| Danmarksturneringens 2. division | |
| Pixels: | 180 |
| Country: | Denmark |
| Confed: | UEFA |
| Organiser: | Divisionsforeningen |
| First: | 1936–37 |
| Divisions: | 2 (2018–2021) 1 (from 2021) |
| Teams: | 28 (2020–2021) 12 (from 2021) |
| Promotion: | 1st Division |
| Relegation: | 3rd Division |
| Pyramid: | Danish football league system |
| Levels: | 3 |
| Domest Cup: | Danish Cup (1954–present) |
| Confed Cup: | UEFA Europa Conference League (via winning Danish Cup) |
| Champions: | Kolding IF (1st title) |
| Season: | 2022–23 |
| Tv: | Kanal Sport (2014–2016) Ekstra Bladet PLUS (2019–present) |
| Current: | 2024–25 Danish 2nd Division |
The 2nd Division (Danish: '''Danmarksturneringens 2. division'''<ref name="spell" group="nb" /> or '''Herre-DM 2. division'''<ref name="spell" group="nb" />) is a professional association football league for men and the third division in Denmark. It is organised by the Divisionsforeningen on behalf of the Danish Football Association (Danish FA; DBU) as part of the nation-wide Danmarksturneringen i fodbold (Herre-DM) and is positioned between the second-tier 1st Division and the fourth-tier Danish 3rd Division in the Danish football league system. Clubs in the league must meet certain criteria concerning appropriate facilities and finances. All of the 2nd Division clubs qualify for the proper rounds of the DBU Pokalen. The number of promoted and relegated clubs has fluctuated over the years. In the 2020–21 season two clubs were directly promoted to the 1st Division, while eight teams were relegated to the Denmark Series. From the 2021–22 season, it was changed to two promotion spots and two relegation spots.
A third-tier league under the auspices of the Danish FA was introduced to the nation-wide league structure in 1936, beginning with two divisions of four clubs each in the 1936–37 season. Due to World War II, the league was placed on hiatus for five years until its reintroduction as a single division with 10 clubs in 1945. In the 1966 season, the league was expanded to include two divisions, coinciding with the dissolution of the Kvalifikationsturneringen and the introduction of the new fourth-tier, Denmark Series (Danmarksserien). It returned to a single division format in the 1975 season, before once again converting to a two division format in 1986, a single division in 1997 and a two division format in 2005. From 1991 to 1997 the league was played as semi-annual seasons, when the higher ranking leagues switched to an autumn-spring calendar match schedule while the lower ranking leagues continued with spring-autumn tournaments — a revisit to the same calendar schedule that had been played until 1956. In 2015–2020, the league consisted of two stages; a preliminary round split into 2–3 groups with clubs qualifying for either a promotion or relegation round.
From 1936–37 and 1939–40, 1966 until 1964 and in the 1986 season, a championship final was played at the end of the season to determine the overall league winners between the west and east groups. The short lived Kvalifikationsligaen in the springs from 1992 to 1995 meant that the league's status as the third-tier in Danish football was dropped one level to temporarily become the fourth best level. In the seasons from 2005–06 to 2010–11, the tournament rules were changed to allow a maximum of eight Superliga reserve teams to compete in the third-tier — the reserve teams were eventually moved to the 2011–12 Danish Reserve League upon its creation. The division has changed its name on several occasions. It has previously been known as III Serie (1936–37 until 1939/40; or 3. Serie), 3. Division (1945/46 until 1990; or 3. division), before settling with the current name beginning with the 1991-season. Due to a sponsorship arrangement, it was known as Kanal Sport Divisionen during the 2015–16 season.
The decision to establish a nation-wide third-tier league as part of the Danmarksturneringen i fodbold below the second-tier II Serie was made at the annual convention of the Danish FA (DBU), in 1936. The league started its operation in August 1936, when III Serie was created with two geographically divided constituencies, each including four teams playing two matches at home and away. Out of the eight teams, only one gained promotion to the second-tier the following season, following the promotion play-offs at the end of the season, which at the same time determined the overall league champions. With the occupation of Denmark during World War II, the Danmarksturneringen's three league structure was disbanded in 1940.
