Laudrup factor spurs København

It looks like being a two-horse race once again when the Danish Superliga kicks off tomorrow: Brøndby IF and FC København against the rest. That has certainly been the case over the last two seasons and with those clubs possessing the best organisation, finances and players, it is hard to see the champions coming from anywhere else.

Laudrup factor
Most of the attention will no doubt focus on Michael Laudrup, who retired as assistant coach of the national side to take the reigns at Brøndby along with former Danish international John “Faxe” Jensen. Laudrup began his tenure by laying off seven squad members and purchasing Morten Wieghorst from Celtic FC and most recently striker Kasper Dalgas from Odense BK . With the Danish champions getting the new season started at home to Silkeborg IF tomorrow, Laudrup’s managerial prowess will come under the spotlight.

Summer signings
Yet København will do all they can to give Laudrup a run for his money. Indeed, Hans Backe’s side will be looking forward to the new season, with summer transfers Erik Mykland and Peter Nielsen attempting to fill the gap left by the sale of Christian Poulsen, and Swedish striker Jörgen Pettersson adding yet more firepower to a potent strikeforce.

Break the stranglehold
Akademisk Boldklub, Aalborg BK and FC Midtjylland start as the outsiders who may just slip in if the two favourites stumble. Akademisk, heavily in debt despite their introduction on the stockmarket, will be buoyed by the arrival of midfield player Morten Seifert Larsen, who has returned to Copenhagen after a frustrating spell at PSV Eindhoven. But the departure of key defenders Steven Lüstü and Martin Albrechtsen leaves AB some way behind Aalborg and Midtjylland, who, under new coaches Poul Erik Andreasen and Troels Bech, will be looking to break the Copenhagen sides’ stranglehold.

Mid-table mediocrity
Not much is expected of  AGF Aarhus, Silkeborg, Odense BK, Viborg FF and Esbjerg fB this term. AGF and Silkeborg only just avoided relegation last season, while Viborg are unlikely to threaten despite moving into their brand new stadium. The situation looks a touch brighter for Odense and Esbjerg who have both shown some promise over the break.

Financial struggle
Newly promoted Køge BK and Faum are expected to battle out the bottom spaces. Both clubs are struggling financially, with Farum going into the first game knowing they risk bankruptcy if the Danish authorities fail to acknowledge the financial agreement between Farum city council and the club.