Vejle Boldklub


Vejle Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in Vejle in Jutland. Formed in 1891, the club is one of the most successful clubs in Danish football history, having won the Danish championship five times and the Danish cup title six times.
Vejle Boldklub is famous for being the only Danish club to develop a European Footballer of the Year winner in Allan Simonsen who won it in 1977. The club is also famous for developing several international players such as Thomas Gravesen, Tommy Troelsen, Ulrik le Fevre, and John Sivebæk. On the European stage, Vejle Boldklub has played in the UEFA Champions League in 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, and 1985–86. VB has also participated in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup three times each. VB's most memorable moments in Europe so far has been reaching the UEFA Cup Winners Cup Quarter-finals in 1977–78, facing HNK Hajduk Split in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in 1979–80, and beating Real Betis 1–0 in the first leg of the 1st round of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup tournament.
The club is based in the northern part of the city with the club's homeground being Vejle Stadium built in 2008. The stadium is located in Nørreskoven which VB has called home since 1922. The club has played in red shirts and white shorts since 1911. The main rivals of Vejle Boldklub are AGF and AC Horsens.
In 2016, Andrew Zolotko acquired majority ownership of Vejle Boldklub, with Klaus Eskildsen retaining a minority stake. Zolotko became chairman the following year, joined on the board by Gert Eg, the club's record appearance holder. In 2025, Zolotko sold his shares to a local group led by Eskildsen.

History

Early success

Vejle Boldklub was established on 3 May 1891 by 23 local residents as a cricket club. Football was introduced as part of the club's activities in 1902.
The period from 1910 to 1920 is commonly regarded as the club's first golden era. During this decade, Vejle reached the Jutland championship final seven times, securing the title in 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915.

1950s: A golden decade

On 22 May 1952, Vejle Boldklub secured promotion to Denmark's second tier in front of 15,000 spectators at Vejle Stadium, defeating Odense KFUM. A key figure in the squad was Bent Sørensen, who later became the club's first player to represent the national team.
Promotion to the top division was achieved on 10 May 1956, when Vejle defeated B.93 in a play-off held at Københavns Idrætspark in Copenhagen, witnessed by 25,000 spectators. Sørensen once again scored the decisive goal. Vejle went on to remain in Denmark's top flight for 36 consecutive seasons—a national record.
In 1958, the club won its first Danish championship and also captured the Danish Cup, becoming the first club in Danish football history to complete the domestic double. The squad included standout players such as Tommy Troelsen—then only 17 years old—and Henning Enoksen.
Home matches during this era regularly drew crowds of 15,000 to 20,000. Notable victories included an 8–3 win over KB and a 7–2 result against OB. Under manager Frits Gotfredsen, the team adopted an attacking style of play that helped establish Vejle as one of the most popular clubs in Denmark during the decade.
The success continued in 1959 with a dramatic Danish Cup final victory over AGF in front of 33,000 spectators at the national stadium. Vejle won 1–0 in a match where the goal scorer was never conclusively identified—Henning Enoksen, the ball, and several AGF defenders ended up in the net.
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, four Vejle players—Enoksen, Troelsen, Poul Mejer, and Poul Jensen —were selected for the Denmark national team, which won the silver medal.

The 1970s: A triumphal march

In 1971, Vejle Boldklub celebrated its 80 years jubilee and the players gave the club the best birthday present possible: the Danish championship trophy and the club's first ticket to the European Champions Cup. The trophy was won through great attacking football, and there was never any doubt that VB would win it.
Danish football followers were impressed with the new top side in Danish football and thousands of people came to Vejle to enjoy the charming football of Vejle Boldklub. Among the many stars in the team were Allan Simonsen and Flemming Serritslev. The manager was once again Frits Gotfredsen. He ended his amazing career in Vejle Boldklub after this big triumph.
In the 1972 season, VB went on to prove that the team was now on top of Danish football. The Danish championship in 1971 was followed up by another cup triumph and once again the Danish championship ended up in Vejle – The Double.
The title was won even more convincingly than the year before after ten straight victories in the spring half of the season. It was simply VB and the others. After the 1972 season, VB's biggest star, Allan Simonsen, joined German giants Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1977 – so far the only Danish player in history.
In the 1975 season, VB did not live up to the huge expectations in the league. However, the club delivered some great attacking football in the cup tournament and went on to win the final for the fourth time with a 1–0 victory over Holbæk. Club record holder, Gert Eg, scored with a great first timer, which qualified VB for the European Cup Winners Cup.
On 19 May 1977, Vejle Boldklub won its third cup final in only six years. The fifth cup triumph was won with a 2–1 victory against B1909. The goal scorers for Vejle was Ib Jacquet and Knud Nørregård. VB could now call itself the best cup team in Denmark – a status that was taken away from AGF.
Vejle reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup-Winners' Cup in the 1977–78 campaign.
In the 1978 season, Vejle Boldklub underlined its top position in Danish football by winning the Danish title for the fourth time in the club's history. Manager Poul Erik Bech and his players could celebrate the victory in Vejle before the last game as AGF and Esbjerg fB could no longer catch the reds. Among the stars in the team were Alex Nielsen, Tommy Hansen and Ulrik le Fevre, who later became the first player to score Tor des Jahres in the German Bundesliga.

