The second biggest club in Danish football have amazingly only been in existence since December 1964 when the merger of Brøndbyvester and Brøndbyøster IF who were both playing in the regional leagues around Copenhagen. The new team, called Brøndby IF, rose through the lower leagues of Danish football, finally gaining promotion to the National First Division for the start of the 1982 season. Their first game is a rousing success, with a 7-1 win over B1909, marked by the performances of their rising star Michael Laudrup. Laudrup went on to become the first player from the club to be capped at international level.
After their excellent fourth place finish in their first two seasons, the club captured their first title by defeating AGF Arhus in the Danish Cup Final in 1984. Just twelve months later the team won their first league title by storming through the final months. They continued this excellent form through the next few seasons, finishing runners up in 1986, and champions again in 1987 and 1988.
In 1990 the team retain the Championship as well as reaching the quarter finals of the UEFA cup – their best achievement to date. The following season the team, now managed by Morten Olsen, reached the UEFA Cup Semi-Final, losing to AS Roma. However, as consolation they did win their 5th League title. In 1995 the teams most impressive result was recorded when they beat Liverpool in the UEFA cup in front of a sell out crowd at home. In 1998, after three consecutive League titles, the team finally made it to the Group Stages of the Champions League. Drawn in what can only be described as a group of death, the Danes managed to win their first home match, 2-1 versus Bayern Munich before losing the next five games to Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern in Munich.
The last few years of the century saw the rise of FC Copenhagen again to challenge the dominance of Brǿndby. The 2001 and 2002 campaigns both went to the last game of the season, with Brǿndby winning the title from their rivals in 2002. In 2003, Michael Laudrup took over as head coach and steered the team to a runners up spot in the league, and a Danish Cup victory. In 2005 he managed to secure the first double in the clubs history.
More recently Europe hasn’t been kind to Brǿndby. In 2002 they fell at the last qualifying stage of the Champions League to Rosenborg. In 2003 they pulled off a shock on away goals to Schalke 04 before losing 3-1 to Barcelona in the third round, whereas in 2004 they fell in the second qualifying round of the UEFA cup to Ventspil on away goals.
This season the team have suffered more than their fair share of problems. As of mid-November the club trailed leaders and rival Copenhagen by 15 points and had been knocked out of the UEFA Cup before the group stages by Eintract Frankfurt. They finished in the end in a disasterous 9th place, and even flirted with relegation for a while. They did gain some redemption by beating Esbjerg to win the Danish Cup in April 2008. There have been problems off the pitch too as coach Meulensteen has been at war with a number of players unhappy with his selection policy. The winter Royal League is due to start at the end of November, and the team will have a chance to put this poor form behind them. They will hope they don’t have a repeat of last season when Brǿndby failed to make the quarterfinals. To see a video of the Brondby fans in full voice, go to this url
The Stadium – Brøndby Stadium Brøndby Stadion 30, 2605 Brøndby
Capacity: 29,000 All Seater
The Brøndby stadium was originally used 1965, although at the time was no more than a field with raised embankments. It is amazing to think that until 1980 the ground featured just one single stand of 1,200 and a couple of rudimentary floodlights. A new 5,000 seater stand was built in 1982, and as the team became more successful further stands were added, taking the capacity to just under 20,000 in 1990. The latest redevelopment work started in 1999 and was completed in October 2000 when 28,000 crammed into the stadium for the first time to watch the Copenhagen derby.
The end result is a stadium that is almost identical in look and feel to Derby’s Pride Park, Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium and the new Ricoh Arena in Coventry. All four stands are two tiered, with a complete wrap around roof. The hardcore fans tend to congregate in the Faxe Tribunen. For a view of the stadium then click here to see a YouTube clip.
How to get to Brøndby Stadium The stadium is a 30 minute journey from Copenhagen central station. The easiest way to get there is to catch a Line B train to Glostrup or a Line A train to Brøndby Strand Station and then catch bus either 131 or 500S. Extra buses run on a matchday.
