For other leagues named Eliteserien, see Eliteserien (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Elitserien.
Eliteserien
Upright1.0
CountryNorway
ConfedUEFA
Founded1937 (age 89)
1937–1948 (as Norgesserien)
1948–1962 (as Hovedserien)
1963–1989 (as 1. divisjon)
1990–2016 (as Tippeligaen)
2017–present (as Eliteserien)
Teams16
RelegationNorwegian First Division
Level1
Domest cupNorwegian Cup
Confed cupUEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Conference League
ChampionsViking (9th title)
Season2025
Most successful clubRosenborg (26 titles)
Most appearancesDaniel Berg Hestad (473)
Top goalscorerSigurd Rushfeldt (172 goals)
TvTV 2
Eleven Sports
WebsiteEliteserien
NFF
Norsk Toppfotball
Current2026 Eliteserien

Eliteserien (ɛˈlîːtəˌseːrɪən) is a professional association football league in Norway and the highest level of the Norwegian football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Norwegian First Division.

Seasons run from March to November with each team playing 30 matches (playing each other home and away). Most games are played on Sunday evenings.

Eliteserien was founded in 1937 as Norgesserien (lit. 'The League of Norway'), and the first season was the 1937–38 season. The structure and name of Eliteserien, along with Norway's other football leagues, has undergone frequent changes. The top level was renamed Hovedserien in 1948, 1. divisjon (now used by the second-level league in Norway) in 1963, then Tippeligaen (named for the main sponsor) in 1990. Starting with the 2017 season the league adopted the current Eliteserien, after NFF decided to totally drop any sponsor's names from the name of the league.[1] TV 2 have been the owners of the broadcasting rights since 2023.[2] The league generates NOK 400 million per year in domestic television rights.[3] The Norwegian top flight has been professional since 1992.[4] In 1995, Tippeligaen was expanded to 14 teams, and in 2009 it was further expanded to 16 teams.

Seventeen clubs have won the title since the inception of the league in 1937: Rosenborg (26), Fredrikstad (9), Viking (9), Lillestrøm (5), Molde (5), Vålerenga (5), Bodø/Glimt (4), Brann (3), Larvik Turn (3), Lyn (2), Start (2), Strømsgodset (2), Fram Larvik (1), Freidig (1), Moss (1), Skeid (1) and Stabæk (1). In 2010, Rosenborg became, and still remain, the only club to complete an Eliteserien campaign without losing a single game. The record of most points in a season is 81 by Bodø/Glimt in 2020. Since its establishment as a one-group top flight in 1963, forty-eight clubs have competed in Eliteserien.

History

Early years (1937–1948)

Before 1937, there was no national league competition in Norway; only regional leagues and the Norwegian Cup. Starting in 1937–38, the various regional leagues in Southern Norway were aligned into eight districts, with a championship playoff between the winners to crown a national champion. This competition was called Norgesserien (English: The League of Norway). In the early years, the top flight teams were divided into eleven groups from eight districts. The league champion was decided in either a knockout tournament or a final between the winners of these groups. Fredrikstad was the first champions of the league, winning the 1937–38 season. They won the two-legged final against Lyn 4–0 on aggregate. Fredrikstad defended their title in the 1938–39 season. From the 1937–38 season and until the beginning of World War II, the teams were divided into eight district groups. There were plans at the time to merge the district leagues into a national competition, but because of World War II, this process was delayed until after the war, although also the first post-war season in 1947–48 had eleven district-based groups.

Hovedserien (1948–1962)

In 1948, Hovedserien (English: The Main League) was created, consisting of the 16 top teams from the district leagues, who were placed into two groups of eight, with the group winners playing a two-legged final for the national championship at the end of the season. This format was in place from the 1948–49 season until 1960–61, when it was decided to merge the two groups into a single top division, and have the season follow the calendar year from 1963 onwards. The 1950s were dominated by Fredrikstad FK and Larvik Turn. Fredrikstad won their latest league title in 1960–61, which secured their ninth title out of sixteen possible. Larvik Turn won Hovedserien three times in four seasons from 1955–56. The 1961–62 season was played during 15 months. The teams from the two groups in the 1960–61 top division were put in one group consisting of 16 teams. The 1961–62 season became a transitional season, where the 16 top-flight teams were placed in a single group, playing a season that went on for 15 months and one half of its teams were relegated. Officially still known as Hovedserien, the 1961–62 season is often referred to as Maratonserien ("The Marathon League") due to its unusual length.[5] The Maratonserien was won by Brann.

