For the women's league, see Danish Women's Handball League.
Herreligaen
SportHandball
Founded1936 (age 90)
AdministratorDHF
Teams14
CountryDenmark
ConfedEHF
ChampionsAalborg Håndbold (8th title)
Champ season2024–25
Most champsKIF Kolding (14 titles)
Relegation1st Division
Domestic cupDanish Cup
Confed cupEHF Champions League
EHF European League
Websitetophaandbold.dk
Current season2025–26 Håndboldligaen

The Herreligaen (men's league), formerly known as Herrehåndboldligaen (men's handball league), is the men's top Danish professional handball league. The winners of the Herreligaen are recognised as the Danish men's handball champions. The current champions are Aalborg Håndbold.

Season

The Herreligaen season consists of 14 teams, each playing 26 regular season games. The eight best teams of the regular season advance to further games, where they are divided into two groups of four teams each. No. 1 and 2 from the regular season start with 2 points. No. 3 and 4 start with 1 point, while no. 5-8 start with no points. After these six games the two top teams in each group will play semifinals. No. 1 from one group is up against no. 2 from the other. The winners will meet in finals, while the losers will play against each other for the bronze medal. Semifinals, finals, and bronze games are all played in best of 3.

The lowest placed team of the regular season is directly relegated to the second-best division, and replaced by the winner of this. The teams finishing as 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are put in a group where they will play against each other. In the second-best division, the teams that end up 2nd and 3rd will play against each other in best of 3. The winner of those games will get to meet the lowest placed team from the 9-13 group from the top league, yet again in best of 3. The winner will get to play in the top league next season, while the loser plays in the second-best division.

Teams

The teams for the 2024–25 season are:

TeamLocationArenaCapacity
Aalborg HåndboldAalborgJutlander Bank Arena5,009
Bjerringbro-SilkeborgBjerringbroSilkeborg-Hallerne2,845
Fredericia HKFredericiaFredericia Idrætscenter2,225
Grindsted GIF HåndboldGrindstedVestjysk Bank Arena500
GOGGudmeGudme-Hallerne2,265
KIF KoldingKoldingTre-For Arena5,182
Mors-ThyNykøbing Mors ThistedJyske Bank Mors Arena Thy Hallen2,296 1,284
Nordsjælland HåndboldHelsinge
Hillerød		Helsinge-Hallen
Royal Stage		1,600
3,000
Ribe-EsbjergEsbjerg RibeBlue Water Dokken Invactor Arena3,386 1,976
Skanderborg Aarhus HåndboldSkanderborg AarhusFælledhallen Ceres Arena1,700 5,000
SkjernSkjernSkjern Bank Arena3,264
SønderjyskESønderborgBroager Sparekasse Skansen2,200
TMS RingstedRingstedPoul Christensen Arena1,200
TTH HolstebroHolstebroIdrætscenter Vest3,250

Champions

The complete list of the Danish men's handball champions since 1936.

