Sogndal Fotball is the football department of Norwegian sports club Sogndal IL from Sogndal Municipality in Vestland. The club was founded in 1926. The men's team currently plays in second tier 1. divisjon of the Norwegian football league system. The club's home matches are played at the 5,622 capacity Fosshaugane Campus.

The men's team contests for the Norwegian Cup. They achieved for the first time play in the 1976 Norwegian Cup final phase. They were unsuccessful in the pursuit of the 1976 Norwegian Cup as runner-up in the 1976 Norwegian Cup, losing to SK Brann 2-1. Sogndal became the first third-tier side to play in a Norwegian Cup final. Sogndal men's team contests in the top division Eliteserien. They contested in the 2017 season.

History

Sogndal IL was founded 19 February 1926. They contested their first top division season in 1982, and ended the season in 11th position; relegation returned them to the second tier.The club's breakthrough in Norwegian football came in 1976, when they as a third-tier side they for their first time reached the final of the 1976 Norwegian Cup. Sogndal lost that final to Brann at Ullevaal Stadion 2–1; Knut Christiansen scored Sogndal's only goal.

Sogndal's second season in the first tier 1988 Norwegian First Division, they finished in sixth place, their then best finishing position. The club was relegated to the second tier in the 1989 season. Sogndal won group A in the 1990 2. divisjon and won promotion. During the 1990s, Sogndal played five seasons in the first tier. In 1999, Sogndal received a transfer fee reported to be around NOK 40 million when Eirik Bakke was sold to Leeds United. From 2001 to 2004, Sogndal played four consecutive seasons in the top division, an achievement they repeated in the seasons 2011–14. The men's team were promoted to the 2011 Tippeligaen after winning the 2010 1. divisjon. Sogndal won the 2015 Norwegian First Division, their sixth successive second tier title. They share this distinction with HamKam and Lyn, the only other clubs with six Norwegian second tier titles.

In 2017, Sogndal received relegated an eighth time from Eliteserien, after losing the relegation play-offs on a penalty shoot-out against Ranheim.

Stadium

The club's stadium is Fosshaugane Campus. The stadium was renovated and reopened in 2006 and the name Campus was added because the local Sogn og Fjordane University College and high school is located in the stadium. The capacity is 5,622.

The attendance record of 7,025 spectators dates from the 1976 Norwegian Cup quarter-final against Start.

Recent seasons Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA PCupNotes2004Tippeligaen 14265714395722Third roundRelegated to 1. divisjon20051. divisjon73011811475141Third round20061. divisjon6301188434144Fourth round20071. divisjon73013512484444First round20081. divisjon4301596533654Fourth round20091. divisjon43014124462954Fourth round20101. divisjon 1281756512856Quarter-finalPromoted to Tippeligaen2011 Tippeligaen143081012243134Fourth round2012Tippeligaen123081012293734First round2013 Tippeligaen12308913334833Fourth round2014 Tippeligaen 15306618314924Fourth roundRelegated to 1. divisjon2015 1. divisjon 1301884593162Third roundPromoted to Tippeligaen2016 Tippeligaen113081210333736Third round2017 Eliteserien 14308814384832Third roundRelegated to 1. divisjon2018 1. divisjon4301569473151Second round2019 1. divisjon63013611513845Third round2020 1. divisjon3301569573651Cancelled2021 1. divisjon63011910403542Third round20221. divisjon73012711555343Fourth round2023 1. divisjon73012711454543Fourth round2024 1. divisjon13309714344034Third round2025 1. divisjon83012711494843Third round2026 (in progress)1. divisjon13216411365022First round Source:

Achievements

Eliteserien 6th place: 1988 8th place: 2001, 2003 Norwegian Cup; Runners-up: 1976 1. Divisjon / 2. Divisjon (6): 1981, 1987, 1990, 1993, 2010, 2015

Players

First-team squad

For season transfers, see List of Norwegian football transfers winter 2024–25, and List of Norwegian football transfers summer 2025.

Out on loan

Former players

Coaching and administrative staff Head coachEirik Bakke (interim)Assistant coachRune BolsethAssistant coachMarius Lenni BøeGoalkeeping coachGeir StenehjemHead of medical/Physical CoachDidrik SundsbøChairmanRolf NavarseteDirectorYngve HallènDirector SportAnders Giske

Records Most appearances: 611, Asle Hillestad Most goals: 321, Svein Bakke Most goals, Eliteserien: 46, Håvard Flo Biggest win, Eliteserien: 5–0 vs. Odd, 15 June 2003 Biggest defeat, Eliteserien: 0–9 vs. Stabæk, 25 October 2009

Managerial history

Ingvar Stadheim (1979–80, 1983–84) Harald Aabrekk (1990–92) Michael Speight (1999–00) Torbjørn Glomnes (1 January 2000 – 31 December 2002) Jan Halvor Halvorsen (1 January 2003 – 30 November 2004) Trond Fylling (2005) Stig Nord (2006 – 31 December 2006) Karl Oskar Emberland (1 January 2007 – 6 November 2009) Harald Aabrekk (1 January 2010 – 31 December 2011) Jonas Olsson (1 January 2012 – 31 December 2014) Eirik Bakke (1 January 2015 – 31 December 2021) Tore André Flo (1 January 2022 – 30 September 2024) Morten Kalvenes (1 October 2024 – 31 December 2024) Luís Pimenta (1 January 2025 – 7 September 2026) Eirik Bakke (caretaker) (26 June 2026 – )

Controversy In 2025, the CEO of long-time key sponsor Lerum announced a reduction of the company's support, citing communication problems and alleged lack of respect shown by the club.

In June 2026, a letter to the management signed by the first team players was leaked to the local press. In the letter, the players claimed that there had been harassment of Sogndal Fotball's African players. Luis Pimenta, the head coach, who had been hired by Sogndal despite Sportbladets allegations of bullying and an "alleged reign of terror" during his time at Brommapojkarna, was temporarily suspended by the club, pending an investigation of the claims. The move by the players came as Sogndal's 20 year old goalkeeper warned the local newspaper about his experience of exclusion at the club. Despite being a recent call-up with the Norway national under-21 football team, the player was not featured on the bench, apparently being Sogndal's fifth choice as a goalkeeper. In a formal response, the club claimed that the player had been treated fairly, like any other player. Pimenta was fired by the club in September 2026 and replaced by Eirik Bakke. Pimenta has challenged the club's decision, claiming that he has not discriminated players based on ethnicity, and that the external investigation confirms this.https://www.nrk.no/vestland/pimenta-varslar-soksmal-_-sogndal-fotball-star-fast-pa-avgjerda-1.18021527

References

External links

Saftkokaradn supporter site