1. divisjon (1963–1989)

In 1963, a single top division containing ten teams was introduced, and the league was renamed 1. divisjon (English: 1st Division). The first regular one-league season was played spring-autumn and was won by title defenders Brann in 1963. The league was expanded to 12 teams in 1972. Teams from Northern Norway were not allowed to gain promotion to the top division before 1972, when Mjølner became the first team from Northern Norway to play in the top flight, and until 1979 were subject to stricter promotion rules than teams from the rest of the country. Viking won the league four consecutive seasons beginning in 1972. Lillestrøm won back-to-back titles in 1976 and 1977. In 1979 teams from Northern Norway were given the same promotion rights as the rest of the country. In the beginning of the 1980s, Vålerengen were the dominant team, with title wins in 1981, 1983 and 1984.

Tippeligaen (1990–2016)

In 1990, the league was renamed Tippeligaen, when Norsk Tipping became the main sponsor of the league.[6] When fans and media continued referring to the league as 1. divisjon, it was decided to let the second-level league of Norwegian football "inherit" the name 1. divisjon in 1991, to help Tippeligaen establish as a brand.[7] Rosenborg of Trondheim won the first year the league bore the name Tippeligaen in 1990. Followed by a win by Viking of Stavanger in 1991. In 1992, Rosenborg started a run of 13 consecutive titles which lasted to the 2004 season. During the first years of Rosenborg's thirteen-year run, they won the league with substantial margins, only partly challenged by Bodø/Glimt, Molde, Lillestrøm and Brann. However, this was steadily narrowing down towards a dramatic finish in 2004, where the Trondheim team tied with Vålerenga of Oslo in game points and on goal difference, but finished ahead on number of goals scored. However, in 2005 the winning streak came to an end as Vålerenga clinched the title, one point ahead of Start of Kristiansand. Rosenborg was never in contention that season and would finish only 7th. In 2006, Rosenborg returned to the top of the league, coming back from 10 points behind Brann at the halfway point to clinch the title with a match to spare. Brann won the league in 2007, and Stabæk won their first-ever title in 2008. Rosenborg then returned for a two-year winning streak in 2009 and 2010. Molde's back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 makes it the only other club to win consecutive titles in the current format, and outside Rosenborg, the first team to do so since Vålerenga in 1983 and 1984.

Recent years (2017–present)

In 2016, it was decided to change from the sponsorship name Tippeligaen to the non-sponsorship name Eliteserien, effecting from the 2017 season.[8] Rosenborg won the league four consecutive times from 2015 to 2018, before Molde ended their streak by winning the title in the 2019 season. Lillestrøm were relegated from the 2019 Eliteserien and ended their record spell with 45 consecutive top division seasons. Bodø/Glimt became the first team from Northern Norway to win the league by winning the title in the 2020 season with 81 points, an all-time record.

Competition format

Competition

As of the 2025 season there are 16 clubs in the Eliteserien, seven of which are located in Eastern Norway, six are from Western Norway, two from Northern Norway and one is from Trøndelag.

During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice, home and away, for a total of 30 games for each club, and a total of 240 games in a season. The season starts in March and lasts until early November. Rounds played during the weekends are usually broken up into two games on Saturdays, five games on Sundays and one game on either Fridays or Mondays. For the final two rounds, all games start simultaneously so that no club may gain an unfair advantage by knowing the results of other games in advance of kicking off their own.

The 16 May round, which is played the day before Norway's Constitution Day, 17 May, is one of the most anticipated rounds of the season. It is often referred to as the "national day of football"[9] and since it precedes a national holiday, games usually see higher attendance than other rounds.[10]

Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, goals scored, and then head-to-head records used to separate teams on equal points. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned "League Winner". The title of "Norwegian Champions" is reserved for the winners of the Norwegian Football Cup. The two lowest placed teams are automatically relegated to the Norwegian First Division and the top two teams from the First Division take their place. The fourteenth placed team in Eliteserien is also in danger of being relegated and must enter play-offs against one team from the First Division to stay in the top flight.

