# Danish Cup

The Danish Cup (Danish: Landspokalturneringen; often referred to as Pokalen) is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955.
The winner will qualify for the UEFA Europa League tournament the following year, where they (as of the 2009–10 season) will enter in the third qualifying round.
The final traditionally takes place on Kristi Himmelfarts Dag (The Ascension) and it is always played in the Danish national stadium Parken. However in the 1991 and 1992 seasons the final had been rescheduled to Odense Stadion and Århus Stadion respectively due to the renovation of Parken. Furthermore, in 2011, because Ascension Thursday fell on 2 June and an international match date was already allotted for this date, the Danish Cup final was played two weeks earlier on 22 May, which coincided with the annual Copenhagen Marathon.
The clubs with the most finals appearances are AGF, FCK, and AaB with 13 finals each, having won 9, 9, and 3 respectively.
Attention has been brought to the fact that the final on most occasions unpractically is played before the last rounds of the league, which can open up for speculation in the benefit of losing league games at the end of the season especially for the cup runner-up if the winner is heading for the league championship. Recently former AaB player David Nielsen claimed in his autobiography that after losing the cup final in 2004 to FC Copenhagen, he deliberately missed opportunities to score against them when AaB and FC Copenhagen met in the final league match because FCK would win the championship (and thereby the double) and land AaB in the UEFA Cup as losing cup finalists.

## Format

Each club may only have one team in the tournament (their first team). If a match (except one of the two-legged semifinals, except if the 2nd match's result gives an aggregate tie, including the away goals rule) ends in a tie, two fifteen-minute extra time periods will be played, with penalty kicks if the tie remains after the extra time.

### The participants

The teams are not seeded, but the lowest placed team from the previous season will always get the home pitch advantage.

#### Until 2005–06

* 1st round, 64 teams
** 48 teams qualified through preliminary cups held by the regional associations.
** 16 teams from the 2nd division (all teams)
* 2nd round, 32+8 teams
** 32 teams from the 1st round (winners)
** 8 teams from the 1st division (9th–16th placed)
* 3rd round, 20+8 teams
** 20 teams from the 2nd round
** 6 teams from the 1st division (3rd–8th placed)
** 2 teams from the Superliga (11th–12th, the relegated teams which are now in the 1st division)
* 4th round, 14+6 teams
** 14 teams from the 3rd round
** 4 teams from the Superliga (7th–10th)
** 2 teams from the 1st division (1st–2nd, the promoted teams which are now in the Superliga)
* 5th round, 10+6 teams
** 10 teams from the 4th round
** 6 teams from the Superliga (1st–6th)
* Quarterfinals, 8 teams
** 8 teams from the 5th round
– and so on until the finals.

#### From 2006–07

* 1st round, 88 teams
** 48 teams qualified through preliminary cups held by the regional associations.
** 28 teams from the 2nd divisions (all teams)
** 12 teams from the 1st division (5th–16th placed)
* 2nd round, 44+12 teams
** 44 teams from the 1st round (winners)
** 4 teams from the 1st division (1st–4th placed)
** 8 teams from the Superliga (5th–12th placed).
* 3rd round, 28+4 teams
** 28 teams from the 2nd round
** 4 teams from the Superliga (1st–4th placed)
* 4th round, 16 teams
** 16 teams from the 3rd round
* Quarterfinals, 8 teams
** 8 teams from the 4th round
– and so on until the finals.

#### From 2021–22

* 1st round, 92 teams
** 56 teams qualified through preliminary cups held by the regional associations.
** 12 teams from the 3rd divisions
** 12 teams from the 2nd divisions
** 12 teams from the 1st division
* 2nd round, 46+6 teams
** 46 teams from the 1st round (winners)
** 6 teams from the Superliga (5th–12th placed).
* 3rd round, 26+6 teams
** 26 teams from the 2nd round
** 6 teams from the Superliga (1st–6th placed)
* 4th round, 16 teams
** 16 teams from the 3rd round
* Quarterfinals, 8 teams
** 8 teams from the 4th round
– and so on until the finals.

