The 1st Division (1. Division) is the second-highest football league in Denmark, also known as Betinia LIGA for sponsorship reasons. From 1945 to 1991, the 1. Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark. With the formation of the Danish Superliga, the 1st Division became the second tier of Danish football. While all the teams in the Superliga are full-time professional the 1. Division has a mixture of full-time professional and semi-professional teams.

The top-ranking teams each year win promotion to the Superliga, while the bottom finishers get relegated to the Danish 2nd Division.

Viaplay broadcasts all matches from the league.Viaplay Site Viaplay Site

History

After World War II the format of the top-flight football division in Denmark, the "Championship League", where reverted with the tournament now named the "1st Division". There were 10 teams in the top division once again, playing each other twice, with the lowest team being relegated. The 1953–54 season saw the first non-Copenhagen team win the Danish championship, when Køge Boldklub won the title. The championship title was not reclaimed by a Copenhagen team in more than ten years, until Akademisk Boldklub (AB) won the 1967 season.

From 1958, the Danish championship was arranged through one calendar year, and the 1956–57 season lasted 18 months with the teams playing each other thrice for a 27 games total. From 1958 to 1974, the tournament was expanded to 12 teams, playing each other twice for 22 games per season each, but now the bottom two teams faced relegation. The number of teams was increased to 16 for the 1975 season, which resulted in 30 games per season. In 1986, the number of participants was altered once more, this time decreasing the number of teams to 14, and the number of games to 26.

In 1991, the Danish Superliga was created. This meant the 1st Division became the second-highest league. Together with the Superliga introduction the best Danish leagues changed back to autumn-spring seasons.

In 1996, the 1st Division had its first name sponsor, as the league received the official name "Faxe Kondi Divisionen" after main sponsor Faxe Brewery. The sponsor deal ended in 2001, but from 2004 to mid-2007 it was named "Viasat Sport Divisionen". The "Sport" was omitted upon the closing of the Viasat Sport-channels in Denmark, and the opening of TV 2 Sport. The sponsorship finally ended prior to the start of the 2010–11 season.

Logos Former 1st Division logos:

Current teams (2026–27)

ClubFinishing positionlast seasonFirst season ofcurrent spell in1st DivisionAB1st in 2nd Division2026–27AaB7th2025–26Aarhus Fremad8th2025–26Esbjerg fB3rd2024–25FC Fredericia11th in Superliga2026–27HB Køge10th2012–13Hillerød4th2022–23Hobro IK9th2020–21Hvidovre IF5th2024–25Kolding IF6th2023–24Vejle12th in Superliga2026–27Vendsyssel FF2nd in 2nd Division2026–27

Seasons

Results as first-tier league (1945–1990) From 1945 to 1991, 1st Division was the top league of Danish football until the creation of the Danish Superliga. SeasonWinner1945–46B.93 (1)1946–47AB (1)1947–48KB (1)1948–49KB (2)1949–50KB (3)1950–51AB (2)1951–52AB (3)1952–53KB (4)1953–54Køge BK (1)1954–55AGF (1)1955–56AGF (2)1956–57AGF (3)1958Vejle Boldklub (1)1959B1909 (1)1960AGF (4)1961Esbjerg fB (1)1962Esbjerg fB (2)1963Esbjerg fB (3)1964B1909 (2)1965Esbjerg fB (4)1966Hvidovre IF (1)1967AB (4)1968KB (5)1969B1903 (1)1970B1903 (2)1971Vejle Boldklub (2)1972Vejle Boldklub (3)1973Hvidovre IF (2)1974KB (6)1975Køge BK (2)1976B1903 (3)1977OB (1)1978Vejle Boldklub (4)1979Esbjerg fB (5)1980KB (7)1981Hvidovre IF (3)1982OB (2)1983Lyngby Boldklub (1)1984Vejle Boldklub (5)1985Brøndby IF (1)1986AGF (5)1987Brøndby IF (2)1988Brøndby IF (3)1989OB (3)1990Brøndby IF (4)

