Aalborg Boldspilklub
Aalborg Boldspilklub is a Danish sports club based in the city of Aalborg. The club is also known as AaB for short or Aalborg BK. Through time the club has had branches in cricket, tennis, ice hockey, handball, and basketball, but currently controls teams in football, American football, and floorball. All teams are competing in the top-flight Danish league in their respective sport. The kit sponsor for the club is Adidas, and the principal sponsor for the football team is the regional bank Spar Nord.
AaB was founded on 13 May 1885 by English engineers who were building Jutland's railway system, and the first years was concentrated on the game of cricket. It was initially named Aalborg Cricketklub but the name of the club was changed to Aalborg Boldklub in 1899. Football was adopted on an amateur basis in 1902, and has since been the main sport, as the name was changed to the current Aalborg Boldspilklub af 1885 in 1906.
Sections
Professional
Football
The club established a men's football team in 1902. The team has been a part of the Danish Superliga championship since 1987, winning four championships in 1995, 1999, 2008 and in 2014. As well as three Danish cups in 1966, 1970 and 2014.AaB became the first Danish team ever to participate in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage in 1995. AaB also qualified for the 2008–09 Champions League and qualified for the UEFA Cup in the same season after a 3rd-place finish in their Champions League group.
Handball
Handball was adopted by AaB in 2003, when the local men's team Aalborg HSH was bought and renamed AaB Håndbold. Since then, the club has played in the Danish top-flight handball league, though they have never won the league title. In May 2007, AaB published the plans to take over the women's handball team of Aalborg DH, as a part of the AaB Håndbold brand, as Aalborg DH did not pass a due diligence test, the takeover was never completed. With the expanded handball section, the men's team have moved their games to Aalborg DH's venue, Gigantium Arena. AaB Håndbold was owned by AaB A/S until January 2011. In January 2011 the license was given to the new company "Aalborg Håndbold A/S".Ice hockey
AaB also owned the professional ice hockey team AaB Ishockey, formed by the merger of AaB Ishockey and IK Aalborgwhich, and affiliated with the amateur youth development of Aalborg Ishockey Klub. AaB Ishockey won the 1981 Danish championship. From 2004 to 2007, AaB Ishockey won four silver medals in a row.AaB Ishockey ceased operations at the end of the 2011/2012 season, replaced by the Aalborg Pirates.