Denmark. On the surface – rather routine and thus unremarkable championship. Fairly equal, except for one outsider. But the 1980s already changed the familiar status quo – the newly forged physical and covering the whole field kind of football changed the picture: teams, not known for winning previously, popped up everywhere in Europe, having successful just because all teams became quite the same and there were not particularly outstanding stars making the difference. The collective approach was the great equalizer. One result was the new pointing system, becoming universal in 1982-83 – 3 points for a win and 1 for a tie became the norm. It came as a response to bland and scoreless football – it was also artificial invigoration of the game. But there was no tactical revolution and the spur changed little: a solid collective was capable to neutralize artistic, but less disciplined team – and win at the end. Denmark is hardly the best example, yet, the new reality was present there too. If one looks closely, of course.
KB, B 1909, and Herfølge BK were promoted from Second Division and nothing strange about it – in a country without dominant clubs, ups and downs were normal.
Kolding IF was hopelessly last in the 1st Division with 16 points. B 93 and B 1903 were the other relegated, but they were not exactly outsiders – they just lost a fairly equal race. Yet, this relegation suggested a change – old, traditional clubs, used largely to amateur approach were in decline. Most often financially. Yet, the changes were not overwhelming – Danish clubs were not great and their fate changed from season to season, keeping rather equal championship as a result.
Thus, Køge Boldklub was 10th this year.Top row, from left: Per Møller, læge Søren Thyssen, Arne Rastad, Leif Staun, Torben Bastholm, Lars Olsen, coach Jan Poulsen, Jørgen Sparre.
Middle row: Morten Petersen, Søren Petersen, Per Thomsen, Peter Knudsen, Frank Johansen, Tim Jensen, Erik Rasmussen.
Crouching: Michael Haagensen, Lars Frisch, Jan Olesen, Tommy Sejersen, Søren Grenå Larsen, Claus Bahne Nielsen.
As every other club, Køge had its ups and downs, and no wonder, since there was no Danish club having a cluster of big names and every promising talent moved abroad fast. However, the boys finished with 28 points – 4 points better than the relegated 15th and 8 points worse than the bronze medalists. AGF Aarhus, 3rd this year, lost 10 games – Køge lost 11. In the same time AGF Aarhus had a good chance to win the championship almost to its end – they finished 4 points behind the champions. Consistency decided final positions – and those on top were a mix, illustrating the new football reality: if OB Odense was traditionally stronger club, Lyngby BK was not. But it was Lyngby prevailing at the end.
17 wins, 6 ties, and 7 losses, 63-33 goal-difference and 40 poinst – 2 more than OB Odense. Not a great record, but enough.
Of course, it all depends on one’s standpoint: Lyngby was hardly a great champion and clearly not an emerging powerhouse even domestically. But it was their greatest moment in history – champions for the first time. Instantly the greatest squad, instantly a fantastic achievement. A wonderful victory of the underdog, what could be better even for one, who is not a fan?
The Cup final opposed OB Odense and second division B 1901. Well, in terms of traditional consistency, OB Odense was obviously not giving up. In terms of pure tradition, the old clubs like B 1901 were still resisting the new realities. In terms of new reality, though… one more lower-division club ready to jump on international stage… and deteriorate further the Cup Winners Cup. It was not to be, though: OB Odense easily won the final 3-0.
Happy Cup winners.
A Cup and 2nd place in the championship – the old guard, represented by OB Odense, seemingly was not giving up, making Lyngby’s title incidental. May be ‘the new reality’ was more imagined than real?