## Finals

| Season | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Season | Winner (title no.) | Score | Runner-up | Man of the Match (Pokalfighter) | Stadium | Attendance |
| Landspokalturneringen |||||||
| 1954–55 | AGF | 4 – 0 | Aalborg Chang | Aage Rou Jensen, AGF | Idrætsparken | 10,300 |
| 1955–56 | Frem | 1 – 0 | AB | Bent Jørgensen, Frem | Idrætsparken | 23,000 |
| 1956–57 | AGF (2) | 2 – 0 | Esbjerg fB | John Amdisen, AGF | Idrætsparken | 25,800 |
| 1957–58 | Vejle | 3 – 2 | KB | Knud Herbert Sørensen, Vejle | Idrætsparken | 28,600 |
| 1958–59 | Vejle (2) | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) | AGF | Erling Sørensen, Vejle | Idrætsparken | 33,000 |
| 1958–59 | Vejle (2) | Replay: 1 – 0 | AGF | — | Idrætsparken | 17,700 |
| 1959–60 | AGF (3) | 2 – 0 | Frem Sakskøbing | Vagn Hansen, Frem Sakskøbing | Idrætsparken | 17,500 |
| 1960–61 | AGF (4) | 2 – 0 | KB | John Amdisen, AGF | Idrætsparken | 33,500 |
| 1961–62 | B 1909 | 1 – 0 | Esbjerg fB | Bruno Eliasen, B 1909 | Idrætsparken | 18,000 |
| 1962–63 | B 1913 | 2 – 1 | Køge | Hans Andersen, Køge | Idrætsparken | 10,900 |
| 1963–64 | Esbjerg fB | 2 – 1 | Odense KFUM | Carl Bertelsen, Esbjerg fB | Idrætsparken | 24,500 |
| 1964–65 | AGF (5) | 1 – 0 | KB | Frank Johansen, KB | Idrætsparken | 18,600 |
| 1965–66 | AaB | 3 – 1 (a.e.t.) | KB | Leif Skov, AaB | Idrætsparken | 18,600 |
| 1966–67 | Randers Freja | 1 – 0 | AaB | Jørgen Rasmussen, Randers Freja | Idrætsparken | 13,700 |
| 1967–68 | Randers Freja (2) | 3 – 1 | Vejle | Per Gaardsøe, Randers Freja | Idrætsparken | 15,200 |
| 1968–69 | KB | 3 – 0 | Frem | Flemming Pedersen, KB | Idrætsparken | 18,500 |
| 1969–70 | AaB (2) | 2 – 1 | Lyngby | Carsten Aagaard, Lyngby | Idrætsparken | 18,200 |
| 1970–71 | B 1909 (2) | 1 – 0 | Frem | Arno Hansen, B 1909 | Idrætsparken | 23,700 |
| 1971–72 | Vejle (3) | 2 – 0 | Fremad Amager | Tonny Hartvig Nielsen, Fremad Amager | Idrætsparken | 20,200 |
| 1972–73 | Randers Freja (3) | 2 – 0 | B 1901 | Helge Vonsyld, Randers Freja | Idrætsparken | 21,800 |
| 1973–74 | Vanløse IF | 5 – 2 | OB | Per Bartram, OB | Idrætsparken | 20,000 |
| 1974–75 | Vejle (4) | 1 – 0 | Holbæk B&I | Niels Tune, Holbæk B&I | Idrætsparken | 26,300 |
| 1975–76 | Esbjerg fB (2) | 2 – 1 | Holbæk B&I | Jens Jørn Bertelsen, Esbjerg fB | Idrætsparken | 23,500 |
| 1976–77 | Vejle (5) | 2 – 1 | B 1909 | Henning Andersen, B 1909 | Idrætsparken | 13,100 |
| 1977–78 | Frem (2) | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Esbjerg fB | Erik Jespersen, Esbjerg fB | Idrætsparken | 12,700 |
| 1977–78 | Frem (2) | Replay: 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Esbjerg fB | — | Idrætsparken | 1,800 |
| 1977–78 | Frem (2) | Replay: 1 – 1 (a.e.t., 5 – 4 pen.) | Esbjerg fB | — | Idrætsparken | 2,300 |
| 1978–79 | B 1903 | 1 – 0 | Køge | Peter Poulsen, Køge | Idrætsparken | 9,800 |
| 1979–80 | Hvidovre IF | 5 – 3 | Lyngby | Michael Christensen, Hvidovre IF | Idrætsparken | 23,500 |
| 1980–81 | Vejle (6) | 2 – 1 | Frem | Poul Erik Østergaard, Vejle | Idrætsparken | 17,500 |
| 1981–82 | B 93 | 3 – 3 (a.e.t.) | B 1903 | Ole Pedersen, B 93 | Idrætsparken | 7,600 |
| 1981–82 | B 93 | Replay: 1 – 0 | B 1903 | — | Idrætsparken | 5,300 |
| 1982–83 | OB | 3 – 0 | B 1901 | Morten Donnerup, OB | Idrætsparken | 7,700 |
| 1983–84 | Lyngby | 2 – 1 | KB | Bo Fosgaard, KB | Idrætsparken | 25,800 |
| 1984–85 | Lyngby (2) | 3 – 2 | Esbjerg fB | Henrik Nielsen, Esbjerg fB | Idrætsparken | 9,200 |
| 1985–86 | B 1903 (2) | 2 – 1 | Ikast fS | Sigurd Kristensen, Ikast fS | Idrætsparken | 5,600 |
| 1986–87 | AGF (6) | 3 – 0 | AaB | Karsten Christensen, AGF | Idrætsparken | 6,300 |
| 1987–88 | AGF (7) | 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Brøndby IF | Troels Rasmussen, AGF | Idrætsparken | 20,000 |
| 1988–89 | Brøndby IF | 6 – 3 (a.e.t.) | Ikast fS | Klaus Granlund, Ikast fS | Idrætsparken | 11,600 |
| Giro Cup |||||||