For a more detailed view on who plays where in Copenhagen, go to Footiemap.com to view their excellent Copenhagen Football map.
How to get a ticket for the Brøndby Stadium It is almost unheard of for any domestic games to sell out, except those against FC Copenhagen, and so you will be able to turn up on the day to buy tickets. If you want to get them in advance then you can from the Brøndby shop at the stadium. For normal matches tickets cost between 110Dkr and 130Dkr. For the derby matches they rise to 170Dkr and 190Dkr. If you have any queries then the ticket office can be contacted at billetter@brondby-if.dk.
Around the Brøndby Stadium The Stadium is located in the western suburbs of the city and sits in a nice residential area. However, the club have a couple of good supporters bars which are open for fans to go and have a few bars and a Danish sausage or two. Danish fans are some of the most hospitable in the world and any fans coming to visit the club on a weekend trip will be a very warm welcome, especially if they bring a few souvenirs from their clubs in England.
FC Kopenhaven
If the short history of Brǿndby is impressive, it is hard to believe that their nearest rivals in terms of geography and reputation have only been in existence since 1992. However, as with a number of other clubs in Scandinavia their roots are much deeper than this and the club can actually be traced back to 1876.
Back then, Kjǿbenhavns Boldklub, or KB for short were formed. The team were actually the first Danish league winners and went on to capture 14 more titles before they faded into the background of the lower leagues. The other partner in this new super club was B1903 who were formed in 1903 (surprisingly enough). B1903 had been Danish league champions on 7 occasions and had a spot in the Superliga up until 1992 when the merger took place. All of this tied in with the rebuilding of the Parken National Stadium which naturally became the home of the new team.
The effect of the new team was immediate. In their first season the team won the Danish League, breaking the near monopoly of their cross city rivals. In doing so they qualified for Europe at their first attempt, losing 6-0 to AC Milan in the opening stages of the Champions League. The momentum, however, couldn’t be carried forward. A second place finish in 1994 as followed by disappointing 5th and 7th pace finishes, although they did win the Danish cup in 1995. In 1998 they almost shocked Europe by narrowly losing 1-0 to Chelsea over two legs in the European Cup Winners Cup – a result made more amazing by the fact the only goal was scored by Brian Laudrup who was in his last game for the blues before rejoining FC Copenhagen!
The club finally won a second championship in 2001 under English coach Roy Hodgson, narrowly beating Brǿndby to the title on the last weekend of the season. The Blues would have their revenge the following season, pipping FC Copenhagen to the title at the last but they did reach the Champions League again, narrowly losing to Lazio on aggregate. Another title in 2003 was followed up by the double in 2004. The Champions League group stages still however eluded the team after defeats in the final qualifying to Glasgow Rangers in 2004, and Gorica in 2005 denied them a lucrative spot in the group stages.
This season the club has made some great strides in Europe. They are clear at the top of the league by quite a distance, dropping just 7 points in the first 15 games. They are also 15 points clear of rivals Brøndby as at the end of November.
However, their most impressive performances have been reserved for the Champions League. After overcoming a tricky tie versus Ajax in qualifying, the team were drawn against Celtic, Benfica and Manchester United. With four games gone they are still in with a shout of qualifying for the knock out stages – a feat no other Danish club has ever achieved after a home draw with Benfica and a magnificent 1-0 win at the Parken versus Manchester United. They also have the Royal League to look forward to, and a chance to win the title for the third consecutive year after victories versus Lillestrøm SK and IKF Göteborg in 2004 and 2005 respectively.Video - PItch invaders in Copenhagen.AVI
The Stadium – The Parken Øster Alle 50, 2100 Kobenhavn
Capacity: 41,752 All Seater
The Parken has been the home of the national stadium since the end of the second world war. The ground went through significant redevelopment work in the early 1990’s and re-opened with a friendly against Germany in September 1992. The stadium is, unusually for a national stadium, owned by a club side – FC Kobenhavn who purchased the rights over the ground for 138m DKr.
