Mjøndalen IF Fotball – commonly known as Mjøndalen IF, and (especially locally) Mjøndar'n or MIF – is the football department of Mjøndalen IF. Founded in 1910, the club is located in Mjøndalen, Buskerud, Norway. The team plays its home matches in the 4,350-capacity Consto Arena. Mjøndalen competes in Obos Ligaen, the second tier in the Norwegian football league system having been relegated from the Eliteserien at the end of the 2021 season.
As runners-up in the 1968 Norwegian Cup, Mjøndalen men's football team represented Norway in the European Cup Winners' Cup in the following 1969–70 season. They were eliminated in the first round by Cardiff City who defeated Mjøndalen 12–2 on aggregate. After being promoted to the top division in 1971, Mjøndalen regularly played on the top-tier of Norwegian football in the 1970s and 1980s, and finished second in 1976 and 1986. Finishing runners-up in the league qualified them to represent Norway in the UEFA Cup the following season.
Middle years
The last round of the 1976 season saw Mjøndalen beat SK Brann, a result which would have awarded them the league title if Lillestrøm SK had lost their game — which they did not. However, Mjøndalen's silver medals saw the team qualify for the 1977–78 UEFA Cup, where they lost the first round against Bayern Munich 0–12 on aggregate. After Mjøndalen's second silver medals in the 1986 league season, they were relegated the following season and were not promoted back to the top level until 1992. A highlight from the years in lower divisions was their meeting with German side Werder Bremen in the first round of the 1987–88 UEFA Cup. Mjøndalen lost 1–5 on aggregate, but their 1–0 win away at Bremen, remain their only victory in UEFA competitions. After their 1992 top-flight comeback season, Mjøndalen was relegated, had financial challenges, and participated in the second, third and fourth tier of Norwegian football for a number of seasons.
Recent years
Mjøndalen had a successful 2008 in 2. divisjon, and returned to 1. divisjon for the 2009 season. The club qualified to compete in the promotion knock out stage of 1. divisjon in both 2012 and 2013, and finally earned promotion to the Tippeligaen with a successful 2014 play-off result against Brann.[1] Mjøndalen's return to Tippeligaen for 2015 marked their first appearance in the top tier in 22 years. The team finished in 15th place — second from bottom — and was relegated to the 2016 1. divisjon. In 2018, Mjøndalen finished in second place in the 2018 1. divisjon and was promoted to Eliteserien. In the following season, Mjøndalen succeeded in retaining their spot in the top flight through winning on the last day of the season.[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^ abc1. divisjon was the name of the top tier of Norwegian league football from 1963 until 1990. The top tier changed its name to the sponsor-affiliated name Tippeligaen ahead of the 1990 season. The second tier formerly known as 2. divisjon inherited the name 1. divisjon ahead of the 1991 season. The third tier, formerly known as 3. divisjon was named 2. divisjon ahead of the 1991 season and the names of all the lower divisions were adjusted accordingly. Effecting 2017, the top tier is named Eliteserien.
Further reading
Myklebust, Odd (2010). MIF i hundre : 1910–2010 : Mjøndalen IF – gjennom 100 år med lokal historikk (in Norwegian). Mjøndalen IF. ISBN978-8-230-31561-3.
