AaB Fodbold is our next Marbella opponent, who are they?

On January 31st the Seattle Sounders will take on the Danish SuperLiga club AaB Fodbold for the 1st ever time. They're currently 9th in the Danish SuperLiga as of January, 28th, 2025. Of course the club has been through a ton before their fateful meeting in Spain, so what are those things they've been through then? That's what I found out.

Our story starts all the way back in 1885 when a bunch of English engineers who were working on the Jutland's railway system. Decided they wanted to do something in their off time, specifically a sport the famous English sport of... cricket. So they founded the Aalborg Cricket club but they expanded rapidly and changed their name to Aalborg ballclub in 1899. With the club playing soccer for the first time in 1902. They made it to the Danish top flight in the 1928–29 season after they won the 1928 Provinsmesterskabsturneringen , which is a word I can spell without copy and pasting and pronounce easily believe me. Which began a impressive almost twenty year run in the top flight until they were regulated in 1947.

And it took them more than 15 years to return which they did in 1963. And that began it's 1st ever run of success in the Danish Cup. Winning it in both 1965-66 and 1969-70 plus a runner-up in 1966-67 meaning they almost had a back to back there. They have been been regulated during this time. Like in 1972, 1976 and from 1981 to 1986. Which was especially tragic as in 1978 Danish soccer fully professionalized and the club even in 1997 founded a fully professional club, a move that led the way to begin the clubs golden era.

The 1990s say the former cricket club, take 2 Danish SuperLiga titles starting in the 1994-95 season. Led by Andersen and Andreasen with Erik Bo Andersen the Danish born striker being the league's top scorer scoring 24 goals and Poul Erik Andreasen being the coach who made history by leading the 100 year old club to it's 1st ever top flight title. Another Danish striker Peter Rasmussen was also notable help as he was the leagues 2nd best goal scorer in 94-95 with 16 goals. Though their chance to qualify for the UFEA Champions League for the 1st ever time was robbed by Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv when they beat them in the Champions League qualifying rounds. Until Dynamo Kyiv was caught in a bribing scandal and so was banned from the UFEA CL and gave AaB Fodbold the spot instead. They managed 4 points in the group stage after they they managed a 2–1 home win over Panathinaikos and a 2–2 draw with Porto but with less points than the amount of games they played (6) they were eliminated in the group stages tragically.

In the meantime AaB Fodbold Erik Bo Andersen left the club for Scottish club Rangers and Peter Rasmussen left for Viborg FF in 1997. But despite that they replaced them perfectly. With Søren Frederiksen coming in to be their new elite goalscocer. With Hasse Backe
the Swede coming in to be the new coach. In 1998-99 they combined to bring AaB Fodbold
their 2nd ever Danish Superliga title with Frederiksen scoring 17 goals and Hasse Backe led the club to the 2nd highest goals scored out of all clubs that season and the 2nd least goals allowed which was enough to win a dramatic title. Beating Brøndby IF
by 3 points to get their 2nd ever title.

To qualify for the Champions League they again came across Dynamo Kyiv again and like last time couldn't beat the Ukrainian club. Losing 3-4 on aggerate but unlike last time luck was on side of the Ukrainians and not the Danish club. As a goal late in the final leg that would've seen them go ahead on away goals rule was disallowed for not crossing the goal line. This period established AaB Fodbold
as a top club in Denmark and that made more success inventible.

Such as qualifying for the 2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup where they earned a bronze medal after making it all the way to the final round. Beating Finish club Honka on away goals then beating Belgian KAA Gent 2–3 on aggregate. With a epic performance in the 2nd leg winning 2-1 at home to clench the bronze medal. This allowed them to enter the UFEA Cup where they finished last in their group. Though later that season came more success with their 3rd ever Danish Superliga title. With Jeppe Curth another Danish striker and a ex-Danish Young Player of the year being the 07-08 Danish SuperlLiga's top scorer with 17 goals that season to help lead AaB Fodbold to the title. With Swedish striker Rade Prica contributing heavily with 9 goals of his own. Because of this they were given the honor of attempting to qualify for the 2008-09 UFEA Champions League. They made their way all the way from the 2nd round to qualifying to the group stage where they would face Manchester United, Villarrealand Celtic. They managed to finish ahead of Scottish giants Celtic, 6 points to 5 points and was able to qualify for the UFEA Cup. They faced Deportivo de La Coruña in the Round of 32 and shocked the soccer world by destroying them 6-1 over 2 legs and after would come across the might of Manchester City. They lost the 1st leg 2-0 but then again shocked everybody by beating them 2-0 and sending the final leg in penalties. But came up short of committing a massive upset losing the penalty shootout 4-3.

A few years later on May, 11th, 2014 AaB Fodbold clenched the 2013-14 Danish SuperLiga for their 4th ever league title. Led by team's scorer a Danish winger this time Kasper Kusk by scoring 12 goals and Danish manager and ex-Denmark international Kent Nielsen rallying the squad to the league title but not only the league title. 4 days later after beating F.C. Copenhagen 4–2 in the Danish cup final to complete the team's 1st ever double but that doesn't mean they'll always be successful.

In 2023 for the 1st time since 1986 AaB Fodbold was regulated to the second Danish league after they finished last in the 2022 Danish SuperLiga 8 years after winning their 4th title. They've been quick on the rebound however finishing 2nd in the 2023–24 Danish 1st Division
clenching a return to the Superliga this year where they currently reside in 9th. Showing everyone that they haven't given up on returning to their prime yet. Thanks a bunch for reading!