The stadium is built on similar lines to a number of English grounds, with four separate box-type two tier stands. All of the stands offer unobstructed views of the action. The stadium has a UEFA 4-star rating, and has hosted the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1994 when Arsenal beat Parma, and the UEFA Cup final in 2000 when Arsenal were the visitors again when they lost to Galatassaray on penalties. The stadium recently hosted a sell out crowd for the friendly with England. However, its sub 50,000 capacity means it can’t be included in future UEFA Champions League Final matches. The stadium has a retractable roof which is used primarily for concerts, such as the U2 in 2005 and the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest.
How to get to the Parken Stadium The best way to reach the Parken from the city centre is to catch bus 15 from Østerport Station. Alternatively the stadium is just a 15 minute walk from the station. If you are coming from the central station then Bus 1A runs to Trianglen which is a two minute walk from the station. The stadium is also easily walkable from the Nyhavn area of the city centre. Just head back towards the city and turn right and follow the main road – the stadium will be a 25 minute walk away.
For a more detailed view on who plays where in Copenhagen, go to Footiemap.com to view their excellent Copenhagen football map.
How to get a ticket for the Parken Stadium Crowds in Danish football are not known to be too high, and for most games buying tickets in advanced for the Parken are not necessary. The biggest game in Danish football is the Copenhagen derby when Brondby come visiting. For tickets to see FC Copenhagen log onto http://www.billetlugen.dk or http://www.billetnet.dk . Tickets for top matches range from 90DKR to 180DKR.
Around the Parken Stadium The Parken is located in the north west of the city, not too far from the sea front. It is also located in the middle of a pleasant shopping area, and so you will find bars, restaurants and shops galore within a five minute walk from the ground. Get off at Østerport Station and turn right and within 5 minutes you will be walking past loads of places to stop to drink and eat.
LYNGBY BOLDKLUB - THE LYNGBY STADIUM - 12,000 Capacity
About the Lyngby Stadion As with many other stadiums in Denmark, the Lyngby Stadion is part owned by the local council and is thus classed as a municipal stadium. In other words it has an athletics track meaning that the view from many parts is not particularly good. You do however get a real homely feel from the stadium – perhaps due to the club house in the corner of the ground that is packed to the rafters during a game with spectators hanging from the balcony.
The stadium has two steep grass banks behind each goal, which do have a few rows of concrete steps. In the late spring / early summer these grass banks form impromptu picnics and there is a real relaxed feel. Depending on who the opposition will depend on the away allocation. If IF Brondby of FCK are visiting then expect half of the stadium to be given to the away fans. They are allocated the smaller stand that runs down the side of the pitch, with the home fans in the main covered stands. In each corner you will find temporary bars and sausage grills.
Programmes are handed out free as you enter the stadium, and there is a temporary shop (well clothes rail) that is pulled along the side of the pitch during the game if you feel a need to purchase a scarf at the height of excitement in the game.
Who plays there? When Lyngby Boldklub won the Danish 2nd division last season they were promoted to the Superliga for the first time in a number of years, meaning that Copenhagen had 4 teams in the top league for the first time in over a decade. However, this status seems to be shortlived as the club have found life at the top level difficult and were relegated with games to spare in April 2008.
The club have actually won the Danish Championship on a couple of occasions – most recently in 1992 which was the end of a period of sustained success for the club when they won three Danish Cups in the 1980’s as well as their first title in 1983. In the period from 1981 until 1991 they only finished outside the top 3 on one occasion. Everything went wrong for the club in 2001 when they were made bankrupted and were relegated to amateur leagues, reforming as Lyngby Boldklub. In less than 3 seasons they had risen back to the 2nd Division and after a period of rebuilding they pushed on to the top division in 2007.
The club has had a number of famous players including Henrik Larson, Dennis Rommedahl and Marcus Allback and is reknowned still for its youth academies which unfortunately end up seeing young payer leave for FCK or IF Brondby.