The 1980s: The trophies are brought to Vejle

In 1978, Vejle Boldklub became the first team to win the Danish title after the involvement of money in Danish football. But as it turned out VB would find it difficult to adapt to the new times.
However, at the start of the decade VB continued in the footsteps of the successful 1970s teams. On 28 May 1981 Boldklubben Frem was beaten 2–1 in the cup final. This meant that the beautiful trophy – which Danish clubs had been fighting for since 1955 – was brought to Vejle permanently and placed in the club house in Nørreskoven.
In 1983, Allan Simonsen – named third best player in Europe the same year – returned to Vejle Boldklub. Simonsen had a big impact on the team and was a major influence as the club went on to win its fifth Danish title in 1984. With this victory the greatest trophy in Danish football found a permanent spot in the club house in Vejle next to the cup winners trophy. Among the biggest stars in the squad were John Sivebæk, Allan Simonsen and Steen Thychosen, who became the league top scorer with 24 goals.
After some indifferent seasons, in 1988, VB was taken over by four local businessmen. Once again the club started dreaming about titles and the fans were excited by the signings of star players such as Preben Elkjær, John Larsen and Keld Bordinggaard. However, the new manager Ebbe Skovdahl could not get the team to work together even though he had several star players in his side.

1991: A dark year

Vejle Boldklub's centenary was celebrated in the worst possible manner with relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1956. Many star players went to play for other clubs and a sad atmosphere of crisis descended upon Vejle. The four businessmen left the club, but ensured on their way out that it was not in dire straits. To turn things around VB hired their old star player Allan Simonsen as new manager. However, it was a thankless task for Simonsen, who started his managerial career with a defeat.
In 1994 the successful manager from 1981, Ole Fritsen, was named as the new manager of Vejle Boldklub. As a former youth coach in the club, Ole knew all about the many talented young players in VB, amongst which were Kaspar Dalgas and Peter Graulund. Ole started to build up a new team around these young players.
Vejle Boldklub was back in the top Danish league in 1995. Ole Fritsen's young team played impressive, charming and attacking football, which earned them runners-up medals in 1997 and qualification for the UEFA Cup on two occasions. For his fine work, Ole Fritsen was named Danish Manager of the Year in 1997.

2000s: Crises and rebuilding

At the beginning of the new millennium, VB was relegated from the Danish Superliga for the second time in the club's history. They were back after only one season in the Danish 1st Division, but it turned out to be a short respite as the club was relegated the same season. This proved to be the beginning of a serious crisis. In 2004, VB was almost relegated to the Danish 2nd Division and the club was threatened with bankruptcy. This resulted in desperate attempts to save the club through amalgamations with clubs in the north, south, east and west.
But, in late 2004, another turning point was reached when a group of businessmen reconstructed the club's finances and launched the so-called four point plan: A new stadium, promotion to the Danish super league, income through business other than football and a new sponsor strategy. In 2006, VB was back in the Danish Superliga. However, the club made a dreadful start to the season with nine defeats in a row. But a successful second half of the season pointed it in the right direction and optimism returned.
Today, VB draws together the most successful businesses in south-east Jutland, which makes the club potentially one of the wealthiest in Danish football. And where the club earlier had to look in vain for local support, today it is seen as an attractive investment.
In spring 2008, Vejle Boldklub opened the gates to its new modern stadium. It retains the name of Vejle Stadium and is still located in Nørreskoven.
On 5 June 2008, VB achieved a record in scoring the highest number of points to win the Danish 1st Division. Vejle secured promotion to the Superliga with 78 points from 30 matches.
By the 32nd round of the 2008–09 season, it was clear VB would be relegated to play in the Danish 1st Division during the 2009–10 season.