In 1945, a Danish third level was reintroduced as the bufferzone between the elite teams and the amateur clubs with 10 teams. One team gained promotion to 2nd Division, and one relegated to the club's respective regional football league. In 1951, The 3rd Division was expanded to 12 teams and to teams was relegated to a newly created Kvalifikationsturneringen – the new buffer between the Danmarksturneringen and the regional football leagues. The structure was changed again in 1966. Two geographical groups with 12 teams each were created. Only one team could be promoted and two teams be relegated. The Danish 2nd Division West would for the most part consist of teams from the Jutland FA and Funen FA, while Danish 2nd Division East would consist of teams from the Zealand FA, Copenhagen FA, Lolland-Falster FA and Bornholm FA. In 1975, the number of teams in the league got expanded and the 3rd Division rolled into one row with 16 teams, where two teams could be promoted to the 2nd Division and teams relegated to the Denmark Series.
The Danish top-flight league was renamed in 1991, which included the second-tier being renamed to 1st Division and the third-tier becoming known as the 2nd Division. From 2005, the 2nd Division was changed to have 14 teams each in the East and West pools, with three teams to promote. In addition, access of up to eight reserve teams of the Danish Superliga clubs was allowed in the 2nd Division. The number of teams in the 2nd Division was increased to 16 teams in 2008. In 2010, the reserve teams were removed from the 2nd Division following the foundation of the Danish Reserve League. The 2nd Division did change again in 2015, that reduced the number of teams in the 2nd Division from 32 to 24. 3 pools with each 8 teams was created, where the four top finishers in each pool would be playing for promotion to the 1st Division, with promotion for the two best-placed teams. Also, there would be a relegation pool for the 12 teams that end up as 5–8 in one of their 3 pools, where the 9–12th places relegated to the Denmark Series.
In 2011, it was announced that for the first time, the third-tier would be given its own logo, taking effect at the start of the 2011–12 season. The league changed its official name to Kanal Sport Divisionen for the 2015–16 season, when the naming rights were acquired by the Danish sports TV-channel Kanal Sport.
Former and current logos for the 2nd Division.
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1936–37 | Fredericia BK | Horsens FS | ||||
| 1937–38 | Vejle BK | Holstebro BK | Laurits Andersen (Vejle BK) | 13 | ||
| 1938–39 | Vejle BK | Holstebro BK | Charles Knudsen (Vejle BK) | 10 | ||
| 1939–40 | Vejle BK | Holstebro BK | Charles Knudsen (Vejle BK) | 13 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1936–37 | KFUM København | Nakskov BK | Aage Nielsen (KFUM København) | 10 | ||
| 1937–38 | Østerbros BK | Skovshoved IF | ||||
| 1938–39 | Nakskov BK | Slagelse BK&IF | ||||
| 1939–40 | Korsør BK | Skovshoved IF | Adolf Bechmann (Skovshoved IF) | 13 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1945–46 | Odense BK | Odense KFUM | Svend Jørgen Hansen (Odense BK) | 28 | ||
| 1946–47 | Brønshøj BK | Næstved IF | Kaj Pettersson (Brønshøj BK) | 35 | ||
