This year, however, there is a clear favorite in the Obos league. Then we’ll see if that favorite manages to deliver.
The top two move up, numbers 3–6 play qualification for promotion, number 14 play relegation qualification, and numbers 15 and 16 move straight down.
Here are VG’s table tips – as well as a quick reply from TV 2’s Obos expert Amund Lollik Lutnæs about each club.
1. Vålerenga
Anything other than promotion is, of course, grounds for dismissal for both players and managers. It can’t go wrong for Vålerenga. The standard should be Brann’s “Obos is too easy” in 2022. That song should be taken over by the Clan in 2024.
The club will miss goal guarantor Andrej Ilic, but Enga has so many quality players that his stay at level two should be as short as possible.
The stable could probably have been wider, but the midfield definitely holds Eliteserie class and will probably frolic around Norway.
Geir Bakke and Petter Myhre moved straight up with Lillestrøm in 2019, so they have it “in”. And the supporters, as you know, maintain the highest level.
The scapegoat from the qualifying round, Christian Borchgrevink, becomes captain and key player.
– I have a lot of faith in Daniel Håkans.
Amund Lollik Lutnæs about the Vålerenga player
2. Stabæk
Bob Bradley joined Stabæk down, and his son Michael (36) has also moved to Norway and become his assistant. “Builder Bob” is an international top-class trainer.
Many players have disappeared since the relegation, but exciting newcomers have also been brought in, such as Magnus Christensen from Haugesund and a couple of Americans. And Kristian Fardal Opseth, who shot Bodø/Glimt to promotion in 2017, has been brought in from Sarpsborg. Now the Kaupanger guy will try the same thing in Stabæk.
Captain Nicolai Næss will also be very important in 2024.
– The Obos league has never had such a big profile as Michael Bradley.
Lollik Lutnæs about Bradley junior
3. King’s wings
KIL now appears as a model of a football club and was not too far away from promotion last year.
Moved up to level two in 2021 and has since qualified twice. KIL is perhaps even stronger this year.
Johan Wennberg, 32 years old, from Arvika, has passed the degrees in KIL and has now become permanent head coach.
And if anyone was wondering: Yes, Obos legend Adem Güven (38) is still cooking!
– KIL boss Espen Nystuen knows the Obos league like the back of his hand.
Lollik Lutnæs about Kongsvinger
4. Aalesund
Is certainly one of the clubs that can move up directly if everything goes smoothly. But Christian Johnsen’s men have not impressed in the run-up. Worst of all was the shock loss for level four team Træff before Easter. Aalesund may receive reinforcements before the line is set on the night of 4 April.
A number of players have been gone since the relegation, including the captain David Fällman, Kristoffer Ødemarksbakken and Erlend Segberg (who will be at the top level thanks to a transfer to Fredrikstad). Claudio Braga from Moss FK could be a hit.
– I see Christian Johnsen’s AaFK as a contender for direct promotion.
Lollik Lutnæs.
5. Bryne
At first Bryne was in a bad way and fought to avoid relegation, then came a glittering autumn season in which Jæren’s pride entered the promotion qualification.
Bryne has sold the jewel Tobias Guddal to Tromsø, but otherwise things look good – including with Jon-Helge Tveita back after many years away. Robert Undheim is the tradition bearer with 210 games in the Brynedrakten since 2014.
Jærbuene beat neighbors Sandnes Ulf 2–0 in a warm-up match before the start of the series.
– Kevin Knappen knows which buttons to push.
Lollik Lutnæs about the Bryne coach
6. Ranheim
Lots of well-known Trønder names both off and on the field in 2024. Per Ciljan Skjelbred can become a leader in both places.
Off the pitch we have names like Kåre Ingebrigtsen, Kolbjørn Selmer, Pål André Helland, Christian Eggen Rismark, Frank Lidahl and Michael Karlsen.
In contrast, club legend Mads Reginiussen has given up. Gustav Mogensen and Philip Slørdahl are two good additions.
– Ranheim has a very heavy-handed management.
Amund Lollik Lutnæs about all famous people from Trondheim in Ranheim.
7. Sogndal
The first two years under Tore André Flo have ended with 7th places. Sogndal does not seem to be any better this year.
Sogndal has lost many goal points from 2023 with Sondre Ørjasæter, Jónatan Ingi Jónsson and Valdimar Ingimundarson. Martin Høyland is a good addition. And sweet suse – Sogndal has disappointed in the start of the season.
The stall is thin. For the training match against Brann, Flo only had 11 players on professional contracts to choose from. Oskar Borgthorsson and Kasper Skaanes are among the injured players.
– With Tore André Flo, there have been two 7th places in a row.
Lollik Lutnæs about the Sogndal coach.
8. Lyn
Lyn have been good in the run-up, but the newly promoted club must have good flow if they are to fight for a place in the elite series. On the other hand, we don’t think we will be in the “slump” in the comeback season.
