Hvidovre IF (Denmark)

Hvidovre IF is a semi-professional club based in the western suburbs of the Danish capital of Copenhagen. The club was formed in 1925. The club became a member of the KBU B-Division around a decade later, as Sofus Johansen was appointed as manager.

Bendt Jørgensen was the team manager when HIF became champions of Denmark as they lifted the Division One title in 1965-66. He was succeeded by Ernst Netuka and then Mario Astorri. The team repeated the triumph in 1972-73, under the leadership of Arne Sørensen.

Willy Schøne, Leif Schøne, Netuka for a second spell, and then Leif Sørensen all had spells in charge of the team before the arrival of John Sindling. In 1979-80, HIF lifted the DBU Pokalen, the Danish Cup, after defeating Lyngby 5-3 in front of a gate of 23,500 at Idrætsparken in Copenhagen, with Michael Christensen playing a starring role.

The following season, a third Danish title was secured, before Peter Schmeichel took over in goal at the start of his career between 1984 and 1987. Kim Splidsboel was the manager for part of that spell, before he was replaced by Finn Enegaard. 

The club was reorganised on the 19th November 1991 as professional football became more widespread in Denmark. Hvidovre Soccer A/S was formed to operate the part of Hvidovre Sports Association's activities relating to elite football. Jan Kalborg was appointed as manager for what would see him spend the following ten years in the position.

On 28 December 1999, the shares in Hvidovre Soccer A/S were sold to Peter Schmeichel, as the sole shareholder, to try to lead Hvidovre back to the peak of the Danish football scene.

Unfortunately, results did not materialise, with Schmeichel transferring his shares in 2002 from the Hvidovre Soccer A/S company to Hvidovre IF.

The company was without debt, but also without assets. Frank Skytte was the team manager before he was replaced in 2002 by Jan Sørensen, who lasted a couple of years in the post before being succeeded by Jan Christensen.

In January 2005, Hvidovre Holding A/S was formed by loyal fans and local citizens. The company acquired the share capital of Hvidovre Soccer A/S and also founded another company, Solar Plexus A/S. The next incumbents of the manager's position were Ulf Larsson for a year, with Tom Nielsen taking charge between 2007 and 2009. 

Kenneth Brylle spent four years as manager before he was replaced by Per Nielsen in January 2011, as the team was relegated to the third-tier 2nd Division a few months later, where Hvidovre were placed in the East section, finishing as runners-up in 2011-12. The title was won the following season to herald a return to the 1st Division.

The side went back down after just one season at the higher level. Thomas Vesth Hansen, followed by Christian Iversen, had spells as manager. After a couple of mid-table finishes, the team were crowned as 2nd Division champions in 2017-18 under new manager Per Frandsen.

Captain Frederik Krabbe, along with the goals of Nicolaj Agger, ensured that Hvidovre stayed up in 2018-19 as the side continued to stabilise and improve, finishing just outside the promotion places in 2021-22. The same season also saw Hvidovre reach the quarter-finals of the Pokalen, before going out on penalties against Sønderjyske.

The 2022-23 season ended in promotion to the Superliga, with the team's spell in the top-tier lasting just one season. Martin Retov was appointed as manager in July 2025.

Hvidovre IF will play in the Danish 1st Division in the 2025-26 season.

My visit

Sunday 8th November 2015

My first ever visit to Denmark was going well. Although I was only there for one day, I was determined to pack plenty in. The main reason for the visit was the top-flight vital local derby between Brøndby IF and F.C. København, but after calling in at the home of BK Frem, I still had time to visit another club.

By now, I was starting to ache a little through lack of regular walking. Fortunately, I’d observed a regular bus service running down Gammel Køge Landevej before I went to Valby Idrætspark. This would save on a walk back to Ny Ellebjerg St.

Sure enough, the 8A service arrived within ten minutes. It dropped me at its terminus, Friheden St., a few minutes later. The ride was covered by my one-day City Pass. A few yards along Hvidovrevej, I found the car park behind one end. 

I could see a decent-looking stand and wanted to be inside for some proper photos. Eventually, I walked past the tennis courts down the far side and found an open gate by the clubhouse.

Hvidovre Stadion was dominated by the Main Stand down the far side. It was all seated and covered by a multi-barrel roof. The pitch was surrounded by a running track. The near side had a few rows of standing built on frames. 

The same arrangement was in place around the near curve. The far end could well have been the same in places, with a large hedge between it and the car park. After taking my snaps, with the light fading, I returned to the station to take the train on to Brøndby Strand St. to catch a bus to the match.