Changes in competition format

FromToGroup(s)TeamsMatch-weeksSeason StartSeason EndChampionship play-offs
1937–38117410–12AutumnSpringPlay-off with 11 teams
1938–397510–14
1947–487410–12Play-off with 8 teams
1948–491960–6121614Play-off final with 2 teams
1961–62130SummerNext autumn—
196319711018SpringAutumn
197219941222
199520081426
2009Present1630

Eliteserien teams in international competition

Main article: Norwegian football clubs in European competitions

Rosenborg (11 times) and Molde (once) are the only Norwegian clubs to participate in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Rosenborg reached the quarterfinal in the 1996–97 season. They were eliminated by runners-up Juventus with 1–3 on aggregate. In the 1968–69 season, Lyn lost the European Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinal against runners-up Barcelona with 4–5 on aggregate. Brann lost the quarterfinal against Liverpool in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Vålerenga lost the quarterfinal against Chelsea in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with 2–6 on aggregate. Molde reached the round of 16 in both the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League and the 2023–24 UEFA Conference League against Granada and Club Brugge respectively. Bodø/Glimt reached the quarterfinal of the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League, where they were eliminated by Roma and the semifinal of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated by Tottenham with 1–5 on aggregate.

Clubs

Current members

The following sixteen clubs are competing in the Eliteserien during the 2026 season.

ClubPosition
in 2025		First season in
top division		Seasons
in
top division		First season of
current spell in
top division		Top
division
titles		Last top
division
title
Aalesund4th (1D)1937–382120260n/a
Bodø/Glimt2nd1977[a]31201842024
Brann4th1937–3869202332007
Fredrikstad8th1937–3846202491960–61
HamKam11th1939–402820220n/a
KFUM Oslo12th2024320240n/a
Kristiansund13th2017[b]920240n/a
Lillestrøm1st (1D)1937–3861202651989
Molde10th1939–4051200852022
Rosenborg7th1937–38641979262018
Sandefjord5th2006[c]1420200n/a
Sarpsborg9th2011[d]1520130n/a
Start2nd (1D)1937–3844202621980
Tromsø3rd1986[a]3820210n/a
Viking1st1937–3877201992025
Vålerenga6th1937–3866202552005
Notes
  1. ^ Northern Norwegian teams were not allowed to qualify for the top flight division before 1972.
  2. ^ Kristiansund BK is the result of a merger between Kristiansund FK and Clausenengen FK. These two clubs first participated in the Norwegian top flight in the 1937–38 season.
  3. ^ Sandefjord Fotball is the result of a merger between Sandefjord BK and IL Runar. Sandefjord BK first participated in the Norwegian top flight in the 1938–39 season.
  4. ^ Sarpsborg 08 is the result of a merger between Sarpsborg FK and FK Sparta Sarpsborg. These two clubs first participated in the Norwegian top flight in the 1937–38 and 1947–48 seasons, respectively.

List of champions

Main article: List of Norwegian football champions

Below is a list of the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the Norwegian top flight since its beginning in 1937–38. (The Norwegian Cup has been played since 1902, and is still officially known as the Norwegian Championship, presented with "The King's Cup".) During 1937–1948 the name of the league was Norgesserien ("The League of Norway"), 1948–1962 Hovedserien ("The Main League"), 1963–1989 1. divisjon ("1st Division"), and from 1990 Tippeligaen (sponsored name) or Eliteserien ("The Elite League", a generic name).

From 1937 until 1948, the championship was decided through a playoff between the winners of the various regional leagues in Southern Norway. From 1948 until 1961, the 16-team league was divided into two groups, and decided by a final match between the group winners. Since then it has been a round-robin decided through a league table. Bronze finals were played in 1960 and 1961; before that no bronze medals were awarded. Note that clubs from Northern Norway (including Bodø/Glimt and Tromsø IL), allegedly due to travel distance, were not allowed in the top division until 1972, but a separate Northern Norwegian Cup was played. Furthermore, northern Norwegian teams had stricter promotion rules until 1979. The league did not play during the period 1940–1946 because of the World War II.

See below for a list of medalists by club.

