The 2009 Eliteserien promotion/relegation play-offs was the 37th time a spot in the Norwegian top flight was decided by play-off matches between top tier and second level clubs.
At the end of the 2009 season, Bodø/Glimt and Lyn were relegated directly to the 2010 1. divisjon, and was replaced by Haugesund and Hønefoss who were directly promoted.[1]
The play-offs between Eliteserien and 1. divisjon have been held every year since 1972 with exceptions in 1994 and 2011. In 2009, the play-offs took place for the two divisions following the conclusion of the regular season and were contested by the fourteenth-placed club in Eliteserien and the three clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places in 1. divisjon. The fixtures were determined by final league position – two semifinals: 14th in Eliteserien v 5th in 1. divisjon and 4th in 1. divisjon v 5th in 1. divisjon, and the winners then played each other to determine who played in Eliteserien the following season.
Four teams entered a play-off for the last Eliteserien spot for the 2009 season.[2] These were:
The four teams first played single game knockout semifinals, and the winners (Kongsvinger and Sarpsborg 08) advanced to a two-legged final for the 16th and last spot in the 2010 Tippeligaen season. Kongsvinger were promoted to the top flight with a 5–4 win on aggregate against Sarpsborg 08.[3]
| Final league position – 1. divisjon | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | ||||||||||
| 3 | Kongsvinger | 30 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 56 | |
| 4 | Sogndal | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 46 | 29 | +17 | 54 | |
| 5 | Sarpsborg 08 | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 47 | |
Fredrikstad were relegated to the 1. divisjon.
The two winning sides from the first round, Sarpsborg 08 and Kongsvinger, took part in a two-legged play-off to decide who would play in the 2010 Tippeligaen.
Kongsvinger won 5–4 on aggregate and were promoted to the 2010 Tippeligaen.