Lyn is a club with proud traditions, and now the supporters can finally enjoy top football again. Henrik Kristiansen (on loan last autumn), Tobias Myhre (from Strømmen) and Adrian Berntsen (from Notodden) have been brought in. Stopper William Sell will be a key player.
The club has struggled with both the training and match arena in the capital.
Already on 20 April, Vålerenga will come to Ullevaal, the first series meeting between the Oslo clubs since 2009.
– Jan Halvor Halvorsen knows the Obos league through and through.
Lollik Lutnæs about the Lyn coach.
9. Start
In Start, most things go wrong. It started when they “forgot” to turn on the heat for the qualifying match against Bryne in November – and lost 0-3 on a walkover. Then in the new year they were suddenly without a permanent general manager, chairman, sports manager, head coach, assistant coach and more.
Luc Mares has been sold to HamKam and several other players are gone. Sivert Sira Hansen takes the leap from Mandalskamateratene and level four and probably straight into the starting line-up. Jesper Gregersen is an exciting player.
The 1–7 loss against newly promoted Egersund was a reality check for Start.
– Azar Karadas gets a very difficult job.
Lollik Lutnæs about the new Start coach.
10. Moss
In Østfold’s third best football city, Moss managed to stay the first season back in the second most famous company. Mostly thanks to a very good spring season, it ended up in 10th place.
The top scorer Claudio Braga (ten goals) has disappeared to Aalesund, and Sebastian Pedersen (nine goals) is given increased responsibility.
Moss FK has in many ways had to start building a club from scratch. Few take more points per million NOK in budget. Thomas Myhre really gives back to the parent club.
– They made their best signing when they extended Thomas Myhre until 2027.
Lollik Lutnæs about the Moss FK coach.
11. Sandnes Ulf
Bjarne Berntsen is gone, but Sandnes Ulf has got an exciting new coach in Thomas Pereira, who knows the district inside out both as a player and coach.
The light blues have brought in the former Juventus talent Vajebah Sakor, who has gradually turned 27 years old and has a lot of experience from both abroad, the Eliteserien and the Obos league.
Tommy Høiland is still there and proved last year that he can still do it. Espen Hammer Berger is the rock in a defense that can get going in 2024.
– Thomas Pereira will have big shoes to fill after Bjarne Berntsen.
Lollik Lutnæs about the new Ulf Sandnes coach.
12. The hills
Åsane made a move midway through the 2023 season. This meant that the place in level two was saved with a margin of four points.
Ole Martin Kolskogen (pictured, still only 23 years old) has become a permanent Åsane player and will be extremely important in 2025.
The goalkeeper Idar Lysgård has been gone since last year (so far it is unclear where he will end up). Åsane lost Mame Mor Ndiaye to KFUM Oslo at Easter (nine goals in the 2023 league).
– Åsane bought themselves out of the problems last summer
Lollik Lutnæs.
13. Raufoss
Former Raufoss players abound in Norwegian football. At Toten, a more or less new group meets in January each year.
Raufoss has lost four men to the Eliteserien this winter: Sivert Westerlund (Godset), Gard Simenstad (HamKam), Loris Mettler (Sandefjord) and Markus Johnsgård (Tromsø). Andreas Helmersen to Egersund also a loss.
Has strong key players in the back three, and the Latvian national team player Eduards Emsis has great drive in the middle. But it is doubtful whether the yellow and black have managed to replace those who have disappeared.
– The Swiss will go straight into the Sandefjord team. It shows what Raufoss is losing.
Lollik Lutnæs about Loris Mettler.
14. Levanger
A team devoid of stars is sailing on the promotion wave. Conceded just 17 goals last year at level three.
Dependent on a good start – because the autumn is usually tough for newly promoted teams. There is a danger that former Godset goalkeeper Morten Sætra will have a lot to do.
Jo Sondre Aas is playing assistant coach and back at the club he was relegated with in 2018.
– Per Verner Rønning’s men went through the Post Nord league without losing a game.
Lollik Lutnæs about Levanger.
15. Mjøndalen
Was in the Eliteserien as recently as 2021, but since then things have gone downhill for the traditional brown jerseys. Finished in last place of those who saved Obos contract last season.
– The blob of color that has faded.
TV 2 expert Amund Lollik Lutnæs (pictured) about Mjøndalen.
16. Egersund
A complete acquaintance at level two in Norwegian football – welcome! Egersund has spent a lot of time and money to get there, and now it is necessary to avoid it going straight down again. Kjell André Thu succeeded in promotion in his first season.
The supporters have got their heartbeats in order after the autumn’s crazy end: Egersund won 5–0 at home against Vard, while Lyn won a whopping 10–1 against Fram Larvik. Promotion was secured with a one-goal difference!
Won 7–1 over Start, but was beaten by Bryne in the run-up.
– Bjørn Mæland was incredibly important for promotion last year.
Lollik Lutnæs about the former Odd player who went down two divisions.
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