Medalists by year

The following medals have been awarded:

SeasonGoldSilverBronze
Norgesserien (1937–1948)
1937–38Fredrikstad (1)Lyn–
1938–39Fredrikstad (2)Skeid–
1939–40Abandoned because of World War II.
1940–47No League Championship.
1947–48Freidig (1)Sparta–
Hovedserien (1948–1962)
1948–49Fredrikstad (3)Vålerenga–
1949–50Fram Larvik (1)Fredrikstad–
1950–51Fredrikstad (4)Odd–
1951–52Fredrikstad (5)Brann–
1952–53Larvik Turn (1)Skeid–
1953–54Fredrikstad (6)Skeid–
1954–55Larvik Turn (2)Fredrikstad–
1955–56Larvik Turn (3)Fredrikstad–
1956–57Fredrikstad (7)Odd–
1957–58Viking (1)Skeid–
1958–59Lillestrøm (1)Fredrikstad–
1959–60Fredrikstad (8)LillestrømEik-Tønsberg
1960–61Fredrikstad (9)Eik-TønsbergVålerenga
1961–62Brann (1)SteinkjerFredrikstad
1. divisjon (1963–1989)
1963Brann (2)LynSkeid
1964Lyn (1)FredrikstadSarpsborg
1965Vålerenga (1)LynSarpsborg
1966Skeid (1)FredrikstadLyn
1967Rosenborg (1)SkeidLyn
1968Lyn (2)RosenborgViking
1969Rosenborg (2)FredrikstadStrømsgodset
1970Strømsgodset (1)RosenborgHamKam
SeasonGoldSilverBronze
1971Rosenborg (3)LynViking
1972Viking (2)FredrikstadStrømsgodset
19731Viking (3)RosenborgStart
1974Viking (4)MoldeVålerenga
1975Viking (5)BrannStart
1976Lillestrøm (2)MjøndalenBrann
1977Lillestrøm (3)Bodø/GlimtMolde
1978Start (1)LillestrømViking
1979Viking (6)MossStart
1980Start (2)BryneLillestrøm
1981Vålerenga (2)VikingRosenborg
1982Viking (7)BryneLillestrøm
1983Vålerenga (3)LillestrømStart
1984Vålerenga (4)VikingStart
1985Rosenborg (4)LillestrømVålerenga
1986Lillestrøm (4)MjøndalenKongsvinger
1987Moss (1)MoldeKongsvinger
1988Rosenborg (5)LillestrømMolde
1989Lillestrøm (5)RosenborgTromsø
Tippeligaen (1990–2016)
1990Rosenborg (6)TromsøMolde
1991Viking (8)RosenborgStart
1992Rosenborg (7)KongsvingerStart
1993Rosenborg (8)Bodø/GlimtLillestrøm
1994Rosenborg (9)LillestrømViking
1995Rosenborg (10)MoldeBodø/Glimt
1996Rosenborg (11)LillestrømViking
1997Rosenborg (12)BrannStrømsgodset
1998Rosenborg (13)MoldeStabæk
1999Rosenborg (14)MoldeBrann
SeasonGoldSilverBronze
2000Rosenborg (15)BrannViking
2001Rosenborg (16)LillestrømViking
2002Rosenborg (17)MoldeLyn
2003Rosenborg (18)Bodø/GlimtStabæk
2004Rosenborg (19)VålerengaBrann
2005Vålerenga (5)StartLyn
2006Rosenborg (20)BrannVålerenga
2007Brann (3)StabækViking
2008Stabæk (1)FredrikstadTromsø
2009Rosenborg (21)MoldeStabæk
2010Rosenborg (22)VålerengaTromsø
2011Molde (1)TromsøRosenborg
2012Molde (2)StrømsgodsetRosenborg
2013Strømsgodset (2)RosenborgHaugesund
2014Molde (3)RosenborgOdd
2015Rosenborg (23)StrømsgodsetStabæk
2016Rosenborg (24)BrannOdd
Eliteserien (2017–)
2017Rosenborg (25)MoldeSarpsborg 08
2018Rosenborg (26)MoldeBrann
2019Molde (4)Bodø/GlimtRosenborg
2020Bodø/Glimt (1)MoldeVålerenga
2021Bodø/Glimt (2)MoldeViking
2022Molde (5)Bodø/GlimtRosenborg
2023Bodø/Glimt (3)BrannTromsø
2024Bodø/Glimt (4)BrannViking
2025Viking (9)Bodø/GlimtTromsø

Note: 1 First season when North Norwegian teams were allowed to play in the top division.

