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2019–20 Danish 1st Division

The 2019–20 Danish 1st Division (known as the NordicBet Liga for sponsorship purposes) marked the 24th season of the league operating as the second tier of Danish football and the 80th season overall under the 1st Division name. The league is governed by the Danish Football Association (DBU).

The division champion earned promotion to the 2020–21 Danish Superliga, while the teams finishing in 10th, 11th, and 12th places were relegated to the 2020–21 Danish 2nd Divisions. This adjustment to the usual promotion and relegation format was implemented due to the reduction of the Danish Superliga to 12 teams for the following season.[1]

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The 2019–20 Danish 1st Division season was suspended on 12 March 2020 following a directive from the Danish Football Association (DBU), after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen advised that all public activities be limited or suspended for an initial period of two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension, originally set to end on 29 March, was subsequently extended to 13 April.[2][3]

Following several months of uncertainty, Divisionsforeningen, the governing body of the professional leagues, announced that the 1st Division would resume on the weekend of 30–31 May 2020. This coincided with the restart of the Danish Superliga, which resumed on 28 May.[4][5]

To facilitate a safe return, Divisionsforeningen published a 55-page health and safety protocol outlining mandatory COVID-19 testing and operational guidelines. All players and staff were required to undergo testing prior to the resumption and at regular intervals throughout the remaining fixtures. The plan was submitted to the Danish Ministry of Culture for approval, with the objective of completing the season by the end of June.[6]

In line with temporary amendments approved by FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the league adopted a rule allowing five substitutions per team per match, instead of the usual three.[4][7] However, teams were permitted only three substitution intervals per match, excluding halftime. The change was introduced to mitigate the risk of injuries following the extended layoff and was agreed upon in consultation with clubs and health authorities.[4]

Participants

Vejle Boldklub were relegated to the 1st Division after finishing last in the 2018–19 Danish Superliga relegation play-offs, marking the end of a single season in the top tier. Vendsyssel FF were also relegated, having lost their relegation play-off to Lyngby Boldklub. Conversely, Silkeborg IF and Lyngby earned promotion to the Danish Superliga for the 2019–20 season.

FC Helsingør and Thisted FC were relegated to the 2019–20 Danish 2nd Divisions. Helsingør suffered a second consecutive relegation, having dropped from the Superliga the previous season, while Thisted returned to the third tier after two seasons in the Danish 1st Division. Skive IK and Kolding IF secured promotion from the 2018–19 Danish 2nd Divisions. Skive returned after just one season’s absence, while Kolding gained promotion to the second tier for the first time since the 2010–11 season, when the club competed as part of the now-defunct Kolding FC.

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2019–20 Danish 1st Division teams.
Club Location Stadium Turf Capacity 2018–19 position
FC Fredericia Fredericia Monjasa Park Natural 4,000 6th
FC Roskilde Roskilde Roskilde Idrætspark Natural 6,000 9th
BK Fremad Amager Copenhagen Sundby Idrætspark Artificial 7,200 5th
HB Køge Herfølge/Køge Capelli Sport Stadion Artificial 4,000 7th
Hvidovre IF Hvidovre Pro Ventilation Arena Natural 12,000 10th
Kolding IF Kolding Autocentralen Park Natural 10,000 2D, 2nd
Nykøbing FC Nykøbing Falster CM Arena Natural 10,000 8th
Næstved BK Næstved ProfaGroupPark Natural 7,500 4th
Skive IK Skive Hancock Arena Natural 10,000 2D, 1st
Vejle BK Vejle Vejle Stadion Natural 10,418 Superliga, 14th
Vendsyssel FF Hjørring Nord Energi Arena Natural 10,000[8][9] Superliga, 12th
Viborg FF Viborg Energi Viborg Arena Natural 9,566 2nd

Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
FC Fredericia Denmark Jonas Dal Denmark Christian Ege Nielsen Hummel Monjasa
FC Roskilde Denmark Martin Jungsgaard Denmark Nicklas Halse Puma CP ApS
BK Fremad Amager Bosnia and Herzegovina Azrudin Valentić Denmark Mads Gabel Adidas —
HB Køge Lithuania Aurelijus Skarbalius Denmark Martin Vingaard Capelli Castus
Hvidovre IF Denmark Per Frandsen Denmark Christopher Østberg Nike KBS Byg
Kolding IF Denmark Morten Mølkjær Denmark Rune Nautrup Hummel Mos Mosh
Nykøbing FC Denmark Claus Jensen Denmark Lars Pleidrup Nike Jyske Bank
Næstved BK Denmark Kenneth Gangsted Denmark Joel Felix Joma Sydbank
Skive IK Denmark Thomas Røll Denmark Christoffer Østergaard Nike Spar Nord
Vejle BK Romania Constantin Gâlcă Denmark Jacob Schoop Hummel Arbejdernes Landsbank
Vendsyssel FF Denmark Lasse Stensgaard Denmark Søren Henriksen Diadora Spar Nord
Viborg FF Denmark Jacob Neestrup Denmark Jeppe Grønning Nike Andelskassen

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
FC Roskilde Denmark Christian Lønstrup Resigned 27 May 2019[10] Denmark Christian Iversen 26 June 2019[11] Pre-Season
Nykøbing FC Denmark Jens Olsen Resigned 30 May 2019[12] Denmark Brian Rasmussen 22 June 2019[13] Pre-Season
Vendsyssel FF Denmark Peter Enevoldsen End of contract 2 June 2019[14] Denmark Johnny Mølby 20 June 2019[15] Pre-Season
Næstved BK Denmark Michael Hemmingsen Sacked 3 June 2019[16] Denmark Per V. Hansen Dos Santos 3 July 2019[17] Pre-Season
Viborg FF Denmark Steffen Højer Sacked 3 June 2019[18] Denmark Jacob Neestrup 20 June 2019[19] Pre-Season
Fremad Amager Bosnia and Herzegovina Azrudin Valentić Made First Team Coach 1 July 2019 Sweden Olof Mellberg 1 July 2019[20] Pre-Season
Næstved BK Denmark Per V. Hansen Dos Santos Sacked 5 August 2019[21] Spain Fernando De Argila 7 August 2019[22] 12th
BK Fremad Amager Sweden Olof Mellberg Signed by Helsingborgs IF 3 September 2019[23] Bosnia and Herzegovina Azrudin Valentić 3 September 2019[24] 7th
FC Roskilde Denmark Christian Iversen Resigned 9 September 2019[25] Denmark Martin Jungsgaard 9 September 2019[26] 12th
Kolding IF Denmark Anders Jensen Sacked 11 November 2019[27] Denmark Morten Mølkjær 19 December 2019[28] 4th
Næstved BK Spain Fernando De Argila Sacked 18 November 2019[29] Germany Maximilian Dentz 1 January 2020[30] 11th
HB Køge Denmark Morten Karlsen Mutual consent 1 December 2019[31] Lithuania Aurelijus Skarbalius 1 January 2020[32] 7th
Nykøbing FC Denmark Brian Rasmussen Made First Team Coach 7 January 2020[33] Denmark Claus Jensen 7 January 2020 9th
Næstved BK Germany Maximilian Dentz Sacked 22 June 2020[34] Denmark Kenneth Gangsted 22 June 2020 11th
Vendsyssel FF Denmark Johnny Mølby Sacked 15 July 2020[35] Denmark Lasse Stensgaard 15 July 2020[36] 6th

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or Relegation
1 Vejle BK (C) 33 20 8 5 63 31 +32 68 Promotion to Danish Superliga
2 Viborg FF 33 17 8 8 66 44 +22 59
3 FC Fredericia 33 15 7 11 60 51 +9 52
4 BK Fremad Amager 33 13 10 10 45 45 0 49
5 Skive IK 33 13 9 11 46 46 0 48
6 Kolding IF 33 13 8 12 50 49 +1 47
7 Vendsyssel FF 33 12 8 13 35 39 −4 44
8 Hvidovre IF 33 10 11 12 46 46 0 41
9 HB Køge 33 9 13 11 43 47 −4 40
10 Nykøbing FC (R) 33 7 12 14 46 63 −17 33 Relegation to Danish 2nd Divisions
11 FC Roskilde (R) 33 8 7 18 43 58 −15 31
12 Næstved BK (R) 33 5 11 17 29 50 −21 26
Source: Danish FA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