Results as second-tier league (1990–) After 1990, 1st Division became the second-tier league of Danish football after the creation of Danish Superliga. SeasonPromotedRelegated1991Næstved IF (1)Autumn 1991Viborg FF (1)Spring 1992Brønshøj BK (1)Autumn 1992Esbjerg fB (1)Spring 1993Horsens fS (1)Autumn 1993Vejle Boldklub (1)Spring 1994B93 (1)Autumn 1994Viborg FF (2)Spring 1995Esbjerg fB (2)1995–96 Champion: Hvidovre IF (1) Runner-up: AB Copenhagen Holstebro BK Hellerup IK B 1909 Nørre Aaby BK1996–97 Champion: Ikast FS (1) Runner-up: Aarhus Fremad FC Fredericia Brønshøj BK Haderslev FK BK Avarta1997–98 Champion: Viborg FF (3) Runner-up: B93 RB 1906 Aalborg Chang B 1913 Ølstykke FC1998–99 Champion: OB (1) Runner-up: Esbjerg fB Glostrup IF 32 Holstebro BK Næstved IF Brønshøj BK1999–2000 Champion: FC Midtjylland (1) Runner-up: Haderslev FK Dalum IF Svendborg fB FC Fredericia B 19092000–01 Champion: Esbjerg fB (3) Runner-up: Vejle BK BK Fremad Amager Ølstykke FC Birkerød IF Skjold 2001–02 Champion: Køge BK (1) Runner-up: Farum BK Kolding IF Skive IK2002–03 Herfølge BK (1) BK Frem Hvidovre IF B 1909 Hellerup IK2003–04 Champion: Silkeborg IF (1) Runner-up: Randers FC Brønshøj BK FC Aarhus B 1913 2004–05 Champion: SønderjyskE (1) Runner-up: AC Horsens Dalum IF Næstved BK B 932005–06 Champion: Vejle Boldklub (2) Runner-up: Randers LFA BK Skjold Brønshøj 2006–07 Champion: Lyngby BK (1)

Runner-up: Aarhus GF Brabrand IF Thisted FC BK Fremad Amager2007–08 Champion: Vejle Boldklub (3) Runner-up: SønderjyskE HIK Aarhus Fremad Ølstykke FC2008–09 Champion: Herfølge BK (2) Runner-up: Silkeborg IF LFA Amager (bankruptcy, to Copenhagen Series) Køge BK (bankruptcy, to Zealand Series)2009–10 Champion: AC Horsens (2) Runner-up: Lyngby BK Thisted FC Frem Brabrand 2010–11 Champion: AGF (1) Runner-up: HB Køge Fyn Hvidovre IF Kolding FC (to Denmark Series)2011–12 Champion: Esbjerg fB (4) Runner-up: Randers FC FC Roskilde Næstved BK Blokhus2012–13 Champion: Viborg FF (4) Runner-up: Vestsjælland Skive IK FC Fyn2013–14 Champion: Silkeborg IF (2) Runner-up: Hobro IK Hvidovre IF BK Marienlyst2014–15 Champion: Viborg FF (5) Runner-up: AGF AB Gladsaxe Brønshøj Boldklub2015–16 Champion: Lyngby BK (2) Runner-up: Silkeborg IF Third place: AC Horsens FC Vestsjælland2016–17 Champion: Hobro IK (1) FC Helsingør Næstved Akademisk Boldklub2017–18 Champion: Vejle Boldklub (4) Runner-up: Esbjerg fB Third place: Vendsyssel FF Brabrand IF Skive IK2018–19 Champion: Silkeborg IF (3) Lyngby Boldklub FC Helsingør Thisted FC2019–20 Champion: Vejle Boldklub (5) Nykøbing FC FC Roskilde Næstved Boldklub2020–21 Champion: Viborg FF (6) Runner-up: Silkeborg IF Kolding IF Skive IK2021–22 Champion: AC Horsens (3) Runner-up: Lyngby Boldklub Jammerbugt FC Esbjerg fB2022–23 Champion: Vejle Boldklub (6) Runner-up: Hvidovre IF Fremad Amager Nykøbing FC2023–24 Champion: SønderjyskE (2) Runner-up: AaB Fodbold Næstved FC Helsingør2024–25 Champion: OB (2) Runner-up: FC Fredericia FC Roskilde Vendsyssel FF2025–26 Champion: Lyngby BK (3) Runner-up: AC Horsens B.93 Middelfart BK

Footnotes

External links