Sandefjord Fotball, often referred to simply as Sandefjord, is a Norwegian professional football club founded on 10 September 1998. The team currently competes in Eliteserien, the top division of the Norwegian football league system, and plays its home matches at the Jotun Arena in Sandefjord, Vestfold.
After reaching 1.divisjon (Norway’s second tier) in 1999, Sandefjord quickly established itself as a strong contender for promotion to the top division. The club finished third in 2002 and 2003, qualifying for promotion play-offs but losing on both occasions. In 2004, Sandefjord finished fourth, and in 2005, they achieved second place, earning automatic promotion to Tippeligaen (now Eliteserien).
In their first Tippeligaen season, Sandefjord finished ninth and reached the Norwegian Cup final. However, in 2007, they finished last and were relegated back to 1.divisjon
During the 2008 season in 1.divisjon, Sandefjord overcame a poor start to finish second, securing automatic promotion to Tippeligaen. The 2009 season was a success, with the club finishing eighth, its best top-flight performance to date. However, in 2010, they were relegated once again.
In 2014, Sandefjord won the 1. division title, earning another promotion to Tippeligaen. However, they were relegated in 2015, promoted again in 2016, and then relegated after two seasons in the top tier. Following the 2019 season in the 1. division, the club once again achieved promotion to Eliteserien.
History Sandefjord were formed by parent clubs IL Runar and Sandefjord Ballklubb in 1998. They replaced Sandefjord Ballklubb in 2.divisjon in 1999, and secured immediate promotion to 1st division. There the club made quick progress and soon settled as a strong competitor for promotion to the Tippeligaen. Finishing third in 1.divisjon in 2002 and 2003 they qualified for play-off matches, but lost both times, against Brann and Vålerenga. The 2003 play-off was lost after some controversial decisions by referee Jonny Ditlefsen that were all in Sandefjords disfavor. When manager Tom Nordlie left after the play-off games, Sandefjord Fotball hired Arne Dokken as their new coach. He was fired after just one season, 2004, when they finished fourth. But the 2005 season finally proved a success, with Tor Thodesen as their new coach. Placing second, Sandefjord earned automatic promotion to the highest division, where they finished 9th in their first season.
When the 2007 season ended, they finished last and were relegated to 1.divisjon. The players went to the board of directors together and requested the hiring of a new coach. Instead of firing Thodesen, the board kept him. After a bad start to the 2008 season, they fired Thodesen and hired Patrick Walker. The team played better after this, and he moved the team from a relegation place to a promotion place in the table in eight games. They continued their form and was placed second in the table, and earned a promotion after just one season.
After a disappointing 2010 season in Tippeligaen, earning only 12 points, they ended the season in last place and was relegated once again, this time for a longer period.
The following three seasons in 1.divisjon did not go as planned for a Sandefjord team that were fighting for promotion. Ending third in the table in both 2011 and 2012, was followed by an even worse finish in 2013, ending in eight place. The club took measures by firing manager Arne Sandstø and hiring former Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers player Lars Bohinen as their new manager. He was brought to the club from Asker where he had success as coach. Sandefjord went on to have their best season ever in 1.divisjon earning 69 points and winning the league title. This was their second ever trophy, the first one being the 2.divisjon in 1999. Back in Tippeligaen they ended in last place and were relegated back to 1.divisjon alongside Mjøndalen. In the 2016 season they clinched their second promotion in three years by finishing second, only beaten by Kristiansund.
Colours and badge
Sandefjord Fotball's colours are blue. They play in blue shirts, blue shorts and blue socks. When the club was formed in 1998, it was decided that the new club would have different colours from its parent clubs Sandefjord BK (yellow and black) and Runar (white). The club changed their badge before the start of the 2006 season. This was mainly for press purposes. The old badge had a yellow field as well as the blue and red. The new badge only has the colours red and blue. Further on, the white whale tail on the badge links to Sandefjord city's whaling history. After the promotion in 2014, Sandefjord played one season in an alternate home kit which consisted of half blue and half red, as in their badge. Relegated to 1.divisjon in 2016, they were back playing in an all blue home kit again.
