Denmark. The mystery of time – today is unbelievable to see who was leading Danish club in 1985. It was equally unbelievable a few years before 1985 too. It was not just the strong performance of Lyngby – there was a quite new club, shaped entirely for professional football, which climbed to the top and stayed there for more than a decade. One can argue that the wonderful national team was pulling up the whole Danish football. One can also argue that moving to professional football in the late 1970s finally produced fruits. Then one can also argue that the profound changes of the international football scene, the whole approach to the game, reshaped old perceptions – previously weak countries were getting stronger, the old powers were not so supreme, for the new philosophy of the sport inevitably made all rather the same. Still, the changes did not reshape traditional status quo – Denmark had great national team, but the clubs were not so. Better than before may be, but not very strong yet. The changes taking place were domestic – change of local status quo. And they were pushed forward by reforms: the top Danish league was to be reduced for the next season to 14 teams – thus, 4 teams faced relegation, with 2 newcomers. It was clear that professionalism was tough pill to swallow for many a club and the only way to make more competitive championship was to weed out those not able to adapt.
KB (Copenhagen) and Randers Freja came on top in the Second Division and rightfully earned promotion. The convulsions of the old clubs, facing new times: KB is one of the oldest clubs in Europe, founded in 1876. They were Danish champions in 1980. Then they plunged down to Second Division.
Three teams in the First Division were too weak – B93, last with 16 points; Koge Boldklub – 15th with 17 points; and Hvidovre IF – 14th with 23 points. Old and well known BK Frem tried desperately to avoid relegation and failed – 13th with 27 points.
Perhaps more teams were going to be sifted out of professional league, but for the moment they managed. Old power was unsettled by the new demands.
Vejle finished 7th with 32 points. This was a season of concern – fighting to survive in the league instead of competing for the title: they finished mere 5 points ahead of relegated Hvidovre, but 11 points behind the champions.
The clubs well adjusted to professional requirements were at the top of league: OB Odense – 4th with 35 points, AGF Aarhus – 3rd with 36 points, and Lyngby BK – 2nd with 37 points. Yet, they paled behind the new champions.
Brondby IF dominated the championship, winning it with 6 points cushion. 16 wins, 11 ties, 3 losses, 50-27, and 43 points. It was rather abnormal victory – rarely in the past a champion was so clearly above the rest. Brondby, relatively new club, looked like designed for professional football. And they exploded this season, winning their 1st title. Unlike many new champions around the world, Brondby did not look like one time wonder – there was certainty they will be leaders for the years to come. But still Danish football was not all that strong to keep people’s minds on it – the banner behind the winners is quite instructive: ‘Brondby till Mexico’. The national team and the coming World Cup was most important.
The Cup final continued the success story of Lyngby, the club which came under the lights before Brondby. They met Esbjerg fB at the final and prevailed 3-2.
Second Cup in a row, making the numbers to 1 title and 2 Cups in 3 consecutive years. They were the second best in this year championship.