| 1947–48 | Næstved IF | Odense KFUM | Valdemar Kendzior (Korsør BK) Esben Donnerborg (Næstved IF) | 22 | ||
| 1948–49 | Skovshoved IF | Horsens FS | Adolf Bechmann (Skovshoved IF) | 20 | ||
| 1949–50 | B 1913 | Vejen SF | Ove Dziegel (Nakskov BK) | 20 | ||
| 1950–51 | Horsens FS | Hellerup IK | Bent Petersen (Horsens FS) | 17 | ||
| 1951–52 | Vejle BK | Odense KFUM | Ernst Petersen (AIA) | 21 | ||
| 1952–53 | AIA | Hellerup IK | Ernst Petersen (AIA) | 24 | ||
| 1953–54 | Hellerup IK | Helsingør IF | Helge Gravesen (Vanløse IF) | 24 | ||
| 1954–55 | Vanløse IF | BK Fremad Amager | Jørgen Larsen (Lendemark BK) | 25 | ||
| 1955–56 | Brønshøj BK | B 1901 | Ove Andersen (Brønshøj BK) | 26 | ||
| 1956–57 | Ikast FS | Frederikshavn fI | Leo D. Nielsen (Ikast FS) | 31 | ||
| 1958 | Randers SK Freja | BK Fremad Amager | Ole Madsen (Hellerup IK) Helge Jørgensen (Odense KFUM) | 26 | ||
| 1959 | BK Rødovre | BK Frem Sakskøbing | Harald Nielsen (Frederikshavn fI) | 19 | ||
| 1960 | Odense KFUM | Hellerup IK | Helge Jørgensen (Odense KFUM) | 28 | ||
| 1961 | Viborg FF | Horsens FS | Finn Døssing (Viborg FF) | 23 | ||
| 1962 | Vanløse IF | Ikast FS | Adser Skov (Vanløse IF) | 21 | ||
| 1963 | Hvidovre IF | Næstved IF | Bjarne Jensen (IK Aalborg Chang) | 23 | ||
| 1964 | Holbæk B&IF | AIA | Flemming Jensen (IK Skovbakken) | 18 | ||
| 1965 | Vanløse IF | Randers SK Freja | Bjarne Jensen (IK Aalborg Chang) | 21 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1966 | Silkeborg IF | IK Aalborg Chang | Bjarne Jensen (IK Aalborg Chang) | 22 | ||
| 1967 | IK Skovbakken | Frederikshavn fI | Ole Larsen (IK Skovbakken) Preben Plougmann (Stoholm IF) Finn Johansen (Stoholm IF) | 17 | ||
| 1968 | Kolding IF | Frederikshavn fI | Niels Erik KIldemoes (Odense KFUM) | 25 | ||
| 1969 | IF Fuglebakken | Viborg FF | Kristen Nygaard (IF Fuglebakken) | 25 | ||
| 1970 | Silkeborg IF | BK Herning Fremad | ||||
| 1971 | Svendborg fB | Odense KFUM | Heino Hansen (Kalundborg GF&BK) Helge Jørgensen (Odense KFUM) | 17 | ||
| 1972 | Aabenraa BK | Frederikshavn fI | Willy Moshage (Aabenraa BK) | 23 | ||
| 1973 | Esbjerg fB | Ikast FS | Kristian Østergaard (Esbjerg fB) | 20 | ||
| 1974 | Nakskov BK | Frederikshavn fI | Henning Marxen (Middelfart G&BK) | 21 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1966 | Lyngby BK | KFUM København | Jørgen Jørgensen (Holbæk B&IF) | 20 | ||
| 1967 | Slagelse BK&IF | Taastrup IK | Kaj Lykke (Holbæk B&IF) | 18 | ||
| 1968 | Holbæk B&IF | BK Fremad Amager | Jørgen Larsen (Lyngby BK) | 20 | ||
| 1969 | BK Fremad Amager | Hellerup IK | Peter Kristensen (BK Fremad Amager) | 20 | ||
| 1970 | Slagelse BK&IF<sup> | B.93 | Jan Højland (B.93) Lau Jensen (Herfølge BK) Peter Johansson (Slagelse BK&IF) | 16 | ||
| 1971 | BK Fremad Amager | B.93 | ||||
| 1972 | B.93 | Helsingør IF | Bent Andersen (B.93) | 20 | ||
| 1973 | Vanløse IF | Helsingør IF | Bjarne Pettersson (Vanløse IF) | 23 | ||
| 1974 | Kastrup BK | Glostrup IC | Lars Francker (Lyngby BK) | 18 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1975 | Ikast FS | Herfølge BK | Anders Bjerregaard (Ikast FS) | 20 | ||
| 1976 | IK Skovbakken | Helsingør IF | Klaus Granlund (Hellerup IK) | 26 | ||
| 1977 | Lyngby BK | Brøndby IF | Klaus Berggreen (Lyngby BK) | 22 | ||