Stadium
Sandefjord Fotball play their home games at Jotun Arena, previously called Komplett.no Arena and Komplett Arena due to sponsorship deals. Jotun Arena was opened on 21 July 2007, and cost about . This is an all modern stadium, with a capacity of about 6,582. Record attendance was set during the opening game versus Lyn on 21 July 2007. 8,103 people attended this game. In the future it is planned to expand the stadium to a capacity of 8 000. Field measurements are 105 x 68 meters.
Before Sandefjord started to use their new home arena, they used to play their home encounters at Storstadion. There they played their games from 1999 to 2007. A new and modern Jotun Arena was built to start a new chapter in the young club's history.
Honours 1.divisjon: Winners (1): 2014 Runners-up (4): 2005, 2008, 2016, 2019 2.divisjon: Winners (1): 1999 Norwegian Cup: Runners-up (1): 2006
Recent history Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA Pts.CupNotes20031.divisjon33019477141613rd roundLost promotion play-offs to Tippeligaen20041.divisjon4301569603251Quarter-finals20051.divisjon 23019565837623rd roundPromoted to Tippeligaen2006Tippeligaen9269512374732Runners-up2007Tippeligaen 142644182653162nd roundRelegated to Norwegian First Division2008Norwegian First Division 23017944625603rd roundPromoted to Tippeligaen2009Tippeligaen8301010103944402nd round2010Tippeligaen 16302622255812Fourth roundRelegated to Norwegian First Division2011Norwegian First Division33016596138533rd round2012 Norwegian First Division3301677442955Quarter-finals2013 Norwegian First Division830127113939433rd round2014 Norwegian First Division 13020916224692nd roundPromoted to Tippeligaen2015 Tippeligaen 16304422366816Quarter-finalsRelegated to Norwegian First Division2016 Norwegian First Division 2301857543459Quarter-finalsPromoted to Eliteserien2017Eliteserien1330113163851362nd round2018 Eliteserien 1630411153557232nd round2019 Norwegian First Division 23019835330653rd roundPromoted to Eliteserien2020 Eliteserien11309813314335Cancelled2021Eliteserien1030106143852362nd round2022 Eliteserien14306618426824Quarter-finals2023Eliteserien133087154755311st round2024 Eliteserien103097144146341st round2025 Eliteserien530153125542483rd round2026 (in progress)Eliteserien132055101827203rd round
Current squad
Out on loan
Management
Key people
Position Nat Name Managing director Ole Jonny Borgersen-Berg Sporting director Matteus Bårdsen
Coaching staff
Position Nat NameHead coach Andreas TegströmAssistant coach Per Verner RønningGoalkeeping coach Jordi Cumelles ComasPerformance analyst Geir OmliTop player developer Henrik GustavsenPhysio Ola OlsenPhysio Matias Moen SkoglundPhysio Duy Nhat HuynhOsteopath/physio Espen Strøm-NormannPhysical trainer Arnór Snær GudmundssonDevelopment leader Martin JensenUnder-19/-21 head coach Samir SaricUnder-19/-21 assistant coach Sigurd Andreas HolmenUnder-17 head coach Axel Örn SæmundssonUnder-17 assistant coach Lars MarkmanrudUnder-15 head coach Ríkin Napoleon DjurhuusUnder-15 assistant coach Christoffer EngeUnder-14 head coach Kristian Rinaldo PedersenUnder-14 assistant coach Andreas DruggeUnder-13 head coach Anders AbrahamsenUnder-13 assistant coach Thor Ketil KvitværCoach developer Geir Ludvig FevangEquipment manager Thomas NaastadAssistant equipment manager Frode Riis
Manager history
NameNatFromToTrond Skrede19992001Tom Nordlie20022003Arne Dokken20042004Tor Thodesen20052008Patrick Walker20082011Arne Sandstø20112013Lars Bohinen20132017Magnus Powell20182018Martí Cifuentes20182020Hans Erik Ødegaard Andreas Tegström 20212024Andreas Tegström2024
References
External links
(in Norwegian) Blåhvalane (English: The Blue Whales) – Official fanclub