How to get there The stadium is located in the north of Copenhagen in the suburb of Lyngby. The easiest way to reach the area is via S-Tog from Norreport (which is the interchange for both metro lines) via lines B or E. The latter runs fast from Hellerup meaning that the journey time from the city centre is 15 minutes, and costs 50DKK. When you exit the station you can catch bus 182 from directly outside the entrance to the stadium (journey time 10 minutes and 20DKK), get a taxi (10 minutes and 60DKK) or walk if the weather is nice which takes 20 minutes.
Getting a ticket Crowds in Danish football are not known to be too high, and for most games buying tickets in advanced for Lyngby is not necessary. The games that do tend to sell out are the ones versus local rivals FC Kobenhavn and occasionally IF Brondby. With relegation on the cards again in 2008 then the biggest games will be versus Hvidovre and AB. Tickets on the day of the game can be purchased from the turnstiles at either end of the stadium for 110DKK, or 175DKK for games versus the big two. Alternatively you can book tickets online at http://www.billetnet.dk and then arrange to pick them up from a number of places in the city centre.
FC AMAGER - Sundby Idraetspark - 7,200 Capacity
About the Sundby Idraetspark The stadium is essentially a small athletics ground with a 4 lane running track and other track and field facilities. The main stand runs down the south side of the pitch and has around a dozen rows of seats. Whilst the front row is a few feet above pitch level the view is partly obscured by people walking backwards and forwards to the refreshment bars at either end. This stand is fully covered, unlike the small wooden terrace on the opposite side. Behind the east end is a grassy knoll where fans congregate in the summer months, and picnic. The stadium does not have floodlights, and it is also possible to watch the game from outside the fences through the trees.
Who Plays There? The stadium is now home to FC Amager who were formed in July 2008 through a merger of local clubs including the previous tenants Fremand. The club is owned by a wealthy Faroe Islander who aims to have them playing in the top division within five years.
How to Get There? The stadium is located close to the city centre, but not walk able. There is a metro stop at Universiteet which is a 10 minute walk to the west of the stadium opposite AmagerFaelled. The easiest way to reach the stadium is via the 35 bus which stops directly outside the entrance on Irlandsvej on its way from the airport to Islands Brygge (or vice verca) where you can get the metro in the city centre. Bus fare from either is 20DKR and can be bought from the driver.
How to Get a Ticket? Average attendances rarely break the four figure number in the second division of Danish football, unless the home team draws one of the big two in a cup, so expect to turn up before kick off and pay your 90DKR to gain entry and a programme. The turnstiles are located in Englandsvej and Irlandsvej, either side of Sundbyplats.
AB - Gladsaxe Idraetspark - 13,800 Capacity
About the Gladsaxe Idraetspark
Who Plays There? The green and whites of AB are one of the oldest clubs in Denmark, having been formed in 1888. They resisted the advances from FCK in the early 1990s to become part of the new “super club” and instead enjoyed some great seasons in the top division, including two consecutive third place finishes and a Danish Cup win in 1999 that enabled them to enter the UEFA Cup where they lasted just 2 games.
After relegation back into the second tier of Danish football a few seasons ago it has been a hard slog to try and get back to the Super Liga.
How to Get There? The stadium is located in the northern suburbs of the city, close to the E47 motorway and the industrial estate of Gladsaxe. There isn’t really a train or metro station within walking distance so the best way to reach the ground is by bus. Bus numbers 68 and 250S run from Radhuspladsen opposite Tivoli on a regular basis, and also stop at Forum for the Metro. The express 250S takes around 20 minutes from the city centre to the stadium, whilst bus 68 takes ten minutes more.
How to Get a Ticket? Whilst they may have a nice football only stadium, locals still haven’t taken the club to heart and so expect a core home following of no more than a 1,000 spread across the two covered stands. Therefore pre-purchase is not something you need to worry about when you are planning to attend a game here. Admission is 75DKR and Gate 2 in the south west corner is for entry onto the away fans terrace. All other gates are for home fans to enter the seated areas.