| 1978 | Herfølge BK | Roskilde B1906 | Jørgen Petersen (Viborg FF) | 22 | ||
| 1979 | Kolding IF | Helsingør IF | Morten Svart (Brønshøj BK) | 23 | ||
| 1980 | Glostrup IC | OKS | Claus Granlund (Hellerup IK) | 21 | ||
| 1981 | BK Avarta | Brønshøj BK | Gunnar Weber (Dragør BK) | 27 | ||
| 1982 | Roskilde B1906 | Svendborg fB | Henrik Andersen (Hjørring IF) | 20 | ||
| 1983 | B 1913 | Randers SK Freja | Lars Britz (Slagelse BK&IF) | 24 | ||
| 1984 | Aalborg BK | Horsens FS | Warly Jørgensen (Næsby BK) | 18 | ||
| 1985 | Greve IF | Vanløse IF | Jan Krause (Vanløse IF) | 27 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1986 | Slagelse BK&IF | OKS | ||||
| 1987 | Horsens FS | OKS | Steen Engby (Horsens FS) Jacob Harder (OKS) | 18 | ||
| 1988 | B 1909 | Nørresundby BK | Jan Knudsen (B 1909) | 19 | ||
| 1989 | Svendborg fB | Greve IF | Jan Nielsen (Greve IF) | 19 | ||
| 1990 | Horsens FS | Varde IF | ||||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1986 | Helsingør IF | BK Fremad Valby | Peter Rasmussen (B 1901) | 30 | ||
| 1987 | BK Fremad Amager | BK Avarta | Bernd Dietrich (BK Fremad Amager) | 15 | ||
| 1988 | BK Avarta | Holbæk B&IF | Per H. Jensen (Holbæk B&IF) | 13 | ||
| 1989 | B.93 | Ølstykke FC | Peter Eriksen (Dragør BK) | 20 | ||
| 1990 | IF Skjold Birkerød | Akademisk BK | Peter Lassen (Køge BK and Hvidovre IF) | 22 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1991 | Nørresundby BK | Randers SK Freja | Bo Hansen (Holstebro BK) | 17 | ||
| 1991–92 grundspil | Horsens FS | Esbjerg fB | ||||
| 1991–92 slutspil | Svendborg fB | Akademisk BK | Flemming Christensen (Akademisk BK) | 14 | ||
| 1992–93 grundspil | Ølstykke FC | Horsens FS | Peter Rasmussen (Nørre Aaby IK) | 14 | ||
| 1992–93 slutspil | Holstebro BK | BK Herning Fremad | Peter Rasmussen (Nørre Aaby IK) | 12 | ||
| 1993–94 grundspil | BK Herning Fremad | Holstebro BK | Per Andersen (Holstebro BK) | 18 | ||
| 1993–94 slutspil | Haderslev FK | IK Aalborg Chang | Kim Michelsen (IF Skjold Birkerød) | 15 | ||
| 1994–95 grundspil | BK Herning Fremad | Svendborg fB | Ole Pedersen (Svendborg fB) | 15 | ||
| 1994–95 slutspil | Nørre Aaby IK | B 1909 | Peter Rasmussen (Nørre Aaby IK) | 14 | ||
| 1995–96 fall | Aarhus Fremad | Nørresundby BK | Søren Hermansen (Aarhus Fremad) | 18 | ||
| 1995–96 spring | Aarhus Fremad | Haderslev FK | Søren Hermansen (Aarhus Fremad) | 15 | ||
| 1996–97 fall | AC Horsens | Vejen SF | Michael Steffensen (Vejen SF) | 16 | ||
| 1996–97 spring | IK Aalborg Chang | AC Horsens | Bo Nielsen (IK Aalborg Chang) | 15 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1991 | Hellerup IK | BK Fremad Amager | Kim Michelsen (IF Skjold Birkerød) | 13 | ||
| 1991–92 grundspil | BK Fremad Amager | Helsingør IF | ||||
| 1991–92 slutspil | B.93 | Ølstykke FC | Michael Bo Nielsen (BK Avarta | 9 | ||
| 1992–93 grundspil | B.93 | Herfølge BK | Carsten Hansen (Herfølge BK) | 14 | ||
| 1992–93 slutspil | Akademisk BK | Hvidovre IF | Finn Buchardt (Akademisk BK) | 17 | ||
| 1993–94 grundspil | B.93 | Hvidovre IF | Jan Krause (Vanløse IF) | 12 | ||
| 1993–94 slutspil | Hellerup IK | Køge BK | Morten Topp (Hellerup IK) | 18 | ||
| 1994–95 grundspil | Esbjerg fB | Køge BK | Jon Dahl Tomasson (Køge BK) | 18 | ||
