Odds on football in Denmark
Danish Football
Denmark has a traditional pyramid system in which teams can be relegated and promoted each year. There are officially 11 tiers, and just the top two of these are fully professional, the Superligaen and 1. division. There are 12 teams in the top division and 12 in the second, meaning there is a maximum 24 fully professional teams in Denmark, however some in the second tier are semi pro.
In addition to the league system they have the national knockout competition, the Danish Cup in which all teams in the country have the opportunity to participate.
Pyramid Structure – Winners, Promotion and Relegation
The structure of the Danish top division is one of the more complex in Europe. Each team plays everyone once home and away for a total of 26 games each in the regular season before the league splits into two, the qualifying playoff and the championship playoff. In both players all points and goal differences are carried over.
The championship playoff involves the top 6 teams, who all play each other once more home and away, with the team that finishes top being declared the Superligaen Champions.
The qualifying playoff involves the bottom 6 teams with the bottom two get relegated to the third tier of Danish football.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Danish FA have done away with knockout playoffs entirely and instead the top 2 from the second tier get promoted, whilst the bottom placed team is the only one relegated.
European Qualification
Denmark only have one Champions League place available, which automatically goes to the Superligaen champions who enter in the second qualifying round. The second placed team automatically enter the Europa League first qualifying round whilst the winners of the Danish cup enter in the 3rd qualifying round.
Either the 4th or 3rd placed teams, depending on the winners of the Danish Cup will enter a 2-legged playoff with the winners of the qualification playoffs to decide the 4th and final European place available to Danish clubs.
Danish Cup
Every team in the top 3 divisions automatically enter the cup, with higher ranked teams entering later accordingly but the draw is unseeded. Teams from lower competitions can enter but must qualify through preliminary cups that are held by local authorities, with 48 spots available through this route.
AGF hold the record for most Danish Cup wins with 9 but have not won it since 1996. FC Copenhagen are next with 8 and Brøndby IF round out the top 3 with 7.
Superligaen
Since its inception in 1991, FC Copenhagen have dominated the competition winning a stunning 13 titles. Next on the list and a long way behind are Brøndby with 5 followed by Aalborg BK with 4.