first international in Oslo, again against Sweden, this time Norway lost 4-0. In 1912 the Norwegian national football team attended the Olympic Games, and were knocked out after losing to Denmark
and Austria
7-0 and 1-0 respectively. The NFF hosted the FIFA congress in Oslo in 1914, where a national league was established with six teams competed for the title Drafn, Frigg, Kvik/Halden, Larvik Turn, Mercantile and Odd
, who went on to be the first league winners. The Norwegian national men’s team won their only medal at an international championship in 1936 at the Germany Olympic Games
. In the relatively successful tournament Norway beat Turkey
and hosts Germany
4-0 and 2-0 respectively, losing to Italy
in the semi-final, then beating Poland
3-2 in the third-place play-off to take the bronze medal. The team is known in Norway as "Bronselaget" meaning the Bronze team.
is the highest Norwegian level and Adeccoligaen
the second highest, followed by four third level (Division 2) and 12 fourth level (Division 3).
From the 2011
-season on, there will be no play-off matches for promotion to Tippeligaen
. The play-off matches between Norwegian Third Division
winners is also defunct, due to the reduction from 24 to 12 groups.
.
Rosenborg played in the Champions League on 10 further occasions.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in terms of active membership (by television viewership football comes third, behind biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
). The Football Association of Norway was founded in 1902 and the first international match was played in 1908. There are 1,822 registered football clubs and about 25,000 teams. There are 393,801 (104,597 of them are girls/women) registered football players. http://www.fotball.no/t2.aspx?p=53275&cat=51832 That means that 8.5 % of the population play organized Football.
History
The first football-team in Norway was probably started by a buekorpsBuekorps
Buekorps are traditional marching neighbourhood youth organizations in Bergen, Norway.The tradition, which is unique to Bergen, dates back at least to the 19th century when children would imitate the adult militia soldiers performing close order drill...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Nygaards Bataljon, in 1883. In 1885 the first Norwegian club however, Idrætsforeningen Odd, was founded in Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
. The footballing interest was unfortunately very low, and was put on ice after a few months. However, the football club, Odd Grenland, Started up with football again in 1894, and are now Norways oldest football club. The Football Association of Norway (the NFF
NFF
NFF may refer to:* National Football Foundation* Football Association of Norway* National Farmers' Federation of Australia* An abbreviation for No Fault Found often used by Engineers when responding to written fault reports....
), was founded in 1902, and quickly established a cup competition. After the NFF joined FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
in 1908, Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
had its first ever international match, away against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, despite Norway taking the lead after a mere 45 seconds, Sweden went on to win 11-3. In 1911 Norway hosted its first international in Oslo, again against Sweden, this time Norway lost 4-0. In 1912 the Norwegian national football team attended the Olympic Games, and were knocked out after losing to Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
and Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
7-0 and 1-0 respectively. The NFF hosted the FIFA congress in Oslo in 1914, where a national league was established with six teams competed for the title Drafn, Frigg, Kvik/Halden, Larvik Turn, Mercantile and Odd
Odd Grenland B.K.
Odd Grenland is an association football club from Skien, Norway. Originally the football section of a multi-sports club, founded in 1894 nine years after the club's founding, all other sports than football were discontinued and the club became dedicated to football only. It got its current name in...
, who went on to be the first league winners. The Norwegian national men’s team won their only medal at an international championship in 1936 at the Germany Olympic Games
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
. In the relatively successful tournament Norway beat Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
and hosts Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
4-0 and 2-0 respectively, losing to Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the semi-final, then beating Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
3-2 in the third-place play-off to take the bronze medal. The team is known in Norway as "Bronselaget" meaning the Bronze team.
League system
The current national league system administered by the football association is organised as 1-1-4-12, where TippeligaenNorwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen 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. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
is the highest Norwegian level and Adeccoligaen
Adeccoligaen
The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen....
the second highest, followed by four third level (Division 2) and 12 fourth level (Division 3).
| Division | Promotion | Relegation |
|---|---|---|
| Tippeligaen Norwegian Premier League Tippeligaen 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. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official... |
N/A | 15th, 16th |
| Adeccoligaen Adeccoligaen The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen.... |
Winner, runner-up | 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th |
| Fair Play Ligaen Norwegian Second Division The Norwegian Second Division is the third highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2009, the official name of the league has been Fair Play-ligaen.... |
Winners in four groups | 14th, 15th, 16th in four groups |
| 3. Divisjon Norwegian Third Division The Norwegian Third Division is the fourth highest division of the men's football league in Norway. Like the rest of the Norwegian football league system, the season runs from spring to autumn, running approximately from April to October... |
Winners in twelve groups | 14th, 15th, 16th in twelve groups |
From the 2011
2011 in Norwegian football
The 2011-season is the 106. season of competitive football in Norway.The season began on 18 March 2011 for Tippeligaen, 03 April 2011 for Adeccoligaen, with Fair Play ligaen and 3. Divisjon both starting six days later on 09 April 2011. 2. Divisjon, and 3...
-season on, there will be no play-off matches for promotion to Tippeligaen
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen 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. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
. The play-off matches between Norwegian Third Division
Norwegian Third Division
The Norwegian Third Division is the fourth highest division of the men's football league in Norway. Like the rest of the Norwegian football league system, the season runs from spring to autumn, running approximately from April to October...
winners is also defunct, due to the reduction from 24 to 12 groups.
| Level | League(s)/Division(s) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tippeligaen Norwegian Premier League Tippeligaen 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. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official... 16 clubs |
|||||||||||
| 2 | Adeccoligaen Adeccoligaen The Norwegian First Division is the second highest division of the Norwegian football league system. Since 2005, the official name of the league has been Adeccoligaen.... 16 clubs |
|||||||||||
| 3 | Division 2 Group 1 14 clubs |
Division 2 Group 2 14 clubs |
Division 2 Group 3 14 clubs |
Division 2 Group 4 14 clubs |
||||||||
| 4 | Division 3 Group 1 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 2 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 3 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 4 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 5 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 6 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 7 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 8 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 9 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 10 14 clubs |
Division 3 Group 11 12 clubs |
Division 3 Group 12 12 clubs |
| 5–9 | Division 4 through Division 8 are regional divisions administered by the various regional football associations. | |||||||||||
UEFA Champions League
The following teams have qualified for elimination rounds in the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
- Rosenborg BK (1996-97UEFA Champions League 1996-97The 1996–97 UEFA Champions League was the 42nd edition of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the fifth since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League, and the last involving only clubs that were champions of their domestic leagues. The tournament was won by Borussia Dortmund in a...
- Quarter-finals) - Molde FK (1999-00UEFA Champions League 1999-00The 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League was the eighth edition of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA's premier European club football tournament, since its rebranding from the European Cup, and the 45th edition overall. The competition was won by Real Madrid, who clinched an historic eighth title win by...
- Group stage)
Rosenborg played in the Champions League on 10 further occasions.