Denmark was fully professional by 1980, but still the top players were looking to play for foreign clubs. Nothing really changed – talent was not concentrated into 2-3 clubs, but dispersed around the league. There were no more fantastic sponsor deals, so there were no longer teams showing different add on each player’s shirt, but there was obviously no way a big sponsor to elevate a Danish club to the best European ones – it was rather money helping clubs to survive. But the championship was dramatic this year.
Down in Second Division,
Viborg FF,
B 1901 (Nykøbing Falster), and
Herfølge BK were best and won promotions. Since ups and downs were traditionally a mark of Danish football, it is pointless to evaluate what future contribution to top flight the newcomers may have had.
First Division was point in case: at the bottom were two clear outsiders.
AaB (Aalberg) were last with 6 points.
BK Frem ended 15th with 12 points – one may expect Frem to be among the title contenders, but in Denmark no club was favourite for long and relegation was often in the cards too. Miserable season for Frem – they were tremendously weak. The 14th in the final standings and the 3rd relegated club had more than twice Frem’s points – 26.
Fremad Amager were a likely candidate for relegation, but they fought to the end and were perhaps a bit unlucky – they lost a battle for survival between three clubs. Lyngby BK and Kastrup Boldklub finished with 27 points and Fremad Amager went down with 26. So much for the bottom of the league.
The drama at the top was much more interesting. There were no favourites head and shoulders above most in the league, but gradually three clubs took slight advantage and preserved it to the end. Eventually, one of the three leaders dropped out:
OB Odense finished 3rd with 38 points – two more than the 4th placed and two less than the top teams. Which finished with equal points – 40 each – and goal-difference decided the championship.
Næstved If, not a club usually found at the top, had excellent season and almost won the title. Almost… To lose on goal-difference is really tough and unfortunate. The team also enoyed most victories this season – 18. The champions had only 16. Still, the team had to either score more or to be less adventurous – apparently, they played for all or nothing, and nothing they got in 8 matches they lost. If they tried to keep a tie for a change… bit they did not.
At the end – lucky champions KB.
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub – ancient, successful, representing the capital city: usually, such clubs were big fish in their own country, but not in Denmark.
The champions had a single recognizable name: the national team goalkeeper Ole Quist and ‘recognizable’ is all to be said about him. KB clearly were not ‘a big fish’… but they won their record 15th title! As it happens, their very last success. Ever! The club is not existing since 1991, when they merged with B 1903 into FC Copenhagen. The last triumph was tricky and just lucky.