| 1994–95 slutspil | BK Avarta | Hellerup IK | Thomas Eriksen (Hellerup IK) | 10 | ||
| 1995–96 fall | Roskilde B1906 | IF Skjold Birkerød | Thomas Jensen (Roskilde B1906) | 19 | ||
| 1995–96 spring | Roskilde B1906 | IF 32 Glostrup | Thomas Rasmussen (IF 32 Glostrup) | 15 | ||
| 1996–97 fall | Hellerup IK | B 1909 | Peter Rasmussen (B 1909) | 19 | ||
| 1996–97 spring | BK Frem | B 1913 | Jacob Harder (B 1913) | 11 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 1997–98 | B 1909 | Holstebro BK | Peter Rasmussen (B 1909) | 28 | ||
| 1998–99 | Randers SK Freja | FC Fredericia | Søren Borup (Skive IK) | 29 | ||
| 1999–2000 | B 1913 | Skive IK | Michael Steffensen (Vejen SF) | 23 | ||
| 2000–01 | Kolding IF | FC Fredericia | Mikkel Lindorff (FC Fredericia) | 24 | ||
| 2001–02 | BK Skjold | Ølstykke FC | Anders Jochumsen (BK Skjold) | 22 | ||
| 2002–03 | FC Nordjylland | Nykøbing Falster Alliancen | Glenn Gundersen (FC Nordjylland) | 26 | ||
| 2003–04 | Hellerup IK | Dalum IF | Karsten Jensen (Næstved BK) | 27 | ||
| 2004–05 | Kolding FC | Brabrand IF | Morten Nordstrand (Lyngby BK) | 22 | ||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 2005–06 | Esbjerg fB (II) | Aarhus Fremad | Thomas Buus Nielsen (Jetsmark IF) | 20 | ||
| 2006–07 | Skive IK | Ikast FS (FCM II) | Jesper Kjærulff (FC Fyn) | 19 | ||
| 2007–08 | Thisted FC | Brabrand IF | Martin Hansen (Brabrand IF) Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen (Aalborg BK II) | 15 | ||
| 2008–09 | FC Fyn | Odense BK | Jesper Thorsted Rasmussen (FC Svendborg) | 20 | ||
| 2009–10 | FC Hjørring | Hobro IK | Danilo Arrieta (Hobro IK) | 28 | ||
| 2010–11 | Blokhus FC | Aarhus Fremad | Nikolaj Thomsen (Blokhus FC) | 25 | ||
| 2011–12 | FC Fyn | Næsby BK | Anders K. Jacobsen (Næsby BK) | 26 | ||
| 2012–13 | BK Marienlyst | Aarhus Fremad | Peter Raask Jensen (Aarhus Fremad) | 20 | ||
| 2013–14 | Skive IK | Hellerup IK | Anders Hostrup (Skive IK) | 24 | ||
| 2014–15 | Næstved BK | BK Marienlyst | ||||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 2005–06 | Næstved BK | Holbæk B&IF | Karsten Jensen (Næstved BK) | 22 | ||
| 2006–07 | Lolland-Falster Alliancen | Brøndby IF (II) | Henrik Lyngsø Graham Olsen (B.93) | 21 | ||
| 2007–08 | FC Roskilde | BK Fremad Amager | Jeppe Kjær (FC Roskilde) | 20 | ||
| 2008–09 | FC Vestsjælland | B.93 | Thomas Wagner (Stenløse BK) | 23 | ||
| 2009–10 | Brønshøj BK | B.93 | Niels Peter Kjølbye (BK Avarta) | 20 | ||
| 2010–11 | Nordvest FC | Elite 3000, Helsingør | Morten Seifert (BK Avarta) | 18 | ||
| 2011–12 | Hellerup IK | Hvidovre IF | Anders Kaagh (Herlev IF) | 22 | ||
| 2012–13 | Hvidovre IF | FC Helsingør | Jonathan Nielsen (FC Helsingør) | 22 | ||
| 2013–14 | FC Roskilde | Næstved BK | Emil Nielsen (FC Roskilde) | 34 | ||
| 2014–15 | FC Helsingør | BK Frem | ||||
| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Top scorer(s) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Goals | |||||
| 2015–16 | AB Gladsaxe | BK Fremad Amager | ||||
| 2016–17 | Thisted FC | Brabrand IF | ||||
| 2017–18 | Hvidovre IF | Næstved BK | ||||
| 2018–19 | Skive IK | Kolding IF | ||||
| 2019–20 | FC Helsingør | Aarhus Fremad | Christian Nissen (Aarhus Fremad) Jeppe Kjær (FC Helsingør) | 19 | ||