First half of the season

Home \ Away FRE ROS AMA HBK HVI KIF NYK NST SKI VEJ VEN VIB
FC Fredericia — 2–0 1–2 2–2 3–2 4–3 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–3
FC Roskilde 1–2 — 2–1 2–3 0–2 1–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2
BK Fremad Amager 4–2 2–1 — 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–2
HB Køge 1–3 2–1 3–1 — 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–0 2–1
Hvidovre IF 2–3 3–2 0–0 2–2 — 1–2 1–0 3–1 4–2 0–1 1–1 0–1
Kolding IF 1–2 4–3 0–0 0–2 2–1 — 3–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–2 3–1
Nykøbing FC 0–5 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–2 — 0–1 4–2 0–0 0–3 1–2
Næstved BK 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 — 1–0 2–3 3–0 1–3
Skive IK 2–2 1–3 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 3–3 3–1 — 0–0 1–3 0–2
Vejle BK 0–1 2–0 4–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 2–4 1–1 2–1 — 1–0 4–1
Vendsyssel FF 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–3 — 1–0
Viborg FF 2–2 3–0 5–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 3–0 2–1 1–1 3–4 1–1 —
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second half of the season

Home \ Away FRE ROS AMA HBK HVI KIF NYK NST SKI VEJ VEN VIB
FC Fredericia — — 3–1 — 1–2 2–0 2–2 3–2 — — 2–4 —
FC Roskilde 1–0 — — 2–2 — — 2–2 — 2–2 — 1–3 —
BK Fremad Amager — 2–0 — — — — 4–0 1–0 0–0 4–1 — 2–2
HB Køge 2–2 — 0–1 — — 1–0 — 2–2 — 2–1 — —
Hvidovre IF — 0–0 3–0 1–1 — — — — 0–2 — — 1–4
Kolding IF — 2–2 2–2 — 0–2 — — — 2–1 0–1 — —
Nykøbing FC — — — 0–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–1 — — 0–2 —
Næstved BK — 0–2 — — 0–2 0–1 — — — 1–1 0–0 2–2
Skive IK 1–0 — — 3–2 — — 3–2 2–0 — — — 0–1
Vejle BK 2–0 4–1 — — 5–3 — 1–0 — 1–2 — — 1–1
Vendsyssel FF — — 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 — — 0–1 0–2 — —
Viborg FF 0–2 4–2 — 4–2 — 0–2 4–3 — — — 4–1 —
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

References

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  2. ^ "Dansk fodbold lukker ned i de næste to uger". DBU (in Danish). 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Dansk fodbold er fortsat lukket ned". DBU (in Danish). 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Fem udskiftninger i Superligaen og 1. division". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Officielt: Her begynder 1. division". B.T. (in Danish). 14 May 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. ^ Bentsen, Niels Viggo (3 May 2020). "Divisionsforening: 1. division begynder samtidig med Superligaen". TV MIDTVEST (in Danish). Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  7. ^ Moshage, Bo (8 May 2020). "Corona udløser en markant ændring i fodboldreglerne". Politiken (in Danish). Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Faciliterer : Nord Energi Arena". www.vendsysselff.dk (in Danish). Vendsyssel FF. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Hjørring Stadion – Bredbånd Nord Arena" (PDF). www.hjoerring.dk (in Danish). Hjørring: Hjørring Municipality. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019. Tilskuerkapacitet: 3100 siddepladser; 6900 ståpladser
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  12. ^ "Træneren har sagt op i Nykøbing FC" (in Danish). bold.dk. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Nykøbing finder ny cheftræner internt" (in Danish). bold.dk. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
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  26. ^ "FC Roskilde hyrer Martin Jungsgaard" (in Danish). bold.dk. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
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