YearWinner (titles)Top goalscorer (goals), club
1935-36IF Vidar (1)
1936-37IF Ajax (1)
1937-38IF Vidar (2)
1938-39Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (1)
1939-40Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (2)
1940-41Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (3)
1941-42IF Ajax (2)
1942-43Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (4)
1943-44IF Ajax (3)
1944-45Season suspended
1945-46Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (5)
1946-47Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (6)Svend Aage Madsen (handballer)|Svend Aage Madsen (36), IF Ajax
1947-48IF Ajax (4)Svend Aage Madsen (handballer)|Svend Aage Madsen (47), IF Ajax
1948-49IF Ajax (5)Per Theilmann (42), Helsingør IF
1949-50IF Ajax (6)Svend Aage Madsen (handballer)|Svend Aage Madsen (48), IF Ajax
1950-51Helsingør IF (1)Per Theilmann (56), Helsingør IF
1951-52IF Ajax (7)Per Theilmann (97), Helsingør IF
1952-53IF Ajax (8)Mogens Olsen (109), Aarhus KFUM
1953-54Tarup HK (1)Mogens Olsen (101), Aarhus KFUM
1954-55Aarhus KFUM (1)Mogens Olsen (130), Aarhus KFUM
1955-56Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (7)Mogens Olsen (128), Aarhus KFUM
1956-57AGF (1)Mogens Olsen (144), Aarhus KFUM
1957-58Helsingør IF (2)Mogens Olsen (162), Aarhus KFUM
1958-59AGF (2)Mogens Olsen (178), Aarhus KFUM
1959-60Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (8)Jens Ove Hansen (144), IF Stjernen
1960-61AGF (3)Max Nielsen (127), MK 31
1961-62Skovbakken (1)Jørgen P. Hansen (128), Tarup Pårup IF
Peter Nielsen (128), IF Ajax
1962-63Aarhus KFUM (2)Mogens Olsen (102), Aarhus KFUM
1963-64IF Ajax (9)Hans Jørn Graversen (126), USG (handball)|USG
1964-65AGF (4)Jørgen Petersen (142), H.G. Handball
1965-66Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (9)Mogens Olsen (122), Aarhus KFUM
1966-67Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (10)Jørgen Petersen (118), H.G. Handball
1967-68Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (11)Karl Erik Jørgensen (131), IF Stjernen
1968-69Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (12)Hans Jørn Graversen (132), Skovbakken
1969-70Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening (13)Hans Jørn Graversen (128), Skovbakken
1970-71Efterslægten (1)Flemming Hansen (161), Fredericia KFUM
1971-72IF Stadion (1)Flemming Hansen (97), Fredericia KFUM
1972-73IF Stadion (2)Flemming Hansen (152), Fredericia KFUM
1973-74Aarhus KFUM (3)Flemming Hansen (137), Fredericia KFUM
1974-75Fredericia KFUM (1)Flemming Hansen (109), Fredericia KFUM
1975-76Fredericia KFUM (2)Flemming Hansen (136), Fredericia KFUM
1976-77Fredericia KFUM (3)Michael Jørn Berg (168), Holte IF
1977-78Fredericia KFUM (4)Michael Jørn Berg (201), Holte IF
1978-79Fredericia KFUM (5)Michael Jørn Berg (148), Holte IF
1979-80Aarhus KFUM (4)Michael Jørn Berg (141), Holte IF
1980-81Helsingør IF (3)Michael Jørn Berg (148), Holte IF
1981-82Skovbakken (2)Bjarne Jeppesen (117), Fredericia KFUM
1982-83Aarhus KFUM (5)Erik Veje Rasmussen (121), Helsingør IF
1983-84Gladsaxe/HG (1)Michael Jørn Berg (125), Holte IF
1984-85Helsingør IF (4)Michael Jørn Berg (101), Holte IF
Hans Henrik Hattesen (101), Virum-Sorgenfri HK
1985-86Hellerup IK (1)Flemming Hansen (100), Helsingør IF
1986-87Kolding IF (1)Flemming Hansen (98), Helsingør IF
1987-88Kolding IF (2)Kim G. Jacobsen (105), Kolding IF
1988-89Helsingør IF (5)John Mortensen (112), Nyborg GIF
1989-90Kolding IF (3)Otto Mertz (107), Kolding IF
1990-91Kolding IF (4)John Jacobsen (150), Ribe HK
1991-92GOG (1)Per Sabroe Thomsen (121), GOG
1992-93Kolding IF (5)Fritz Thomsen (141), Aalborg KFUM
1993-94Kolding IF (6)Kim Keller Christensen (170), Virum-Sorgenfri HK
1994-95GOG (2)Jan Paulsen (168), HK Roar
1995-96GOG (3)Klavs Bruun Jørgensen (167), Virum-Sorgenfri HK
1996-97Virum-Sorgenfri HK (1)Nikolaj Jacobsen (205), GOG
1997-98GOG (4)Lars E. Jørgensen (142), HK Roar
1998-99Skjern Håndbold (1)Ole Nielsen (158), Team Esbjerg
1999-2000GOG (5)Brian Jensen (140), Vrold/Skanderborg HK
2000-01Kolding IF (7)Bilal Šuman (178), Kolding IF
2001-02KIF Kolding (8)Heins Kart Pedersen (172), Bjerringbro FH
2002-03KIF Kolding (9)Lars Rasmussen (179), Ajax/Farum
2003-04GOG (6)Micke Næsby (227), Fredericia HK
2004-05KIF Kolding (10)Robert Gunnarsson (241), Århus GF
2005-06KIF Kolding (11)Jesper Nøddesbo (178), KIF Kolding
2006-07GOG (7)Hans Lindberg (187), Viborg HK
2007-08FCK Håndbold (1)Milutin Dragićević (177), Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
2008-09KIF Kolding (12)Fredrik Petersen (171), GOG
2009-10AaB Håndbold (1)Claus Møller Jakobsen (149), Skjern
2010-11AG København (1)Jonas Larholm (160) AaB Håndbold
2011-12AG København (2)Michael Pedersen (184), Skive fH
2012-13Aalborg Håndbold (2)Jeppe Riber (196), Ribe-Esbjerg HH
2013-14KIF Kolding Copenhagen (13)Henrik Møllgaard (228), Skjern
2014-15KIF Kolding Copenhagen (14)Nikolaj Ø. Nielsen (205), Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
2015-16Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (1)Patrick Wiesmach Larsen (217), Team Tvis Holstebro
2016-17Aalborg Håndbold (3)Sander Sagosen (206), Aalborg Håndbold
Jacob Holm (206), Ribe-Esbjerg HH
2017-18Skjern Håndbold (2)Nikolaj Ø. Nielsen (202), Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
2018-19Aalborg Håndbold (4)Anders Eggert (223), Skjern
2019-20Aalborg Håndbold (5)Nikolaj Læsø (153), Aarhus Håndbold
2020-21Aalborg Håndbold (6)Emil Jakobsen (244), GOG
2021-22GOG Håndbold (8)Jerry Tollbring (266), GOG
2022-23GOG Håndbold (9)Emil Wernsdorf Madsen (252), GOG
2023-24Aalborg Håndbold (7)Emil Wernsdorf Madsen (192), GOG
2024-25Aalborg Håndbold (8)Nicolaj Jørgensen (275), SønderjyskE Herrehåndbold