Medalists by club

Eliteserien title holders

The following clubs have won one or more Eliteserien medals since 1937–38:

ClubFoundedGoldSilverBronzeLast merits
Rosenborg1917–05–192675Bronze 2022
Fredrikstad1903–04–07991Silver 2008
Viking1899–08–109210Gold 2025
Molde1911–06–195113Gold 2022
Lillestrøm1917–04–02583Silver 2001
Vålerenga1913–07–29535Bronze 2020
Bodø/Glimt1916–09–19451Silver 2025
Brann1908–09–26384Silver 2024
Larvik Turn1906–01–153––Gold 1955–56
Lyn1896–03–03244Bronze 2005
Strømsgodset1907–02–10223Silver 2015
Start1905–09–19217Silver 2005
Skeid1915–01–01151Silver 1967
Stabæk1912–03–16114Bronze 2015
Moss1906–08–2811–Gold 1987
Fram Larvik1894–01–151––Gold 1949–50
Freidig1903–10–131––Gold 1947–48
Tromsø1920–09–15–24Bronze 2025
Odd1894–03–31–22Bronze 2016
Bryne1926–04–10–2–Silver 1982
Mjøndalen1910–08–22–2–Silver 1986
Kongsvinger1892–01–31–12Silver 1992
Eik-Tønsberg1928–03–14–11Silver 1960–61
Sparta1928–11–23–1–Silver 1947–48
Steinkjer1910–05–29–1–Silver 1961–62
Sarpsborg1903–05–08––2Bronze 1965
HamKam1918–08–10––1Bronze 1970
Haugesund1993–10–28––1Bronze 2013
Sarpsborg 082008–01–15––1Bronze 2017
TOTAL747460

Honoured clubs

Clubs in European football are commonly honoured for winning multiple league titles and a representative golden star is sometimes placed above the club badge to indicate the club having won 10 league titles. In Norway the star symbolizes 10 Eliteserien titles. Rosenborg was the first team to introduce a star when they won their 10th title in 1995. No club has introduced a star since 2006, when Rosenborg won their 20th league title to put a second star on their badge. The clubs closest to their first are Fredrikstad and Viking with 9 Eliteserien titles each. The following table is ordered after number of stars followed by number of Eliteserien titles.

Statistics updated as of the end of the 2022 season
ClubEliteserien titlesStarsIntroduced 1st starIntroduced 2nd star
Rosenborg2619952006

Sponsorship

From 1990 to 2016, Eliteserien had title sponsorship rights sold to Norsk Tipping.

PeriodSponsorName
1937–1948No sponsorNorgesserien
1948–1962Hovedserien
1963–19891. divisjon
1990–2016Norsk TippingTippeligaen
2017–No sponsorEliteserien

Eliteserien has a number of official partners and suppliers. The first official ball supplier for the league is Select who on 27 October 2017 signed a three-year contract to deliver official balls.[11][12] The deal began from the start of the 2018 season and was renewed ahead of the 2022 season.[13]

Broadcasters

The broadcasting rights were in December 2015 secured by Discovery Networks who signed a six-year deal giving them rights to broadcast all the 240 games in Eliteserien from 2017 to 2022. The deal was worth NOK 2.4 billion.[3] In December 2020, TV 2 acquired the broadcasting rights from 2023 to 2028 in a deal worth NOK 4.5 billion.[2]

All matches are broadcast internationally on Eleven Sports.[citation needed]

In the Balkans, the league is currently[when?] aired on Sport Klub.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland matches are aired live on OneFootball.

Stadiums

Main article: List of Eliteserien venues

Since the competition format was changed to a one-group top flight in 1963, Eliteserien football has been played in 56 stadiums. As of the start of the 2020 season, Ullevaal Stadion has hosted the most matches in the top flight with 697. Since the opening of Vålerenga's new stadium Intility Arena in August 2017, no clubs in Eliteserien use Ullevaal Stadion as their home ground. Two stadiums that have seen Eliteserien football (1963–) have now been demolished.

