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The 2nd Division (Danish: Danmarksturneringens 2. division or Herre-DM 2. division) 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 nationwide 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 nationwide 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, and since the 2025–26 season as CampoBet 2. Division.
History
Formation of national third-tier
The decision to establish a nationwide 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.
Reintroduction of the third-tier 1945
(L–R) The trophies presented to the winners of the third division in the 1964 and 2010–11 (west) seasons.
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.
Sponsors and logos
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. In June 2025, Soft2Bet, the operator of CampoBet and Betinia, chose to become the title sponsor of the second, third, and fourth divisions starting from the 2025/26 season and for at least two seasons.
Former and current logos for the 2nd Division.
2. division (2011–12 until 2014–15) No league sponsor
Kanal Sport Divisionen (2015–16 season) Sponsor: Kanal Sport
2. division (2016–17 until 2024–25) No league sponsor
III Serie West (1936–1940) Season Winners Runners-up Top scorer(s) Ref Name Goals 1936–37 Fredericia BK Horsens FS 1937–38 Vejle BKHolstebro 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 †: Winners of the season's overall league championship final.
III Serie East (1936–1940) 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 †: Winners of the season's overall league championship final.
3rd Division West (1966–1974) 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 †: Winners of the season's overall league championship final.
3rd Division East (1966–1974) Season Winners Runners-up Top scorer(s) Ref Name Goals 1966 Lyngby BKKFUM København Jørgen Jørgensen (Holbæk B&IF) 20 1967 Slagelse BK&IFTaastrup IK Kaj Lykke (Holbæk B&IF) 18 1968 Holbæk B&IFBK Fremad Amager Jørgen Larsen (Lyngby BK) 20 1969 BK Fremad Amager Hellerup IK Peter Kristensen (BK Fremad Amager) 20 1970 Slagelse BK&IF† 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 †: Winners of the season's overall league championship final.
3rd Division West (1986–1990) 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 1909Nørresundby BK Jan Knudsen (B 1909) 19 1989 Svendborg fBGreve IF Jan Nielsen (Greve IF) 19 1990 Horsens FS Varde IF †: Winners of the season's overall league championship final.
2nd Division West (1991–1997) Season Winners Runners-up Top scorer(s) Ref Name Goals 1991 Nørresundby BKRanders SK Freja Bo Hansen (Holstebro BK) 17 1991–92 grundspil Horsens FS Esbjerg fB 1991–92 slutspil Svendborg fBAkademisk 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
2nd Division East (1991–1997) Season Winners Runners-up Top scorer(s) Ref Name Goals 1991 Hellerup IKBK Fremad Amager Kim Michelsen (IF Skjold Birkerød) 13 1991–92 grundspil BK Fremad Amager Helsingør IF 1991–92 slutspil B.93Ølstykke FC Michael Bo Nielsen (BK Avarta 9 1992–93 grundspil B.93 Herfølge BK Carsten Hansen (Herfølge BK) 14 1992–93 slutspil Akademisk BKHvidovre 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 FremB 1913 Jacob Harder (B 1913) 11