Total titles won

The following clubs have won the Danish championship.

ClubWinners
KIF Kolding14
Handelsstandens Gymnastikforening13
IF Ajax9
GOG9
Aalborg Håndbold8
Helsingør IF5
Aarhus KFUM5
Fredericia KFUM5
AGF4
Skjern Håndbold2
AG København2
Skovbakken2
IF Stadion2
IF Vidar2
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg1
FCK Håndbold1
Virum-Sorgenfri HK1
Hellerup IK1
Gladsaxe/HG1
Efterslægten1
Tarup HK1

EHF coefficients

See also: EHF coefficient rank

The following data indicates Danish coefficient rankings between European handball leagues.

Country ranking

EHF League Ranking for 2021/22 season:[1]

Club ranking

EHF Club Ranking as of 25 September 2025:[2]

Names

The Danish Handball League has had several different names due to the main sponsor changing:

  • 1998–2001: Byggekram Ligaen[3][4]
  • 11/2001–2004: TDC Ligaen[5]
  • 1/2007–2008: Tele2 Ligaen[6]
  • 2008–2009: CBB Mobil Ligaen[7]
  • 2009–2013: Jack & Jones Ligaen[8]
  • 2014–2016: Boxer TV Ligaen[9]
  • 2016–2018: 888.dk Ligaen[10]
  • 2019–2020: Primo Tours Ligaen[11]
  • 11/2020–2023: HTH Ligaen[12]
  • 2025–: Bambuni Ligaen[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2021/22 season ranking" (PDF). European Handball Federation. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Club coefficients". eurotopteam.com. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Sponsorsucces måles i følelser" (in Danish). berlingske.dk. 1999-12-20. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  4. ^ "Liga uden sponsor" (in Danish). bt.dk. 2001-11-15. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  5. ^ "Håndbold: Ny sponsor til Håndboldligaen" (in Danish). politiken.dk. 2001-11-24. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  6. ^ "Håndboldligaen bliver til Tele2 Ligaen" (in Danish). politiken.dk. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  7. ^ "CBB Mobil ny sponsor for herrehåndbold" (in Danish). mobil.nu. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  8. ^ "CBB bliver til Jack & Jones Ligaen" (in Danish). sport.tv2.dk. 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  9. ^ "Ny sponsor: Se de danske håndboldligaers nye navn" (in Danish). sport.tv2.dk. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  10. ^ "Bookmaker ny håndbold-sponsor" (in Danish). markedsforing.dk. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  11. ^ "Håndboldliga får nyt navn: Sponsor vil ikke afsløre prisen" (in Danish). folkebladetlemvig.dk. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  12. ^ "Herreligaen får stort sponsorat og skifter navn" (in Danish). sport.tv2.dk. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  13. ^ "Dansk klubhåndbold indgår millionpartnerskab med tøjfirma" (in Danish). nordschleswiger.dk. 2025-05-25. Retrieved 2025-07-13.