The stadiums for the 2023 season show a large disparity in capacity: Lerkendal Stadion, the home of Rosenborg, has a capacity of 21,421 with Nadderud Stadion, the home of Stabek, having a capacity of 4,938. The combined total capacity of Eliteserien in the 2023 season is 175,938 with an average capacity of 10,996.

The Eliteserien's record average attendance was set during the 2007 season. This record attendance recorded an average attendance of 10,521 with a total attendance of just under 2 million. The 2 million mark was crossed after the 2009 league extension to sixteen teams. 2,151,219 was the total attendance in 2009, which is the record total attendance.

Managers

Managers or head coaches in the Eliteserien are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and player acquisition. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the structure of the club and the relationship of the manager with fans. Managers are required to have a UEFA Pro Licence which is the final coaching qualification available, and follows the completion of the UEFA 'B' and 'A' Licences.[14] The UEFA Pro Licence is required by every person who wishes to manage a club in the Eliteserien on a permanent basis.

Managers with multiple league wins
ManagerClub(s)WinsWinning years
Nils Arne EggenRosenborg, Moss151971, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992,
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010
Kjetil KnutsenBodø/Glimt42020, 2021, 2023, 2024
Kåre IngebrigtsenRosenborg2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Oddvar HansenBrann21961–62, 1963
Karsten JohannessenStart1978, 1980
Kjell Schou-AndreassenViking1972, 1982
Gunder BengtssonVålerenga1983, 1984
Erik HamrénRosenborg2009, 2010
Ole Gunnar SolskjærMolde2011, 2012
Erling MoeMolde2019, 2022
Current Eliteserien managers
ManagerNationalityClubAppointedTime as manager
Kjetil KnutsenNorwayBodø/Glimt17 November 2017[15]
Andreas TegströmSwedenSandefjord1 January 2021[16]
Morten JensenNorwayViking1 January 2021[17]
Bjarte Lunde AarsheimNorway
Johannes MoesgaardNorwayKFUM Oslo22 December 2022[18]
Geir BakkeNorwayVålerenga12 July 2023[19]
Amund SkiriNorwayKristiansund26 August 2023[20]
Alexander Tettey (Interim)NorwayRosenborg5 May 2026[21]
Jørgen VikNorwayTromsø8 January 2024[22]
Azar KaradasNorwayStart12 February 2024[23]
Kjetil RekdalNorwayAalesund30 June 2024[24]
Andreas HagenNorwayFredrikstad15 July 2024[25]
Hans Erik ØdegaardNorwayLillestrøm1 January 2025[26]
Freyr AlexanderssonIcelandBrann13 January 2025[27]
Thomas MyhreNorwayHamKam24 June 2025[28]
Martin Falk (caretaker)NorwayMolde21 December 2025[29]
Even SelNorwaySarpsborg22 December 2025[30]

Statistics

League ranking and European qualification

See also: UEFA coefficient

In the UEFA coefficient, UEFA's rankings of European leagues based on their performances in European competitions over a five-year period, the league ranked 14th place in 2025/2026 season because of improvements in the European cups. The league's highest ranking, tenth place, came in 1998. The winners of the previous calendar year's Eliteserien enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, while the cup winners enter the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.[31] The second and third placed teams also enters the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. In the 2013–2014 season, Norway also had an additional place in the first qualifying round of the Europa League due to its fair play ranking.

The following is a table indicating Norwegian league coefficient rankings compared to other UEFA leagues.[32]

YearRankPtsTeams
196123rd3.0001
196224th3.0001
196326th3.0001
196428th3.0002
196524th4.3333
196628th3.3333
196728th4.3333
196825th4.9993
196925th7.6653
197026th7.8324
197126th6.4983
197225th7.4983
197326th8.0824
197425th6.9164
197527th5.4164
197625th5.5004
YearRankPtsTeams
197728th4.0004
197826th5.7504
197926th6.2504
198026th6.5004
198126th7.0833
198225th7.5833
198326th6.2493
198427th5.2493
198526th5.9993
198628th5.6663
198728th5.9993
198827th6.6663
198927th6.6663
199026th5.9993
199127th5.9993
199228th4.9993
YearRankPtsTeams
199329th3.6663
199422nd8.3323
199519th12.3323
199618th15.8324
199715th22.2494
199810th27.4495
199917th19.7335
200013th22.1005
200115th23.6004
200217th21.4754
200320th19.5755
200415th21.9004
200520th20.2004
200619th20.9755
200718th19.7255
200818th22.4255
YearRankPtsTeams
200919th18.8005
201022nd17.4005
201126th14.3754
201226th14.6755
201327th14.1755
201426th14.2755
201526th14.3755
201622nd19.2504
201725th18.3254
201829th17.4254
201923rd20.2004
202022nd21.7504
202122nd21.0004
202217th27.2504
202316th29.0004
202414th31.6254
202511th39.6874
Country ranking