| 1989–90 | Lyngby (3) | 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) | AGF | Henrik Larsen, Lyngby | Idrætsparken | 8,600 |
| 1989–90 | Lyngby (3) | Replay: 6 – 1 | AGF | — | Idrætsparken | 2,000 |
| 1990–91 | OB (2) | 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) | AaB | Keld Bordinggaard, OB | Odense Stadion | 13,212 |
| 1990–91 | OB (2) | Replay: 0 – 0 (a.e.t., 4 – 3 pen.) | AaB | — | Odense Stadion | 4,554 |
| 1991–92 | AGF (8) | 3 – 0 | B 1903 | Bo Harder, AGF | Aarhus Idrætspark | 20,000 |
| 1992–93 | OB (3) | 2 – 0 | AaB | Søren Thorst, AaB | Parken | 9,023 |
| 1993–94 | Brøndby IF (2) | 0 – 0 (a.e.t., 3 – 1 pen.) | Næstved IF | Jørgen Juul Jensen, Næstved IF | Parken | 27,069 |
| 1994–95 | F.C. Copenhagen | 5 – 0 | AB | Carsten V. Jensen, F.C. Copenhagen | Parken | 20,536 |
| 1995–96 | AGF (9) | 2 – 0 | Brøndby IF | Stig Tøfting, AGF | Parken | 36,103 |
| Compaq Cup |||||||
| 1996–97 | F.C. Copenhagen (2) | 2 – 0 | Ikast fS | Lars "Mini" Hansen, Ikast fS | Parken | 17,368 |
| 1997–98 | Brøndby IF (3) | 4 – 1 | F.C. Copenhagen | John "Faxe" Jensen, Brøndby IF | Parken | 41,044 |
| 1998–99 | AB | 2 – 1 | AaB | René Henriksen, AB | Parken | 25,113 |
| DONG Cup |||||||
| 1999–2000 | Viborg | 1 – 0 | AaB | Arek Onyszko, Viborg FF | Parken | 18,098 |
| 2000–01 | Silkeborg IF | 4 – 1 | AB | Jan Michaelsen, AB | Parken | 14,743 |
| 2001–02 | OB (4) | 2 – 1 | F.C. Copenhagen | Lars Jacobsen, OB | Parken | 28,481 |
| 2002–03 | Brøndby IF (4) | 3 – 0 | FC Midtjylland | Kasper Dalgas, Brøndby IF | Parken | 32,660 |
| 2003–04 | F.C. Copenhagen (3) | 1 – 0 | AaB | Hjalte Bo Nørregaard, F.C. Copenhagen | Parken | 38,095 |
| Landspokalturneringen |||||||
| 2004–05 | Brøndby IF (5) | 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) | FC Midtjylland | Johan Elmander, Brøndby IF | Parken | 35,716 |
| 2005–06 | Randers FC | 1 – 0 (a.e.t.) | Esbjerg fB | Carsten Fredgaard, Randers FC | Parken | 23,825 |
| 2006–07 | OB (5) | 2 – 1 | F.C. Copenhagen | Johan Absalonsen, OB | Parken | 30,013 |
| 2007–08 | Brøndby IF (6) | 3 – 2 | Esbjerg fB | Samuel Holmén, Brøndby IF | Parken | 33,154 |
| Ekstra Bladet Cup |||||||
| 2008–09 | F.C. Copenhagen (4) | 1 – 0 | AaB | Thomas Augustinussen, AaB | Parken | 29,249 |
| 2009–10 | FC Nordsjælland | 2 – 0 (a.e.t.) | FC Midtjylland | Nicolai Stokholm, FC Nordsjælland | Parken | 18,856 |
| 2010–11 | FC Nordsjælland (2) | 3 – 2 | FC Midtjylland | Mikkel Thygesen, FC Midtjylland | Parken | 14,646 |
| DBU Pokalen |||||||
| 2011–12 | F.C. Copenhagen (5) | 1 – 0 | AC Horsens | Bryan Oviedo, FC Copenhagen | Parken | 21,963 |
| 2012–13 | Esbjerg fB (3) | 1 – 0 | Randers FC | Magnus Lekven, Esbjerg fB | Parken | 26,194 |
| 2013–14 | AaB (3) | 4 – 2 | F.C. Copenhagen | Rasmus Thelander, AaB | Parken | 27,824 |
| 2014–15 | F.C. Copenhagen (6) | 3 – 2 (a.e.t.) | FC Vestsjælland | Thomas Delaney, F.C. Copenhagen | Parken | 24,095 |
| 2015–16 | F.C. Copenhagen (7) | 2 – 1 | AGF | William Kvist, F.C. Copenhagen | Parken | 35,828 |
| 2016–17 | F.C. Copenhagen (8) | 3 – 1 | Brøndby IF | Stephan Andersen, F.C. Copenhagen | Parken | 32,140 |
| 2017–18 | Brøndby IF (7) | 3 – 1 | Silkeborg IF | Simon Jakobsen, Silkeborg IF | Parken | 31,027 |
| Sydbank Pokalen |||||||
| 2018–19 | FC Midtjylland | 1 – 1 (a.e.t., 4 – 3 pen.) | Brøndby IF | Gustav Wikheim, FC Midtjylland | Parken | 31,430 |
| 2019–20 | SønderjyskE | 2 – 0 | AaB | Anders K. Jacobsen, SønderjyskE | Esbjerg Stadion | 1,750 |
| 2020–21 | Randers FC (2) | 4 – 0 | SønderjyskE | Mathias Greve, Randers FC | Aarhus Idrætspark | 7,981 |
| 2021–22 | FC Midtjylland (2) | 0 – 0 (a.e.t., 4 – 3 pen.) | OB | Ayo Simon Okosun, OB | Brøndby Stadion | 23,328 |
| Pokalen |||||||
| 2022–23 | F.C. Copenhagen (9) | 1 – 0 | AaB | Lucas Andersen, AaB | Parken | 34,937 |
| Oddset Pokalen |||||||
| 2023–24 | Silkeborg IF (2) | 1 – 0 | AGF | Stefán Teitur Þórðarson, Silkeborg IF | Parken | 36,300 |