FC GREVE - Greve Idraets Center - 7,000 Capacity
About Greve Idraets Center Stadium Located in one of the pleasant suburbs of south west Copenhagen, Greve Idraets Center is a very basic affair. Basically it is an athletics ground with a small terrace that runs down one side of the pitch. The ground does not have any cover, or floodlights so games tend to be played during daylight hours only.
The ground has an excellent bar and terrace in the corner of the track where most of the fans tend to congregate with a beer and a sausage to watch the game from a slightly elevated position. Apart from this, the ground is very basic but in the summer months is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Who plays there? The small and homely Greve Idraers Center is home to Greve Fodbold club who currently play in the Danish 2nd Division. They have never hit the heights of some of the more illustrious neighbours in Copenhagen. They reached this level by winning the Copenhagen regional league in 2006.
How to get there The stadium is located a 20 minute train ride away from Copenhagen main stadium on S-Tog line E. Trains also run from the Norreport and Oosteport on the line to Koge every 10 minutes. Alight at Greve station where you can either get a local 225 or 600S bus to the stadium or a 10 minute walk. If you chose the latter, watch through the shopping centre and turn right onto the main road. Cross the small roundabout and the ground will be on your left after 7 or 8 minutes.
For a more detailed view on who plays where in Copenhagen, go to Footiemap.com to see their excellent Copenhagen football map.
Getting a ticket There is no such thing as advanced tickets at Greve. Simply turn up on the day and pay your 600Dkr to enter the ground – you can then either stand on the small terrace or at the outside bar.
Getting around Copenhagen is very compact and the majority of the attractions and the entertainment are all walk able – the main bars in Nyhavn are a 15 minute stroll from Tivoli for instance. The city is extending the metro line which runs south from Christianahavn to Field shopping centre to link up with the city centre. Buy a day pass if you need to travel – they start from DKK58 per day.
Copenhagen’s main airport is located around 8 miles to the south of the city. It has three terminals – two dedicated to international and intercontinental flights, and the remote Terminal 1 is dedicated to internal flights. Easyjet are the main budget carrier to fly to Copenhagen. They fly here daily from London Stansted. BA and SAS also fly here from London Heathrow. Snowflake, SAS’s budget brand fly twice daily from London City. Sterlingare Denmark’s biggest Budget airline – they fly three times a day from London Gatwick.
To get to the centre of the city from the airport, then you have two options. The fastest way is to catch one of the regular trains that run from below terminal 3 to the central station. The journey takes around 12 minutes and costs 28Kr.
Ryanair fly into Malmö’s small and compact Sturup airport. Despite the fact that the airport is located across the water in Sweden, the completion of the Øresund Bridge, means the two countries are now permanently linked. This has changed many things in the lives of the Danish and Swedes who live close to the link, with one of the main things being that flying into Malmö is now an option in getting to Copenhagen. There is a bus that runs from the airport to Copenhagen station and costs 100kr. There is also a train service from the centre of Malmö to Copenhagen over the bridge in around 25 minutes.
The second biggest club in Danish football have amazingly only been in existence since December 1964 when the merger of Brøndbyvester and Brøndbyøster IF who were both playing in the regional leagues around Copenhagen. The new team, called Brøndby IF, rose through the lower leagues of Danish football, finally gaining promotion to the National First Division for the start of the 1982 season. Their first game is a rousing success, with a 7-1 win over B1909, marked by the performances of their rising star Michael Laudrup. Laudrup went on to become the first player from the club to be capped at international level.
If the short history of Brǿndby is impressive, it is hard to believe that their nearest rivals in terms of geography and reputation have only been in existence since 1992. However, as with a number of other clubs in Scandinavia their roots are much deeper than this and the club can actually be traced back to 1876. 
About the Sundby Idraetspark
About the Gladsaxe Idraetspark
