Brøndby IF

Brøndby IF is a Danish football club, from the town of Brøndby, on the outskirts of Copenhagen. It is the most successful Danish football club of the last 20 years. Since the mid-1980s, the club has been a part of Danish top-flight football.

Related Topics:
Danish - Football - Brøndby - Copenhagen - 1980s

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The club was founded on December 3 1964 as a merger between two small clubs, Brøndbyvester and Brøndbyøster. Since its foundation, the club has transformed from a mediocre lower league club to an absolute powerhouse of Danish football.

Related Topics:
December 3 - 1964

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The upward path started with the election of chairman Per Bjerregaard, a doctor who had moved to Copenhagen from Jutland. With the appointment of Finn Laudrup (father of Michael and Brian) as player-coach, the club began its promotion up through the Danish divisions.

Related Topics:
Per Bjerregaard - Jutland - Finn Laudrup - Michael - Brian

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Promotion to the top-flight was secured in 1981, and only 4 years later, Brøndby won their first championship. The team that dominated in the second half of the 1980s included several players who would later win {{Ec|92}} with the Danish national team. With a team built around talented Danish players, such as Peter Schmeichel, John Jensen, Kim Vilfort and Bent Christensen, the club became used to winning the national title.

Related Topics:
1981 - 1980s - Danish national team - Peter Schmeichel - John Jensen - Kim Vilfort - Bent Christensen

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In 1986 the club was the only second in the world (with Tottenham being the first) to float its shares on a public stock exchange.

Related Topics:
1986 - Tottenham

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In the early 1990s, an intended takeover of a bank almost cost the club its existence, and financial collapse was imminent. A rescue plan was made, but these events influenced the performance of the team, and the championship was not won again until 1996.

Related Topics:
1990s - 1996

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During the last 10 seasons, the club has not finished below second spot in the Danish Superliga. Main rivals are F.C. København, and the matches between these two sides attract big crowds by Danish standards.

Related Topics:
Danish Superliga - F.C. København

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The club's current coach is Michael Laudrup, the most famous Danish football player. On June 15 1982 he was also the first Brøndby player to win a cap for Denmark. Since then, more than 50 Brøndby players have represented their respective countries.

Related Topics:
June 15 - 1982

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Brøndby have played more than 100 European fixtures. Big moments include wins against the likes of Bayern München, Liverpool F.C., Eintracht Frankfurt and Karlsruher SC. In 1991 the team was seconds away from the UEFA Cup final, but was denied by AS Roma.

Related Topics:
Bayern München - Liverpool F.C. - Eintracht Frankfurt - Karlsruher SC - 1991 - UEFA Cup - AS Roma

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This season (2005/06), Brøndby will play against Lokomotiv Moscow, Espanyol, Maccabi Petach Tikva FC and U.S. Città di Palermo in UEFA Cup.

Related Topics:
Lokomotiv Moscow - Espanyol - Maccabi Petach Tikva FC - U.S. Città di Palermo

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