UEFA association coefficients as of 22 December 2025:[33]

Club ranking

UEFA 5-year Club Ranking as of 22 December 2025:[34]

Attendance

From 1963 to 1971, the league consisted of ten teams (90 matches a year). Between 1972 and 1994, the league consisted of 12 teams (132 matches a year). The number was raised to 14 teams (182 matches a year) in 1995 and to 16 teams (240 matches a year) in 2009. Attendances reached peaks in 1963, 1968, 1977 and 2007, and were at their lowest in 1986.[35][36]

The record for highest average home attendance for a club was set by Rosenborg in 2007 (19,903 over 13 home matches). 12 October 1985 saw the record for highest attendance at a match, with 28,569 in the game between Rosenborg and Lillestrøm at Lerkendal Stadion. The highest ever average attendance for Eliteserien as a whole was set in 2007 with 10,521.

YearTotalAverage
1963708 3687 871
1964556 6996 186
1965453 0445 034
1966413 2504 592
1967562 4726 250
1968700 0137 778
1969683 1207 590
1970507 2435 636
1971592 0316 578
1972743 9665 636
1973737 8635 590
1974759 0045 750
1975893 8746 772
YearTotalAverage
1976856 4286 488
1977968 6837 339
1978730 4195 533
1979823 3876 238
1980671 1765 085
1981776 1915 880
1982603 0364 569
1983729 3735 526
1984568 7654 309
1985581 1774 403
1986426 3493 229
1987469 0303 553
1988576 2574 365
YearTotalAverage
1989624 6794 732
1990647 4894 905
1991706 5085 352
1992671 9035 083
1993731 5655 542
1994688 5895 216
1995841 7174 624
1996841 3684 622
1997772 1974 242
1998959 3175 270
1999983 6305 404
20001 024 7225 639
20011 013 2645 567
YearTotalAverage
20021 092 3596 002
20031 198 7986 587
20041 458 2588 012
20051 727 1019 489
20061 655 5729 097
20071 914 90710 521
20081 785 8159 812
20092 151 2198 956
20101 947 2368 117
20111 919 3257 994
20121 680 8227 003
20131 637 7166 824[37]
20141 670 7066 961[38]
YearTotalAverage
20151 610 6846 711
20161 669 4356 985
20171 607 7726 699
20181 407 6935 865
20191 379 8615 773
202070 837297*
2021755 0133 240*
20221 371 2355 713
20231 737 3327 239
20241 618 8736 745
20251 693 9957 088
  • = Restricted due to COVID-19.

Players

Main article: List of Eliteserien players

Individual records

See also: Eliteserien records and statistics and List of Eliteserien top scorers

Most appearances

NumberPlayerYearsMatches
1Daniel Berg Hestad1993–2016473
2Steffen Hagen2004–2024462
3Morten Berre1996–2015452
4Frode Kippe1997–2019441
5Roar Strand1989–2010439
6Lars-Christopher Vilsvik2010–2025421
7Øyvind Storflor1999–2019421
8Erling Knudtzon2007–2024420
9Espen Hoff1999–2016406
10Ruben Yttergård Jenssen2005–2013, 2018–362

Most goals scored

NumberPlayerYearsGoalsMatchesAverage
1Sigurd Rushfeldt1992–20111722990.58
2Harald Martin Brattbakk1990–20051662550.65
3Petter Belsvik1989–20031592920.54
4Odd Iversen1967–19821582250.70
5Per Kristoffersen1956–19681451940.75
6Frode Johnsen1999–20151323010.45
7Thorstein Helstad1995–20131162340.50
Bengt Sæternes1996–20111162800.41
9Jostein Flo1987–20011142130.54
10Arild Sundgot1995–20111113250.34

