Spotlight on - FC Copenhagen

Football Club København, or FC Copenhagen, have a very brief history but it hasn't been without it's controversies. From a manager that lasted one match to a much celebrated year of foundation, the near two decades that this club has been around have certainly not been quiet.  

Established: 1st July 1992
Home Stadium: Parken, 38, 065
Chairman: Hans Munk Nielsen
Manager: Roland Nilsson
Home Strip:  White shirt, white short, white socks
Away Strip:  Blue and Black shirt, Black shorts and Black socks with a Blue trim.

History

It is said to be "the greatest year in Danish Football History," the year this club came to fruition and the year Denmark suprised everybody by roaring to European Championship success.  It was of course 1992, and the reason I say the club "came to fruition" is because in actual fact FC Copenhagen dates back to 1876.  However back then they were known as Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) and Boldklubben 1903 (B1903), making a unique situation which means that now the club's first team is a representation of two clubs.  With KB founded in 1876 this also makes them mainland Europe's oldest football club and first league winners,which they won 15 times, compared to their then rivals B1903s seven.

They slogged it out for many decades, with KB actually trying to run professional football before failing to garner enough financial support, before coming to this unique conclusion.  When Alex Friedmann, the wealthy backer of B1903 couldn't guarantee his support, a process was put in place to merge the two sides.

FC Copenhagen ply their trade at The Parken Stadium

KB were overtly keen to be playing professional football, while their rivals had players in place but no concrete stability heading into the future.  The rebuilding of the national stadium, Parken, also provided a top class arena to ply their trade.  FC Copenhagen was born, while the other two clubs are rooted in local communities around the Danish capital, seeking out talent for what is in essence a shared first team.

The club have gone on to be the focal point of Danish football since then, sticking to the principles and ambitions they set themselves nearly two decades ago:

• To be among the top 3 in the Danish Supliga and/or win the Danish cup and therefore qualify for one of the European competitions every year.
• To have a responsible economy
• To build up a local fan base and establish a wide corporate backing
• Play attractive positive football
• In the long term, to spearhead the Danish attack on European club honours.

 
Danish League titles have continued to roll in, maintaining one the principles they set up in the early 1990s.  It is though on the European front where they have begun to make an impression.  In the 2006/07 Champions League wins over Celtic and Manchester United at home instilled belief, whilst in 2010/11 FC Copenhagen became the first side from Denmark into the last sixteen.

Managers

Jesper Gronkjaer (left) and Stale Solbakken share a joke

Being a relatively new side with a limited history under this moniker, a huge influx of managers there hasn't been (although the 13 and two caretakers that have taken the hot seat is still a rather large number).  Benny Johansen was charged with leading the side in it's debut season, taking charge for two seasons and boasting an impressive win percentage of over 51.72 but winning only a solitary Superliga Championship.

Fans of The Lions had to sit through 8 more managers though, before another championship title arrived.  This was thanks to the only non Scandinavian to have taken up the reins a certain Roy Hodgson who delivered in his only season at the club.

It was here, in the early 2000s, that the domination started, firstly under Hans Backe and then Stale Solbakken.  The latter proving to be the most successful in the history of the club, delivering numerous amounts of silverware and a win percentage of 59.26.  Christian Andersen had the stormiest spell, managing a solitary game before being fired.

Players

Celebrating a goal against Panathinaikos last year

A wide array of fine footballing talent has taken to the Parken pitch adorned in the colours of FC Copenhagen.  Lars Jacobsen, Christian Poulsen, Jesper Gronkjaer and Brede Hangeland are just some of the names that will be familiar to fans of the English Premier League.

By far the biggest name to have plied his trade at the club is Brian Laudrup, who in 1999 managed 12 games and scored 2 goals.

However it would perhaps be Lars Hojer or Todi Jonsson that are remembered with most fondness.  Both managed 54 goals, a club record, doing it in 166 and 167 games respectively.

Trophies

Danish league
1993, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011

Danish Cup
1995, 1997, 2004, 2009

Coca-Cola Cup
1996
 
Super Cup
1995, 2001, 2004

Ørestad Cup
2000, 2002

King’s Cup
1994

Royal League
2005, 2006