On an August day in 2024, 5,165 fans gathered at Vanløse Idrætspark to watch FC Copenhagen (FCK) take on B73 Slagelse in their first league match. For Denmark’s most successful men’s club, with 16 league titles, it marked the realisation of their desire to establish a women’s team, through collaboration with the existing FC Damsø, and an ambitious project with aims of having a wide-reaching impact on and off the pitch. The 26 months since have brought a whirlwind of success, the club securing back-to-back promotions to reach the A-Liga.
Now they are in the top division and “playing with the big dogs”, as their head of women’s football, Romaney Pinnock, coins it, and they must adapt to stay there. I think the massive opportunity here is to join something so new but under the umbrella of a very established strong brand and club. It feels as if it’s startup-like but there’s a nice safety net.” Having the infrastructure of the wider club behind them is a positive.
They have drawn on their marketing and commercial expertise to build a distinct identity for their women’s team, giving them a different kit, bringing in their own sponsors and establishing a unique matchday experience. Their most recent derby against Brøndby drew 8,047 to Parken, an A-liga record. Secure foundations, however, take time to build.
Operating in a semi-professional environment, their first season at the top has come with teething pains. They parted ways with their head coach Kasper Klarskov Nielsen after three matches and sit second from bottom after 10 fixtures. Many players continue to juggle football with work or study while trying to adapt to the physical demands of the top flight.
Around 80-90% of the girls have never played in the top league so it’s a challenge … It’s also a huge challenge for the club because they’ve never been through this as well. It’s a chance for all of us and we’re slowly getting there.” FCK’s rise is being played out in the context of a league working to establish itself. The country has produced highly technical players such as Pernille Harder, and the Danish Football Association (DBU) is trying to develop a stronger domestic game through greater investment, increased exposure and the establishment of minimum standards while also featuring in European competition.
The champions, HB Køge, have returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2022 and Brøndby will be involved in the Europa Cup last 16. That is also an opportunity. It’s exciting to see how we can look to our neighbours and say: ‘How are they doing it?’” FCK are operating on a different model to Køge, who have been able to invest immediately on the pitch.
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