Foreign players

Main article: List of foreign Eliteserien players

Awards

Trophy

The winners of Eliteserien win two trophies. One small trophy in silver which they keep and one bigger trophy which are held only by reigning champions.[39] The big trophy was introduced in 2012 and all winners from 2012 and onwards will get its club's name engraved on it. The ribbons that drape the handles are presented in the team colours of the league champions that year.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Fotballforbund, Norges. "Tippeligaen endrer navn til Eliteserien i 2017". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  2. ^ "TV 2 har kjøpt norsk fotball for 4,5 milliarder" (in Norwegian). E24. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Discovery sikrer seg Tippeligaen i seks år – Betaler 2,4 milliarder". vg.no. Verdens Gang. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. ^ Sæther, Esten O. (7 August 2009). "Alle heiet underveis" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Eliteserien" (in Norwegian). Eliteserien. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  6. ^ Johansen, Magne (26 October 1989). "Tippemillionene" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. p. 35.
  7. ^ Dehlin, Håkon (7 December 1990). "Alle rykker opp" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. p. 26.
  8. ^ "Tippeligaen endrer navn til Eliteserien i 2017" [Tippeligaen changes name to Eliteserien in 2017]. NFF. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  9. ^ In Norwegian "fotballens nasjonaldag"
  10. ^ Per Svein (16 May 2011). "Nok en 16. Mai kamp i Bergen" (in Norwegian). IK Start. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Historisk avtale: Nå skal alle spille med denne ballen" (in Norwegian). eurosport.no. Eurosport. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  12. ^ "FELLES LIGABALL I ELITESERIEN OG TOPPSERIEN" (in Norwegian). eliteserien.no. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  13. ^ "NY LIGABALL-AVTALE FRA SELECT FOR BÅDE ELITESERIEN OG OBOS-LIGAEN" (in Norwegian). eliteserien.no. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  14. ^ White, Duncan (5 December 2005). "The Knowledge". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 October 2010.[dead link]
  15. ^ "Kjetil Knutsen blir hovedtrener i Glimt" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Hans Erik Ødegaard ny Sandefjord-trener" (in Norwegian). TV 2. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Jensen og «Batty» overtar som likestilte hovedtrenere" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  18. ^ ""DET ER DETTE JEG VIL"" (in Norwegian). kaaffa.no. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Geir Bakke er Vålerengas nye hovedtrener" (in Norwegian). Vålerenga Fotball. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Skiri blir hovedtrener ut året" (in Norwegian). kristiansundbk.no. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Alfred Johansson og Rosenborg avslutter samarbeidet" (in Norwegian). RBK.NO. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  22. ^ "Vår nye hovedtrener" (in Norwegian). TIL.NO. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Klar for hovedtrenerjobben: - En stor ære for meg" (in Norwegian). IK Start. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Rekdal og Frigård signerer ut sesongen" (in Norwegian). Aalesunds FK. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Leder laget fremover: -Skal fortsette det gode arbeidet" (in Norwegian). Fredrikstad FK. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Hans Erik Ødegaard ny LSK-trener: - Ser et veldig stort potensial her" (in Norwegian). Lillestrøm SK. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Her er Branns nye hovedtrener" (in Norwegian). SK Brann. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  28. ^ "Pressemelding: Thomas Myhre blir HamKams nye hovedtrener" (in Norwegian). Hamarkameratene. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Sindre Tjelmeland og Martin Falk klare for Molde FK" (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 21 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  30. ^ "Even Sel er Sarpsborg 08s nye hovedtrener" (in Norwegian). Sarpsborg 08. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  31. ^ Access list for European Cup Football 2013/2014, xs4ll.nl, accessed 13 July 2013
  32. ^ "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  33. ^ "Club coefficients". UEFA. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  34. ^ "Club coefficients". UEFA. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  35. ^ "Norwegian attendances". Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Tilskuertall" [Attendance numbers] (in Norwegian). NIFS. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  37. ^ Torjusen, Thomas (12 November 2013). "Publikumsøkning for alle medaljelagene" (in Norwegian). Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  38. ^ "altomfotball.no: Eliteserien, 2014 – Statistikk". Archived from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  39. ^ "Denne blir det umulig å vinne til odel og eie" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Retrieved 23 May 2018.