## Results by team

| Team | # | Titles | # | Runners-up |
| F.C. Copenhagen | 9 | 1995, 1997, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023 | 4 | 1998, 2002, 2007, 2014 |
| AGF | 9 | 1955, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1996 | 4 | 1959, 1990, 2016, 2024 |
| Brøndby IF | 7 | 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2018 | 4 | 1988, 1996, 2017, 2019 |
| Vejle | 6 | 1958, 1959, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1981 | 1 | 1968 |
| OB | 5 | 1983, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2007 | 2 | 1974, 2022 |
| AaB | 3 | 1966, 1970, 2014 | 10 | 1967, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2020, 2023 |
| Esbjerg fB | 3 | 1964, 1976, 2013 | 6 | 1957, 1962, 1978, 1985, 2006, 2008 |
| Lyngby | 3 | 1984, 1985, 1990 | 2 | 1970, 1980 |
| Randers Freja | 3 | 1967, 1968, 1973 | 0 | |
| FC Midtjylland | 2 | 2019, 2022 | 4 | 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011 |
| Frem | 2 | 1956, 1978 | 3 | 1969, 1971, 1981 |
| B 1903 | 2 | 1979, 1986 | 2 | 1982, 1992 |
| Silkeborg IF | 2 | 2001, 2024 | 1 | 2018 |
| Randers FC | 2 | 2006, 2021 | 1 | 2013 |
| B 1909 | 2 | 1962, 1971 | 1 | 1977 |
| FC Nordsjælland | 2 | 2010, 2011 | 0 | |
| KB | 1 | 1969 | 5 | 1958, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1984 |
| AB | 1 | 1999 | 3 | 1956, 1995, 2001 |
| SønderjyskE | 1 | 2020 | 1 | 2021 |
| Viborg | 1 | 2000 | 0 | |
| B 93 | 1 | 1982 | 0 | |
| Hvidovre IF | 1 | 1980 | 0 | |
| Vanløse IF | 1 | 1974 | 0 | |
| B 1913 | 1 | 1963 | 0 | |
| Ikast fS | 0 | | 3 | 1986, 1989, 1997 |
| B 1901 | 0 | | 2 | 1973, 1983 |
| Køge BK | 0 | | 2 | 1963, 1979 |
| Holbæk B&I | 0 | | 2 | 1975, 1976 |
| FC Vestsjælland | 0 | | 1 | 2015 |
| AC Horsens | 0 | | 1 | 2012 |
| Næstved IF | 0 | | 1 | 1994 |
| Fremad Amager | 0 | | 1 | 1972 |
| Odense KFUM | 0 | | 1 | 1964 |
| Frem Sakskøbing | 0 | | 1 | 1960 |
| Aalborg Chang | 0 | | 1 | 1955 |

## Footnotes

* ↑ Vanløse played in tier 2 at the time.
* 1 2 Played in front of a limited number of spectators because of governmental restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.